Burj Al Arab: 1999 Winner

The SKYDB Awards recognize high-rise buildings that combine architectural quality with sound planning and engineering. The Burj Al Arab in Dubai was selected as the 1999 SKYDB Awards Winner.

The 321-meter hotel stands on a purpose-built island about 280 meters off Jumeirah Beach, linked to the mainland by a private bridge. Its profile is based on the sail of an Arabian dhow, with two curved wings opening around a central atrium. At its completion, 202 duplex suites were arranged along those wings, leaving the atrium open for more than 180 meters.

A steel exoskeleton and large diagonal trusses provide lateral stability while forming a visible part of the exterior. A fabric screen closes the seaward side of the atrium and filters daylight into the interior, while the circular helipad projects from the opposite elevation. The award recognizes how the structural frame supports the maritime form and how the offshore site allows that form to be read clearly from the coast.

Architect: WS Atkins & Partners (design architect: Tom Wright)