Vdara Death Ray, Duck, Billboard Thing...

Every now and then a story comes along that just makes me laugh. This is definitely one of those times! This building BURNS people - okay its not that funny, sorry but actually it is! If you are sitting pool side in Las Vegas at this hotel you get extra heat due to a reflection off the curved glass facade.  The heat has been measured at 160 degrees! Yes we have a bunch of sitting ducks! Vegas is already as hot as hell - add to that the death ray and a few margaritas and it is literally death by architecture. 

Look at this picture! it is a plastic bag with the name of the hotel SINGED right into it!  I do not make this stuff up, the actual building reflection melted through this bag. Talk about branding - this marketing department took that term a bit too literally, Wait a minute - Maybe it is  GENIUS, I never thought of using the actual building to brand my clients - Ha ha ha....  I wonder if anyone has actually gotten a burn with the name on their back- that would be awesome! Numerous guests have complained about the problem and the folks that work there jokingly call it the "Death Ray".  I wonder how Venturi would categorize this new Strip Phenomenon, you have the duck, the billboard and now drum roll please..... the Laser- Think it will catch on?  Maybe I can have a symposium at Yale about it! Come on folks you can allocate some of the project budget to shade structures at the pool.... Who Built This Shit!

My Precious....

 

Seriously?  What THE??!#@$#%@#% is that... AHHHH its in Dubai... for  some reason logic has never applied to Dubai. This is the only city in the world that would dare design a building that looks like a giant Turbine, then seek LEED certification for it and the TURBINE DOESNT EVEN WORK! no shit. The turbine is actually a floating restaurant.  I do not jest.  To bad I already used my Eye of Sauron reference.  Oh hell - lets use it again....

    
It works right?  pretty close match... so now we know the secret - The countries with the oil have the RING! CRAP!  It is astonishing that Dubai has continued down this road.  Apparently this building was slated to be the tallest building in the world (Frodo wouldn't expect any less) but it was canceled in 2008 because of the recession... I found one source that says it is now back on but don't hold me to it.  My Precious!  Who Builds This Shit!