
Saturday, April 19, 2008
World Trade Centre - Bahrain

The Bahrain World Trade Center is the first skyscraper to integrate wind turbines into its design. Three bridges in the lower half of the towers connect the towers to one another and hold three large turbines, one on each bridge and each turbine measuring 29 metres (32 yards) in diameter. These turbines face north, which is the direction from which air from the Persian Gulf blows in. The sail-shaped buildings on either side are designed to funnel wind through the gap to provide the maximum amount of wind passing through the turbines. This was confirmed by wind tunnel tests, which showed the the building create an ‘S’-shaped flow, ensuring that any wind coming within a 45° angle to either side of the central axis will create a wind stream that remains perpendicular to the turbines. This significantly increases their potential to generate electricity.[2] The wind turbines are expected to provide 11% to 15% of the towers' total power consumption, or approximately 1.1 to 1.3 GWh a year. This is equivalent to providing the lighting for about 300 homes annually. The turbines were turned on together for the first time on 8 April 2008. They are expected to operate 50% of the time.
Labels:
Bahrain,
LEAF Awards,
Manama,
middle east,
skyscraper,
tourism,
World Trade Centre
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Kuwait Towers - Kuwait

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Azadi Monument - Iran

The architect, Hossein Amanat, won a competition to design the monument, and happens to be of the Bahá'í Faith, a religion persecuted by the current government. Azadi Tower combines Sassanid and Islamic architecture styles. Amanat also integrated a degree of Baha'i symbology in the design, such as having exactly nine stripes on each side, and exactly nine windows either of the long sides of the building. It is part of the Azadi cultural complex, located in Tehran's Azadi square in an area of some 50,000 m². There is a museum and several fountains underneath the tower.
On February 11, 2007, during the celebration of the 28th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution, an Iranian man named Amir Moussavi, 32, fell to his death in front of tens of thousands celebrating while free climbing the tower. He was only three meters from the top when exhaustion set in and he was unable to climb anymore.
Labels:
Azadi Tower,
Iran,
middle east,
Tehran,
tourism
Atakule Tower - Turkey

In Turkish ata means ancestor usually used to refer Atatürk and kule means tower.
Labels:
Ankara,
Atakule Tower,
Çankaya,
middle east,
tourism,
Turkey
Rock of Raouché - Lebanon

Off the coast of Raouche, there is a natural landmark called the Pigeons' Rock (also known as the Rock of Raouche). Located at Beirut's western-most tip, the two huge rock formations, which stand like gigantic sentinels, are a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
Labels:
beirut,
land mark,
Lebanon,
middle east,
pigeons' rock,
rock of raouche,
tourism
Pyramids - Egypt

It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the only one of the seven to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians capped the peaks of their pyramids with gold and covered their faces with polished white limestone, though many of the stones used for the purpose have fallen or been removed for other structures.
Labels:
ancient egyptians,
Egypt,
giza,
middle east,
pyramids,
tourism
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