Supertall redesign in Mecca
 

We've heard the rumors of Mecca's 485m Abraj Al-Bait construction may have had a redesign. Maybe the renders that were published were already dated after the tower began to rise or not, but I was wondering if this is the new (or final) design:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5796/1lu5.jpg

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/1143/2rg9.jpg

Abraj Al-Bait construction in Mecca:
June 28:
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1732/mecca2cq.jpg
Older model of the area:
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1...ate30ov.th.jpg http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7...ate20oj.th.jpg http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2...ate11sm.th.jpg http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2...cle35kn.th.jpg http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9...le226sf.th.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7...ity12yi.th.jpg http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/4...ity53rd.th.jpg http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9...ity46nq.th.jpg http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6...ity37mx.th.jpg http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5...ity26el.th.jpg http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8...le116fu.th.jpg

There's too much secrecy about this project.

Do Muslims really want their most Holy City turned into a conservative version of Las Vegas?

2005:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6016/mecca1wi9.jpg

Oct 27th:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3...0272005sc5.jpg

Nov:
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/624/mecca2ij6.jpg

Dec. 29th:
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/967...2292005ik2.jpg

2006:

Jan 24th:
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2...1242006nl8.jpg

Mar 22nd:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/829...a322006kr6.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5...3220063kg9.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/7...3220061yg3.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2...3220062pc9.jpg

June 28th:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9...6282006cs1.jpg

so is it just going to be a hotel for rich people on their haajes

I'm not taking a stab at Muslims, but it's really quite sad to see any religon exploited or commercialized as this. What's worse, if this was an American project, extremists would probably burn it.

Exploited or commercialized is an understatement, I think. It's going to have a mall/shopping center in the bottom of it. I thought it was only going to be a premium hotel for the area, but I guess they're going after shoppers as well.

mall website:
http://www.abrajalbait.com/main.html

Taken about a month ago, but as new as we're going to get. Not many photogs there:

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/1659/img0122ev2.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2301/img0142du6.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7...cca6806vq6.jpg
khalelooo

That's what i was thinking. As far as i know, there is nothing more than a few stories around The Vatican.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2562/mecca52065rx1.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4449/mecca52063et3.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/441/mecca52062nf5.jpg

Intresting project. I just don't like it as I would rather it be something that fits with the Mosque in tersm of architecture. If the building was say in Jeddah instead it would be great.

^ I wonder if it were more white/light tan, rather than brown w/green windows, it would have fit in better.

While doing Dubailand update, makes me wonder if it belongs there
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/3387/5el2.jpg

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/8638/10gg4.jpg

OMG!!!!!!! That thing is massive! It's amazing what they've been building out in the Middle East.

Very interesting.

Aug. 5th:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6392/2gu2.jpg
atitsbest

Sep. 5th:
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2429/1vc7.jpg
navidlatifi

I dont really find a problem about those skyscrapers.

People go there to pray not sightseeing. We need those hotesl to supply the demand.

I really hope that's the new design! It looks so much better then the old ones. It just looks a lot more cohesive and put together.