The soaring skyscraper known as Burj Dubai shed one title and gained another on Monday – that of the tallest building on the planet.

Previously, people could only call it the world’s tallest structure since it was not open to the general public.

The actual height was kept a secret – but the fact that it would house an Armani Hotel was not – before the opening. But, as The New York Times noted, it stands a proud 828 meters tall, or 2,717 feet.

I’ve seen some earlier reports that put the height at 818 meters. The Gray Lady estimates the price to be about $1.5 billion, though the $4 billion amount also has been thrown about.

The New York Times has the details in its report, including the name change:

In a surprise move, the building’s name was changed from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa, in honor of the president of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Yes, the economies throughout the world are continuing with the slog that started about two years ago or so. Dubai recently received financial help to the tune of billions of dollars to pay its bills.

I’ve written about the building still popularly known as the Burj Dubai, largely because architecture fascinates me and the Taipei 101 Tower no longer can claim this prestigious title.

I tried visiting the building’s official Web site. But I couldn’t get through, probably because so many in the world are interested in learning more about the building.

In a way, I like the idea of naming buildings after people.

Perhaps, down the road if I ever have the opportunity, I can name a building after myself.

Something like: Burj Wong.

It’s just a thought.

Keep in mind that if financing comes through, another Dubai skyscraper – the Nakheel Tower – will take the world’s tallest building tower around 2020.

The Times of London noted one theory from an analyst – that economic crashes follow the opening of record-holding skyscrapers.

Let’s hope not.

I wonder if leaders in Beijing want to enter the market of record-holding skyscrapers.

In Seattle, we still have the Smith Tower.

It’s not the tallest in the city. But in my book, it’s got spunk, character and history.

Oh, and if you didn’t see what’s topping The New York Times most e-mailed list for stories as I type, it’s one about people in the United States doing more with less.

There is something to be said about simplicity.

Dubai, as you’ve seen, has caught the world’s attention in recent days, largely because of the possibility that developers might not be able to repay their debt on time.

Dubai World, which The New York Times describes as the main investment arm, stands an estimated $59 billion in the hole.

The newspaper reported that Dubai World floated the idea of not repaying interest on that debt for half a year.

It also ran a piece talking about how Dubai World wants to temporarily stop paying for all or part of its debt.

Yes, that can rattle markets.

If there’s any symbol of the rocket-like growth in Dubai, it has to be the Burj Dubai, the more than $4 billion structure which is the world’s tallest at 818 meters, or 2,684 feet.

It’s on the list to take the world’s tallest building title away from the Taipei 101 Tower.

There are reports that the Burj Dubai – which was scheduled to partially open on Dec. 2 – will now welcome the public inside in January.

It’s easy to marvel at the structure from afar – what with the planned Armani Hotel looming inside the structure designed by architect Adrian Smith.

A few years ago, back in the good old days, a U.S. television crew was able to marvel at the soaring building, take viewers on a tour and stand on top.

It’s a great video to watch because I know how rare it is to visit such a building. 

It’s more sobering, of course, to realize the back end of any financial deal, namely paying for it.

From the Times article:

Now that the boom has gone bust, both in Dubai and in the United States, Dubai is stuck with a glut of real estate that no one wants to buy or rent….Now, just as Bear Stearns was a harbinger of a string of failures of overly leveraged investment banks, the concern is that Dubai could be the canary in the coal mine for heavily indebted countries. 

Earlier this year, there were reports of workers from other countries – who arrived to find opportunities – leaving Dubai because of the poor economy.

It wasn’t that long ago – in April 2008 – when The New York Times ran a glowing travel article about Dubai, complete with a photo gallery showing an opulent lifestyle that mirrored a glossy magazine (actually, a Web site that has sharp, rich, dense colorful photographs is better to say these days) but could be experienced.

Here’s the beginning of that travel piece:

YOU name it, Dubai has it. Or if it doesn’t have it, it’s building it. Or if it’s not building it, it’s dredging up an island to put it on. The busiest of the seven United Arab Emirates is growing so fast that its newest developments can only be measured in hummingbird flaps.

Also, apparently, there’s a set of islands in Dubai designed to reflect a world map – or that’s what Michiel van Raaij writes in this Eikongraphia blog post. 

The islands are called The World and you can watch the developer’s video introduction about the project.

I think this island project is amazing. I mean: Would we have thought of it?

Thinking about this project as Dubai World tells the world that it can’t pay its debt right now is, well, an illustration of context.

It’s easy to use hindsight as a tool, as you know.

I only use it in reference to the article’s first sentence because financial instability – or the possibility of it – is something that I don’t think the world markets want Dubai to have.

Markets do come back.

The question, of course, is when, to what extent and in what form. But it’s safe to say that we’ve seen enough dips in the U.S. and world economy in recent months.

