megastructures
world’s tallest hotel (1/3)
20.00–21.00
Returning to Five is a new series of the programme that lifts the lid on some of the most incredible structures and machines ever created. Megastructures reveals the stories behind some unbelievable feats of engineering, from aircraft to airports, and bridges to oil rigs. The first episode looks at the construction of the world’s tallest hotel, the Burj Al-Arab off the coast of Dubai.
Megastructures heads to the tiny desert kingdom of Dubai to explore the remarkable engineering behind the seven-star Burj Al-Arab Hotel. Five years in the making, this striking building stands like a gigantic white sail off the shore of Dubai. As this programme reveals, a refusal to compromise on the part of the hotel’s young designers ensured that the project pushed the boundaries of design. The Burj Al-Arab was envisaged by Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a means of diversifying the country’s economy away from oil into tourism. The Sheikh dreamt of a luxury hotel that would put Dubai on the world map, and surprised many by choosing a relatively inexperienced British firm to supply the design.
The Sheikh was impressed by architect Tom Wright’s sketch of a building inspired by a yacht. Wright was aiming for an “iconic” design comparable to the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House, which could be drawn in a few simple lines. “We had many sleepless nights worrying that the building we’d designed wouldn’t turn out to be iconic,” he says. More used to building schools and offices than luxury hotels, Wright and his team now faced the greatest challenge of their careers.
Wright wanted the 321-metre structure to rise into the sky on an island, giving it the illusion of being at sea. His refusal to compromise led to the construction of a low-rise, artificial island from concrete cubes. “It’s never been done before, to build something like this on re-claimed land,” colleague Simon Crispe remarks. Further challenges lay in store when engineers could find no solid rock beneath the site, so they bored steel and concrete poles deep into the sand to serve as the foundations. The poles used friction against the compacted sand to hold the building steady against the powerful winds of the Arabian Gulf.
The next problem came with the 85-metre-long steel trusses designed to hold the structure together. “It’s okay for the architect to draw pretty pictures, but we had to build it!” contractor Malcom Murphy says. These enormous trusses were winched into place 200m in the air to provide a strong exoskeleton for the building.
Tom Wright’s extraordinary designs did not stop there – crowning the hotel was an enormous “floating” restaurant hanging in the air 27m away from the spine of the building. Structural engineer Anthony McCarter had to find a method to attach the restaurant far away from the building’s centre of gravity: “When Tom first showed it to me, I must admit I thought it was crazy!” he says. McCarter’s solution ensured that the hotel’s exclusive clients would enjoy unparalleled views as they dined.
With the hotel scheduled to open before the Millennium, the builders toiled relentlessly to finish the skin of the Burj Al-Arab so that work could begin on its opulent interior. The building had to be sealed against the searing desert heat, so the contractors fitted a giant fabric wall to create the largest atrium in the world and form a unique feature both inside and outside the hotel. This innovation, and many more, ensured that the finished hotel would take its place as a unique world structure.
Luxury Travel Bible
The Buj Al Arab is one of a number of amazing luxury Dubai hotels. they get more extravagant all the time. The new Atlantis on Palm isalnd has one of the most extravagant kids clubs I've ever seen and incredible structure and design.The Townhouse Hotel
Dubai has a lot of under water hotels.and their architecture is rich.The interior of burj alarab is fantastic it gives you a taste of royalty and every feature of the building is enchanting.Tomahawk Hotel Group
Oh amazing!i just saw the pictures of burj al arab that is awesome.i am in love with that.I love the purple color and the reflections on the water.lavishing material appeals me a lot.Anonymous
Can any1 put some documentries regarding Chemical Industrial processes. Specially manufacturing process of Phosphoric acid and phorphate fertilezer and also Ethyl acetate plant. Thanks to all.piyush
ya ..im agree im satisfy..with thatWert
Here are torrents, which will help you to download what you want - http://www.file.sh/Extreme+Engineering+torrent.htmlnix
pls need a on the world island project, anybody with a video on the project, i'll be grateful if you could pass it on to me, especially those shown on megastructures, or any other. thankx.Zoceto
Can anyone tell me where can i find rapidshare links for Extreme Engineering Season 4,5 & 6. thx for your help.pleaseAnonymous
Can anyone tell me where can i find rapidshare links for Extreme Engineering Season 4,5 & 6.
thx for your help.
mithun
please send me the full dvd version of the construction of the palm island dubai, which had shown in nat-geo. please. itz my kind request.
bethany t
woooow your all ackting like youve never seen a hotel be4 wowww very intresting
Cristian
I think that a luxurious royal caribbean must definetely pass Dubai because I have seen their future projects and those project can produce an instant stroke.
