Wednesday, April 5, 2017


GREEN ROOF GARDENING:

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane.




A roof garden is a garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydro-logical benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, recreational opportunities, and in large scale it may even have ecological benefits.


Why do we need green roofs?

Detail Of Rooftop Green Layers Placement
Plants reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produce oxygen. 

Green roofs reduce the heat island effect, which is the main cause of ozone production.

Plant roofs remove heavy metals, airborne particles and volatile organic compounds.





General Benefits:
1. Prolonging the service life of heating,ventilation,and HVAC systems through decreased use.

2.   Green roofs reduce the amount of storm-water runoff and also delay the time at which runoff occurs, resulting in decreased stress on sewer systems at peak flow periods.

3. Urban greening has long been promoted as an easy and effective strategy for beautifying the built environment and increasing investment opportunity.

4.   The use of recycled materials in the growing medium.

5.   Green roofs can also help reduce the distribution of dust and particulate matter throughout the city, as well as the production of smog. This can play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting urban areas to a future climate with warmer summers.

6.   The temperature moderating effects of green roofs can reduce demand on power plants, and potentially decrease the amount of carbon dioxide and other polluting by-products being released into the air.

7.   Green roofs help to reach the principles of smart growth and positively affect the urban environment by increasing amenity and green space and reducing community resistance to infill projects. Green roofs can serve a number of functions and uses, including:
  • Community gardens (e.g. local food production or co-ops)

  • Commercial space (e.g. display areas and restaurant terraces)

  • Recreational space (e.g. lawn bowling and children’s playgrounds)
How much to average cost to implementation green roof garden in Pakistan?

It depend upon the space used to garden size of plants required and how much spending onto the rooftop  to look aesthetically appearance. An average cost of 10 Marla expenditure came is Rs: 75000 in Pakistan and additional cost you have spending that to it as your per requirement.

Thursday, March 23, 2017



Abraj al Bait Towers - Saudi Arabia

The Abraj Al-Bait Towers, also known as the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower, is a government-owned mega tall building complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. These towers are a part of the King Abdul-Aziz Endowment Project that strives to modernize the city in catering to its pilgrims. The site of the complex is located across the street to the south from an entrance to the Masjid al Haram mosque, which houses the Kaaba.
To accommodate worshipers visiting the Kaaba, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers has a large prayer room capable of holding more than 10,000 people. The tallest tower in the complex also contains a five-star hotel, operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, to help provide lodging for the millions of pilgrims that travel to Mecca annually to participate in the Hajj.

In addition, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers has a 5-story shopping mall (the Abraj Al Bait Mall) and a parking garage capable of holding over a thousand vehicles. Residential towers house permanent residents while two heliports and a conference center are to accommodate business travelers. In total, up to 100,000 people could be housed inside the towers. The project uses clock faces for each side of the hotel tower. The highest residential floor stands at 450 meter (1,480 ft.), just below the spires. The clock faces are   43 m × 43 m (141 ft. × 141 ft.) largest in the world. The roof of the clocks is 530 meter (1,740 ft.) above the ground, making them the world's most elevated architectural clocks. A 71 meter tall spire (233 ft.) has been added on top of the clock giving it a total height of 601 meters (1,972 ft.). The tower also includes an Islamic Museum and a Lunar Observation Center which will also be used to sight the moon during the Holy Months.

Design and construction:
Ø Architect: Dar Al-Handasah Architects
Ø Structural engineer: Dar Al-Handasah
Ø Main contractor: Saudi Bin Ladin Group

Technical details:
Ø Material  main structural system: reinforced concrete
Ø  Lower part: steel/concrete composite construction, steel construction
Ø (Upper Part) cladding: glass, marble, natural stone, carbon-/glass-fiber     reinforced plastic
Ø Floor count:120
Ø Floor area Tower: 310,638 sq.m (3,343,680 sq. ft.)
Ø Development: 1,575,815 sq.m (16,961,930 sq. ft.)