But this bump in Dubai could be a big one – even markets in Asia dropped because of the news.

This news means many things for many people.

Among them: The owners of the Taipei 101 Tower.

They’ll get to keep the title of world’s tallest building for at least one more month.

Really, though, it’s a strange way to hold on to the title. Right now, I question whether anyone really cares anymore.

NOTE: The message in the red box in the video is from the YouTube operator and not from me.

UPDATE: It looks like Dubai is going to receive help from the central bank of the United Arab Emirates.

When it opens later this year, the Burj Dubai will be the world's tallest building. Image source: burjdubaiskyscraper.com via glasssteelandstone.com

If there’s a time to crane your neck in the sky to see what lurks closer to the clouds, I suppose it is now.

As you can see from the towering, soon-to-be-finished Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, I’m not talking about a Buddhist temple perched on the curve of a giant mountain in Tibet, China, India or Bhutan.

But that sight that would be nice, too.

The Burj Dubai reportedly costs $4.1 billion and shoots up 818 meters – or 2,684 feet – already making it the world’s tallest structure.

With over 160 stories, it will likely open on Dec. 2 - or at least part of it will - as part of the Emirates’ National Day, according to BurjDubaiSkyscraper.

The building has its official site with interesting facts - but it’s best to be patient with the audio or to turn your speakers down.

There are numerous construction images, though, that start from 2003.

Emaar Properties, which is backing the project, called the structure “tangible proof of Dubai’s central role in a growing world.”

Based on the number of high-end skyscrapers in Dubai, or ones that will be built, I agree.

A human can see the Burj Dubai’s spire from 60 miles, or 95 kilometers, away. The building will eventually house one of the first Armani Hotels, Emaar Properties noted.

Which begs a minor question: Will Hugo Boss or GORE-TEX follow suit with a hotel of their own in a taller building?

In terms of height, it will strip the prestigious title of world’s tallest building from the Taipei 101 Tower.

The Taipei 101 Tower is currently the world's tallest building at 508 to 509 meters, or about 1,670 feet. It has 101 stories. Image source: havefuntravel.tw

In a way, I’m actually happy to learn that fact. Of course, it will still be a sight to see this building in Taiwan.

But at least I will no longer get confused as to which place in Asia has the world’s tallest building.

I always seemed to bounce between two or three places – Malaysia? Taiwan? Mainland China? – every few years.

As a point of reference – especially for Seattle-area residents – the Burj Dubai will be about four-and-a-half times taller than the iconic and local favorite Smith Tower.

For nearly half a century, it held the title of tallest U.S. building west of the Mississippi River.

The iconic Smith Tower in Seattle. Image source: Wikipedia

I thought about whether the Burj Dubai would be height competition for Mount Rainier or Microsoft co-founder’s Paul Allen’s craft, SpaceShipOne, which won the X Prize.

My conclusion (thanks to information posted on the Internet): Not even close.

Yes, I know: It’s not quite fair to compare Mother Nature or a spaceship to architecture.

The architect responsible for the Burj Dubai is Adrian Smith, who worked on China’s tallest building – the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.

His company’s site, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, is worth visiting just to get insight into how the human brain can come up with inspirational designs of the future. 

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat apparently is responsible for designating the tallest buildings in the world and will play a role with giving the Burj Dubai its official title.

I’m glad to learn about the council because I did not know of its existence.

On its site, the council has fascinating design information, facts and photographs – including images of the Burj Dubai.

It will take a few clicks to locate those photographs. But find Dubai on this page and look for the Burj Dubai photo series.

Finally, it’s good that such a group has the power to make an official ruling because there’s apparent debate as to whether spires and antennas on top of buildings should count, as compared to actual space used by humans.

The Luxury Property Blog notes that the official height was kept secret for a period because, apparently, competitors are lurking out there.

The worldwide credit crunch, though, reportedly halted some efforts, according to this Luxury Property Blog post.

One drawing of towers for Dubai, posted on that blog, resembles flames from candles.

And you know how company chief executives, presidents and board chairs love having the best corner office for its view and prestige?

Imagine, if you held those titles – or even if you didn’t – and had the top office in the Burj Dubai.

I’ve always maintained that looking to the future can be useful.

In that light and given structures already underway, it looks like that the Burj Dubai might hold the world’s tallest building title until around 2020, when the Nakheel Tower of Dubai makes its debut.

It is expected to tower over 1,000 meters or 3,281 feet. It will likely have over 200 stories.

For now, I’m trying to keep my thoughts as simple as possible.

In that regard, I’m content just thinking about upturned eaves and those cool structures from Seattle-based Modern-Shed Co.

You can use those sheds as an office or recreation area.