Alison
I've heard that there is a Megastructures about Alcatraz.
From the National Geographic website it tells me that it was season 2 episode 11.
I've looked around for links to download the episode but can't find any.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks.
Anonymous
I am searching for rapidshare links of petronas towers video that is aired on national geographic channel megastructures. If anyone knows it, please post it. thanks for your help.
Anonymous
All National Geographic Megastructure
episodes will be found here, cheers.
http://mhenoxyu.biz/news/nid-1062/index.html
Anonymous
Burj Al Arab
http://rapidshare.com/files/42363679/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42365172/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42366562/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42367902/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42369061/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part5.rar
More links can be found here
www.everythingrapidsharetv.blogspot.com
http://xhgc18.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!!!
bala
Links for Burj Al Arab
http://rapidshare.com/files/42363679/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42365172/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42366562/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42367902/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/42369061/Megastructures.World.s.Tallest.Hotel.part5.rar
Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!
bala
Hope this helps everyone here.
Millau Bridge
It is the world’s tallest bridge, at 343 m tall at its highest pillar, the Millau Viaduct in Southern France is almost a third taller than any other bridge in the world. A freeway in the sky, the bridge crosses the river Tarn in France and can save travelers almost an hour of travel between France and the Mediterranean. It also removes the traffic congestion once faced in the town of Millau. The episode documents the difficulties that the crew had to faced, and the challenging processes that were used in its construction. The documentary contains a few words from the mayor of Millau, Jacques Godfrain, the bridge architect, Norman Foster, and designer, Michel Virlogeux
http://rapidshare.com/files/7267953/MS_Millau_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7269319/MS_Millau_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7303770/MS_Millau_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7308414/MS_Millau_Inspired.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7307940/MS_Millau_Inspired.part5.rar
Dubai's Palm Island
An enormous project is underway in the Arabian Gulf that will change the face of the coastline. It is so vast that it can be seen from space. Palm Jumeirah, one of the most audacious engineering projects the world has ever seen, is an artificial island in the shape of a massive palm tree. A breathtaking megastructure and an ambitious engineering feat, Palm Jumeirah is part of an even bigger plan to transform Dubai into one of the world's premiere tourist destinations. But with only a few years to create this paradise island, it's a race against time. Besides the construction of the island, there is also the challenge of building a small city, including 4,500 luxury houses and apartments, 29 hotels, miles of roads, and all the utilities required by the thousands of people who will be living on and using this island including water, electricity, gas and sewage. The project is due for completion in 2008 - are they on course to meet their deadline? And what other megastructures has the Sheikh planned for Dubai?
http://rapidshare.com/files/7457261/MS_Dubai_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7459062/MS_Dubai_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7460784/MS_Dubai_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7462505/MS_Dubai_Inspired.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/7463897/MS_Dubai_Inspired.part5.rar
Hoover Dam
Throughout human history, mankind has built monuments to its ingenuity and skill. In Egypt it was the Pyramids. Rome, built the Colosseum. The Greeks built the Acropolis. The great cathedrals of Europe raised the skills of their builders to unequalled heights, creating awe inspiring structures. In the Americas, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and the high mountain city of Machu Pichu speak to the skill and ingenuity of their builders. In the modern era, it's buildings that reach near half a mile into the sky, bridges that stretch enormous distances in a single span, and machines that extend mankind's reach far into space. One monument that must surely be counted among the great achievements of mankind is Hoover Dam.
http://rapidshare.com/files/8295881/MS_Hoover_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/8297928/MS_Hoover_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/8300246/MS_Hoover_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/8302286/MS_Hoover_Inspired.part4.rar
Kansai International Airport
Located 5 km off the coast of Osaka, Japan, is the Kansai International Airport. The airport is built entirely on a man-made island, 4 km long and 1 km wide. The only link between the island and Osaka is by the world’s longest 2-tiered bridge. Although the airport is built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, the artificial island itself is sinking faster than anticipated. The episode looks at the various measures that are taken to keep the airport ‘afloat’, and the various facilities and services available to keep the airport running.
