Burj al-Arab

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/burj-al-arab

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How tall is Burj al-Arab?321 meters (1,053 feet)
2. What is the year opened?December 1, 1999
3. What is the builder?Murray & Roberts (South Africa) and Al Habtoor Engineering (UAE)
4. Why is the Burj al-Arab shaped like a sail?The sail shape is both pretty and strong; it helps the building stay stable and gives guests amazing views.
5. How did the Burj al-Arab stay standing on the sea?It sits on an artificial island built with 250 concrete pillars that go 50 meters deep, and a steel exoskeleton supports the huge weight and keeps it safe from waves and wind.

Geotechnical Challenges: Difficulties related to the engineering properties of earth materials, especially soil and rock.
Steel Exoskeleton: An external structural framework made of steel that supports a building's form and load.
Duplex Suites: Hotel rooms or apartments that occupy two floors, connected by an internal staircase.
Iconography: The visual images and symbols used in a work of art or architecture.