Dubai’s Ring To Rule Them All: Workshopping Ways to Ruin the Burj Khalifa’s View

The Burj Khalifa, with a height of 829 metres tall, is the world’s crowning jewel of architectural brilliance. It’s soon to get a new ring to it—literally.

Dreamed up by the team at Dubai-based architecture-firm, ZNera Space, the Downtown Circle project is a new, futuristic concept that will feature a 550-metre ring that will wrap around the grand tower, consisting of housing and commercial spaces.

The cofounders of ZNera Space, Najmus Chowdry and Nils Remess, thought of dipping their toes in Dubai’s housing pond during the Covid pandemic, but instead of building outwards, they figured upwards was the way to go.

To be suspended on four huge pillars, the concept for the Downtown Circle will include residential areas, business offices, community spaces, a fully-running transport system and green spaces. It’ll be made completely using sustainable materials too. Their Skygarden ‘lung’ will run through the entire ring, boasting entire climates and natural habitats.

Panoramic views, an abundance of natural light and lavish greenery will be what the Skygarden will offer and include canyons, sandy dunes, swamps, waterfalls, digital caves and tropical vegetation. With sustainability in mind, the architects have also included in their design a rail system of suspended pods that will travel at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.

Dubai is an ever-growing city, with new buildings popping up at a very fast rate—buildings that will surely knock your socks off with their futuristic looks. The Downtown Circle will be no exception.