http://rapidshare.com/files/9227571/MS_Kansai_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/9228237/MS_Kansai_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/9228827/MS_Kansai_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/9229344/MS_Kansai_Inspired.part4.rar
Tau Tona - City Of Gold
Located near Johannesburg, South Africa, the Tau Tona is a gold mine. The Tau Tona is the main economic life blood of Johannesburg, supplying half the world’s gold needs. It is the deepest and largest working mine in the world. Its main shaft is 3.6 km deep and consists of 800 km of tunneling. This episode gives viewers a tour of the dynamic systems involved in maintaining a working environment deep in the earth. It also provides a glimpse of what life as a mine worker is like in Tau Tona. Risking heat exhaustion, and with 10 earthquakes a day, the miners work through narrow tunnels to extract gold from a 25 cm thick gold vein
http://rapidshare.com/files/12350561/MS_Gold_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12351772/MS_Gold_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12352942/MS_Gold_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12353446/MS_Gold_Inspired.part4.rar
Impossible Bridges Greece - Rio-Antirio Bridge
The Rio-Antirio bridge is a cable-stayed bridge near Patra on the Peloponnese, linking the towns of Rio and Antirrio on the western mainland Greece, thus connecting with the rest of Europe. The bridge dramatically improves access to and from the Peloponnese, which could previously be reached only by ferry or via the isthmus of Corinth at its extreme east end. It has a length of 2252 m (2882 m including the access bridges); as it consists entirely of five cable-stayed spans and four pylons, and it is one of the world's longest cable-stayed suspended decks. Its width is 28 meters -- it has two vehicle lanes per direction, an emergency lane and a pedestrian walkway.
http://rapidshare.com/files/12354709/MS_Greece_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12356640/MS_Greece_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12358024/MS_Greece_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12358643/MS_Greece_Inspired.part4.rar
Itaipu Dam
In the Paraná River of South America, lies the Itaipú Dam. Costing 20 billion dollars, the Itaipú Dam is the world's largest and most powerful hydroelectric power plant. It is a representation of the efforts and accomplishment of two countries, Brazil and Paraguay. The episode examines the efforts undertaken and the sacrifices made to construct the dam, including how the largest diversion channel was constructed to divert water from the world’s 7th largest river away from the main construction site.
http://rapidshare.com/files/12360189/MS_Itaipu_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12361711/MS_Itaipu_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12363417/MS_Itaipu_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/12364332/MS_Itaipu_Inspired.part4.rar
Sears Tower
For 20 years, the Sears Tower held the record for the world’s tallest building. Completed in 1973, the 110 stories high building is almost half a kilometer tall. And it still holds the record for having the world’s highest antenna. John Zils, structural engineer and designer of this mega-structure shares some of the secrets about the tower. And get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the various systems and controls that are vital to the building, like security monitoring, the elevators, and the water and power distribution to the various levels, and even the machines that cleans the windows.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14661096/MS_Sears_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14662160/MS_Sears_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14663385/MS_Sears_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14664379/MS_Sears_Inspired.part4.rar
Port Of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam is a marine freeway and one of the busiest ports. And on this particular day, the Harbour Control's skills and machines are put to the test when three most challenging ships in the world: 'The Berge Star', 'The Savana Express' and 'The Mighty Servant III', respectively known as 'The Mega Deep', 'The Mega Wide' and 'The Mega Tall' are received.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14657437/MS_Rotterdam_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14658467/MS_Rotterdam_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14659584/MS_Rotterdam_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14660084/MS_Rotterdam_Inspired.part4.rar
Golden Gate Bridge
In 1906, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 rocked San Francisco. An earthquake of similar or greater proportions is expected to occur in San Francisco again, and soon. The episode takes a look at the efforts that are being made to retrofit and strengthen America’s most recognized bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, before the next big earthquake happens. It
also gives a brief history about the construction of the suspension bridge, and the people who were involved in its construction.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14654019/Ms_Golden_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14655215/Ms_Golden_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14656198/Ms_Golden_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14656572/Ms_Golden_Inspired.part4.rar
Impossible Bridges: Denmark to Sweden
The Oresund, spanning 10 miles in length, is the longest bridge in the world. The bridge links countries Denmark and Sweden, and Megastructures chronicles the history in it's design and construction.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14650453/MS_Den2Swed_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14651621/MS_Den2Swed_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14652611/MS_Den2Swed_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14653048/MS_Den2Swed_Inspired.part4.rar
Mega Plane - Air Force Transport
The episode profiles the C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest aircrafts in the world, and the operations of the crew of the mega-plane. The episode includes a look at how the C-5 Galaxy transports millitary equipment over to the troops in Iraq from America's Dover Air Force Base.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14646642/MS_AirForce_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14647869/MS_AirForce_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14648979/MS_AirForce_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14649463/MS_AirForce_Inspired.part4.rar
Airbus A380
It is the largest passenger plane ever built and it is a 12 billion dollar investment. The episode documents the history of the Airbus A380, from its design concept, its interior features, the precision manufacturing, the logistics, the final assembly and its final maiden flight.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14641857/MS_Airbus_Inspired.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14643386/MS_Airbus_Inspired.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14644801/MS_Airbus_Inspired.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/14645307/MS_Airbus_Inspired.part4.rar
Password for all archives: Inspired
Enjoy!!!
