Dubai to build world's first rotating skyscraper

The city of Dubai plans to build the world's first rotating skyscraper, which will give residents 360-degree views.

Scheduled for completion by 2020, the Dynamic Tower Hotel is the brainchild of architect David Fisher of Dynamic Architecture.

The 80-storey, 420m-tall tower will have floors that can rotate in both directions. Residents will be able to programme their apartments to move in tandem with the sun, so that they can get sunlight throughout the day. They can also use voice-activated controls to adjust the speed or stop the movement.

Read also: Trump sons open Dubai golf course

The skyscraper is expected to be completely self-powered, reportedly featuring as many as 79 horizontal-lying wind turbines between floors, as well as roof-mounted solar panels. The Dynamic Tower Hotel was planned in 2008 but the project was put on hold until now. Dynamic Architecture said on its website that "it will no longer be a hotel but a new product in line with today's life".

Read also: Bank of Singapore opens Dubai branch

Individual apartment units can be bought at prices ranging from US$4 million (S$5.7 million) to US$40 million, reported CNN.

Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, is home to hundreds of high-rise buildings, including the world's tallest, the Burj Khalifa. It also has the world's largest man-made island and the world's largest shopping mall.

This article was first published on Feb 23 , 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.