Modern Day Babel: Saudi prince plans mile-high skyscraper!

I've said many times before in my coverage of the insane building projects in the middle east that they represent the modern day spirit of babel. This most recent project is therefore no surprise to me:

"Mile-high tower: Saudi prince promises £5bn desert spire TWICE as tall as nearest rival being built"

On a clear day, the view from the top will take in the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Ocean - providing you've a head for heights.

Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London's Savoy Hotel.

At 5,250ft, the ~$10billion project, masterminded by two British engineering consultancies, will be twice as high as its nearest rivals, skyscrapers under construction in Dubai and Kuwait, and almost seven times as high as the Canary Wharf tower in London's Docklands....

.... Experts say the technical challenges are enormous. Much of the lifting will be carried out by helicopters, which will also be used as commuter transport for builders.

The tower will have to be capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures, with its top baking in the desert sun by day but dropping to well below freezing at night.

To resist the strong winds prevalent in the area and stop it swaying, giving its occupants a form of high-rise seasickness, it will be fitted with a giant computer-operated damper.

(Estimated completion date: 2012. )

Everything new, is old. Nimrod lives.