The Mukaab (Arabic: المكعّب, romanized: mukaʻʻab, lit. 'cube', [mukaʕʕab]) is a proposed architectural project to build a 400-meter tall cube-shaped skyscraper in the al-Qirawan district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the five neighborhoods of the planned real estate development of New Murabba. Launched in February 2023, its cuboidal layout and design are inspired by the Murabba Palace.[1][2][3]
| Mukaab | |
|---|---|
المكعّب | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Architectural style | Modern Najdi |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Construction started | 2024 |
| Estimated completion | 2030 |
| Owner | New Murabba Development Company |
| Height | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Background edit
The massive undertaking was announced by the Kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on February 16, 2023.[4][5] The design has been the subject of some criticism for its similarity to the Kaaba at the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest shrine.[6]
The interior as currently planned will feature enormous holographic projections aimed at making viewers feel as if they are in different realities, times, and places. The interior will also feature a swirling tower for observation decks and restaurants, from which the projections will emanate.[7]
The Mukaab is planned to be the centerpiece of a giant new downtown built within the Saudi capital city of Riyadh called New Murabba. It will be the world's largest single-built structure with around 2 million square meters of interior floor space.[8][9][10][11]
The project will be undertaken by the New Murabba Development Company of which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the President.[12]
The cube is intended to be 400 meters (1302 ft.) tall and 400 meters (1302 ft.) wide on each of its four sides.[13]
Plans for the Cube are part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project.[14]
The building's design is inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style.[15]
The Mukaab will also feature a rooftop garden.[16]
See Also edit
References edit
- ^ من المربع القديم للجديد.. الـ"داون تاون" الأحدث عالمياً. www.alriyadh.com (in Arabic). February 18, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ «المربع» بين زمنين في تاريخ العاصمة السعودية. الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ العبوش, قحطان (February 18, 2023). السعودية.. قصر المربع الطيني القديم يكتسب شهرة عالمية عبر مشروع جديد. إرم نيوز (in Arabic). Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to Construct a Colossal Cube-Shaped Skyscraper the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings | Man of Many".
- ^ "The Mukaab: Saudi Arabia's New Project Is A Huge Cube-shaped Structure". Travel + Leisure Asia. March 2, 2023.
- ^ Fatima, Sakina (February 24, 2023). "Saudi's cube-shaped project lands in controversy over 'replicating Kaaba'". The Siasat Daily.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Reveals "Mukaab," a Massive New Cube-Shaped Skyscraper to Enclose Riyadh's Downtown". Arch2O. February 20, 2023.
- ^ Dobson, Amy Rose. "Large Enough To Fit 20 Empire State Buildings, An Immersive City Of The Future Unveils Its Plans". Forbes.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's Latest Sci-Fi Project Is a Cube the Size of 20 Empire State Buildings". www.vice.com. February 21, 2023.
- ^ "The Mukaab: Saudi Arabia's New Project Is A Huge Cube-shaped Structure". March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Unveils Design for the Mukaab, a Large-Scale Cube-Shaped Skyscraper in Riyadh". ArchDaily. February 24, 2023.
- ^ "New Saudi megaproject: What we know about New Murabba, the world's largest downtown". arabianbusiness.com. February 23, 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: New Murabba Development Co. To Transform Downtown Riyadh". Eurasia Review. Arab News. February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Announces Massive Cube Megabuilding in Riyadh". Surf the Sand. March 6, 2023.
- ^ "The Mukaab: Huge cube city planned in Saudi Arabia". International Construction. February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Huge cuboid skyscraper "big enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings"". New Atlas. February 20, 2023.
External links edit