val
Hi Freddymodo,
Sounds brill! would you like to email me and we could sort something out? (i know im probably gonna regret putting my email add on here, but hey!) its vmjen@yahoo.com. thank you!
Freddymodo
Hi Ken & Val. Below average 350 meg each as avi's. reasonable quality.
roughly 12 on a DVD
01 Kansai Airport.avi 02 Golden Gate Bridge.avi 03 Ice Hotel.avi
04 Dubai Palm Islands.avi 05 Panama Canal.avi 06 Spy Fortress.avi
07 Supertanker.avi 08 The Worlds Biggest Shredder.avi 09 Petronas Towers.avi 10 Dubai World Island Wonder.avi 11 The Ultimate Rollercoaster.avi 12 The Millau Viaduct 13 Dubai Burj Al Arab Hotel
14 Impossible China Bridges 15 North Branch Correctional Institution
16 Hoover Dam.avi (History Channel) Complete French Language
17 Boston Big Dig.avi 1st 15 minutes missing
PS When I first wote I only had 3 with Burj Al Arab lined up. The rest came off the net. 1 year older than me then Ken (-:
Newsgroups, and Bittorrents source for all but 4 of these.
If you can come up with an easy way to get these to you then let me know. I live in the sticks so modem speeds are lousy.
Anonymous
OI SHUT THE **** UP !
U DUMB IDIOT! GO AND WANK URSELF!
Kenneth Davies
Hi Freddiemodo
I saw your piece on this site and would like a DVD of the Dubai hotel and more especially the Petronas Towers and the Millau Bridge, if you have them and are able to put them onto DVD...especially in AVI format, but any way will do...could you let me have a copy please, how much will it cost me and what do I need to do to get a copy ? I have just been staying at the Swissotel Stamford Hotel in Singapore, which a lot of the people there are still saying is the tallest hotel in the world......even though its now about number ten I think. I also hope to go to see the Millau Bridge in the not too distant future if I get the chance, but it ain't a fixed thing yet....and since I'm 69 years old it may not happen! Thanks for your time.....let me know .....Ken
val
freddymodo, pretty please could you send me a copy of burj al arab!!!???? i too missed it (yet again) and really would love to see it. i was there when it was being built and actually walked on the helipad! please please please!!
Anonymous
hey, i missed the Megastructures program today, i was wondering if it would be at all possible for you to send me a copy of the program. i was really looking forward to watching it but missed it. thanks
Freddymodo
Only just saw this but if you are UK based the Dubai hotel Megastructures program is on again this evening on Channel 5,
January 11th 2008. I will be recording it, an could possibly pop onto DVD. I already have Kansai Airport, Millau Bridge, Petronas Towers, and 2 thirds of Boston Big Dig. Could probably convert to AVI and get all on 1 DVD 4 avi parts at around 1gig apiece would be pretty good, best bit is no Ads either lol.
SJFD C-Crew USA
We just watched an episode of this on the HISTORY Channel.
Hope this helps.
Val/Taz
Hi everyone. I unfortunately had to miss the dubai megastrucures because of work commitments, on the mon 5th aug. second time ive missed it!!! not a happy bunny, i can tell you!! did anyone video/dvd this??? pretty please, i would love a copy and will pay for it. thank you everyone. xx
Keir
I,ve heard from a colleague about the megastructure of burj al arab hotel and the world islands, so if anyone knows of any repeat dates or has copies of them I could borrow on video or DVD, I would be very grateful.
Val/Taz
Jez.
YOU ARE A STAR!!!! Thank you soooo much. i hope the rest of the people say thank you too!! your just fab! X
jez
guys...you lot owe me.
national geographic channel are showing the 3 dubai eposodes. world, palm and burj al arab.
date 5 august.
say thanks...
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