Megastructures
Beijing National Stadium
The New National Stadium
The new National Stadium is located on a gentle rise in the centre of the Olympic complex. It is conceived as a large collective vessel. An undulating composition of high and low elevations moderates the bulk of the vessel and gives it a dramatic sweeping form. The stadium’s appearance is pure structure. [...]
The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
The Palm Jumeirah, consists of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometer-long breakwater. The island itself is 5 kilometers by 5 kilometers. It will add 78 kilometers to the Dubai coastline. The first phase of development on the Palm Jumeirah will create 4,000 residences with [...]
Donghai Bridge, China
Donghai Bridge (literally “East Sea Grand Bridge”) is the longest cross-sea bridge in the world and the longest bridge in Asia. It was completed on December 10, 2005. It has a total length of 32.5 kilometers (20.2 miles) and connects Shanghai and the offshore Yangshan deep-water port in China. Most of the bridge is a [...]
Burj Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Description by: Wayne Lorentz
When completed, this building is intended to be the tallest in the world. Originally, it was the only skyscraper in the race for that title. But before it could even be topped out a number of other competitors announced plans to top it and a few even began construction. So its “world's [...]
The Itaipu Dam, Brazile
Important Facts:
Itaipu Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world. It straddles the borders of Brazil and Paraguay on the Paraná River. It is able to supply 93% of the energy consumed by Paraguay and 20% of that consumed by Brazil, as of 2005. The dam is located in the vicinity of [...]
The Lupu Bridge China
The Lupu Bridge in Shanghai, China, is the world’s longest arch bridge. The 2.5 billion yuan (US$302 million), 3,900-meter (12,795 ft) bridge was opened on June 28, 2003. Its main span of 550 meters (1,804 ft) over the Huangpu River is 32 meters (105 ft) longer than the previous recordholder, the New River Gorge Bridge [...]
The Millau Bridge: A High Sky Work of Architecture
Brief Introduction:
Hyperventilatingly cool new bridge in France. Millau Bridge (formally known as le Viaduc de Millau), is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world. Opened in December 2004, it stretches 1.6miles/2.6km long and hovers 885ft/270m above the Tarn valley in southern France. The steel-and-concrete bridge rests on 7 pillars, with the tallest one reaching 1,122ft/375m. [...]