Feature:

The building is topped by a four-faced clock, visible from 25 kilometers (16 miles) away. The clock is the highest in the world at over 400 meter (1,300 ft.) above the ground. The clock's face is the largest clock face in the world, surpassing the Cevahir Mall clock in Istanbul.
Each of the clock's four faces measure 46 m (151 ft.) in diameter and are illuminated by 2 million LED lights, with four oriented edges, just above the clock alongside huge Arabic script reading: “God is the Greatest” on the north and south faces and on the west and east the Koran. Four golden domes on pillars on all the corners are also present. Another 21,000 white and green colored lights, the same as the Saudi Flag, fitted at the top of the clock, will flash to signal Islam's five-times daily prayers, and will be visible as far as 30 km (19 mi) away. On special occasions such as New Year, 16 bands of vertical lights will shoot some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) up into the sky. The clock's four faces will be covered with 98 million pieces of glass mosaics. The Saudi coat of arms is displayed at the center of each clock behind the dials. The minute hand is
22 m (72 ft.) long, while the hour hand is 17 m (56 ft.) long.An observatory deck is at the base of the clock. Elevators take visitors up to an observation balcony just beneath the clock faces. There were rumors  that the clock would be set to local Mecca Time, in an attempt to replace Greenwich as the prime meridian for global time keeping, but the clock is set to Arabia Standard Time (UTC+03:00).

The spire:

The main building is topped by a 93 m (305 ft.) spire with 23 m (75 ft.) high golden crescent at the top. The spire has the black observation pod at the bottom which contains a lunar gallery, a control tower and the main observation deck.
The crescent was constructed in Dubai by Premier Composite Technology in April 2011. The crescent is made of fiberglass-backed mosaic gold, and it weighs up to 35 tones. Peugeot Joseph, the company official, said a team of five engineers and a hundred workers carried out the project, which cost 90 million United Arab Emirates Durham, and it took three months to build it. The company has also constructed the Mecca Clock. The Crescent was divided into 10 parts to move it to Mecca. The crescent was partly assembled on the base of the clock-face to reduce it to 5 parts. Those five parts were then lifted and installed above the spire from 20 June to 6 July 2011.

The minaret and its base have massive loudspeakers that will emit prayer calls to a distance of seven km while nearly 21,000 lamps will illuminate the surrounding area to a distance of 30 kilometers (19 mi).
During occasions like Muslim Eids and new Hijri years, a 16-beam light will illuminate an area of a diameter of around 10 kilometers   (6.2 mi) while 21,000 lamps will beam white and green lights to a distance of 30 kilometers (19 mi). The light beams are intended to allow deaf persons or Muslims in far areas to know prayer timings in the western parts of Mecca and nearby cities.
Yet, despite the claimed need for illumination and awareness of prayer timings in discrete areas and portions around and in Mecca, there are well over 200 existing old mosques in the city; most are frequently attended and therefore well equipped with Muadhins to call the prayer.
Construction fire incidents:
The Abraj-Al-Bait complex has seen two fire incidents during construction. The first fire struck the Hajar Tower on 28 October 2008. It took 400 firefighters to put out the fire, which burned for 10 hours, consuming nine floors of the tower. According to eyewitness reports, the blaze erupted shortly after midnight, and spread rapidly because of wood used for construction stored in the premises. Soon, the entire building was engulfed in smoke. Hospitals were put on high alert, but no injuries were reported. A civil defense spokesman said the fire started on the 32nd floor of Hajar Tower.
The second fire struck Safa tower on 1 May 2009. No deaths or injuries were reported in the blaze that was quickly contained by Civil Defense. Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out soon after Asr prayer while some workers in the building were welding iron rods on wooden scaffoldings. The fire damaged a large part of the under-construction tower. According to Major General Adel Zamzami, director general of Civil Defence in the Mecca province, the fire broke out at the 14th floor and reached up to the 20th.


Comparison of some notable four-face clocks at the same scale.

Ø Top-left: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower
Ø Bottom-left: Allen-Bradley Clock Tower (previous record holder)
Ø Middle: Abraj Al Bait tower
Ø Top-right: Palace of Westminster clock tower
Ø Bottom-right: Kremlin Clock

Luxury Hotel Amenities In Makkah Clock Royal Tower,A Fairmont Hotel:
Located adjacent to the Masjid al Haram, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel offers the finest hospitality in the holy city of Makkah. One of the world’s tallest, this 76-story hotel is the focal point of the Abraj Al Bait Complex, part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project. Among its outstanding features is a 40-meter (130-foot) Royal Clock, visible from 17 kilometers (10 miles) away, which will announce daily prayers to the Muslim world; meanwhile, the Lunar Observation Center and an Islamic Museum aim to preserve Muslim heritage for future generations.
In addition to the opulent and elegant comfort of the rooms and suites offered at this five-star hotel, 56 state-of-the-art elevators allow easy access to Masjid al Haram for prayers. Furthermore, at any time, nine exceptional dining venues will be available to accommodate intimate or vast gatherings.
Spa and Fitness:
At Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel Spa and Health Club you can treat yourself to a healthy, relaxing holiday. With state-of-the art fitness equipment, our Spa is the perfect oasis to relax and restore the skin, body and mind.
The male and female health clubs are exclusive retreats where you can enjoy personalized massage, skincare and body treatments. Featuring a staff of certified and licensed professionals, the health clubs open from 10 am till 10 pm daily, seven days per week.
At Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, our guests will enjoy the best place to enhance their well-being, achieve their fitness goals and rediscover themselves with a truly exceptional spa experience.
Unwind the steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, Gym, Kid’s Club and relish our exclusive healing and therapy, including full body massage and foot massage, that reflect the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel's cultural and environmental heritage. 

Accommodations:



Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, the architectural landmark located in the pulsating heart of the Muslim World, provides it’s guests with a unique opportunity to reside in elegantly furnished and superbly serviced residences with breathtaking views of Masjid Al Haram and the Holy Ka'aba.
Every unit of the hotel’s 1542 guest rooms and suites are thoughtfully and elegantly appointed—with extravagant amenities and five-star services that allow for peaceful reflection and repose.Moreover,76 elevators allow easy access to the holy Masjid Al-Haram for prayers.
The Fairmont Royal, where all the service and luxury synonymous to the Fairmont name go yet another step further.
The Royal Floor is an oasis where the art of exceptional service is elevated to create an exclusive and personalized experience. A private reception desk for efficient yet unhurried check-in and check-out optimizes their productivity in dedicated work areas or simply unwind and reflect. In addition to that, Fairmont Royal offers premium suites that belong in a class of their own, creating an exquisite heaven for guests to pray and relax.
Featuring artistically appealing interiors that reflect the rich Islamic Heritage, Fairmont Residences provide the perfect serenity in generous living spaces that suit our guests' requirements. Ranging from apartments with one, two or three-bedroom options that can accommodate up to 8 guests, most residences offer a kitchen, living room, dining room, and built-in wardrobe.
While the exclusive lobby and separate reception designed to facilitate the guests check-in and check-out procedures, the private entrances and elevators provide easy access to and from Al Haram. Guests of residences have access to the Business Center, the Islamic Studies Authority and the King Abdullah Science Centre, as well as the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum.

Dining:

Whether it’s an intimate, family dinner or a large, social gathering, Makkah Clock Royal Tower offers a variety of unique, full-service dining settings— from classic to contemporary, relaxed to refined. When it comes to our guests, we have but one goal, each and every time: to deliver a successful and seamless experience.
Mazaq Café offers a delightful portfolio of coffees and teas, and a delicious selection of French pastries and snacks.Atyaf, all-dining restaurant offering delicious food from the Middle East, Asia, North Africa, the Levant and Mediterranean.The Grill, the first fine dining steakhouse in any hotel in Makkah.
Aja, a casual Asian noodle restaurant serving the freshest noodles, dim sum, soups and fried rice. Mirkaz Café, offering signature coffee roasts from around the world with delicious chocolates and sweets. Buharat, an Indian buffet featuring a striking tandoor station. Lezzet, High end authentic Ottoman cuisine, feast on Silk Road–inspired lamb dumplings, sweet olive desserts, and beef stews fit for a sultan.Al-Dar, a Lebanese buffet with a wide selection of hot and cold mezzah. Al Dira, the first five-star Saudi restaurant in the City.


Meetings
For the first time, enjoy world-class meeting facilities and services from the heart of the Holy City, including a fully equipped business Centre with secretarial service, 8 state-of-the-art meeting rooms with a pre-function area, and a spectacular ballroom. Ideal for any business function, the hotel offers the most advanced technology in the city including a media room, live translation room, and a roving camera.

Weddings:
For Muslims across the world there is nothing more special than beginning and blessing a marriage in the Holy City of Makkah. That’s why, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel presents Al Jiwar Ballroom, a specialized wedding venue with more than 3,200 sq. meters of adaptable function space. The elegant ballroom fuses modernity and tradition in its breathtaking design, and accommodates up to 1200 guests. Our team of wedding planners and culinary specialists are ready to help you make your wedding dream a reality.


Social Events:

Every personal event should be a memorable one-of-a-kind occasion. In this divine setting, our skilled team creates inspiring setups and delectable cuisines that transform the expected into an unforgettable event experience in the heart of the Muslim world. Suitable for small personal events to large gatherings, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, offers more than 3,200 sq. meters of flexible events space over two floors.

Conclusion:
This is the first time 1st tallest building in the Muslim central state of revolution of skyscraper. It is not good for Muslim central state to build in front of Masjid of Al Haram of Makkah. There are many other controversies on the building of this tower. Like In Islam do not build your houses and other else taller than minaret of Masjid. But it is beneficial for Saudi Arabia economic structure from hajji comes from other Islamic countries for ummarah and hajj to provide them accommodation and dining facilities.