It takes a special kind of building to stand out in an area that is crowded with amazing tall buildings like Dubai Marina.
This famous skyscraper somehow manages to achieve this because of its incredible twisting design.
Granted, it was not the first twisting skyscraper in the world, but it did hold a remarkable record upon completion.
In this article, you’ll discover some of the most interesting facts about the Cayan Tower, a building in Dubai that is also known as the Infinity Tower.
1. It’s located in the utmost northern part of Dubai Marina
People who visited Dubai 30 years ago wouldn’t believe their eyes when they visit this city in the United Arab Emirates today.
Dozens of skyscrapers have been constructed, as well as many other major projects such as Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, and many of these are centered around a specific area.
Dubai Marina is a section of Dubai that was established around an artificial canal and has become a hotspot for tourists.
It stretches about 3 kilometers (2 miles) along the Persian Gulf and offers some of the most amazing views of the amazing buildings that were built here.
The Cayan Tower is one of these and is located at the northern tip of Dubai Marina. It can easily be recognized because of its twisting design.
2. It’s one of several supertall skyscrapers on this block
The tower features 75 floors and reaches a height of 306 meters (1,004 feet) above the ground below.
In most other cities, this height would classify it as one of the tallest buildings in the city. Definitely in the neighborhood that it’s located in.
This is not the case for the Cayan Tower because it’s adjoined by dozens of other supertall buildings. This section of Dubai Marina is referred to as the “Tallest Block in the World.”
Elite Residence, 23 Marina, Princess Tower, Marina 106, Marina 101, and DAMAC Residenze are all taller than their twisting brother.
3. It was designed by a renowned American architectural firm
The tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill SOM architectural group, an American architectural firm that was founded in Chicago in 1936.
Today, the company has offices all around the world and has been involved in some of the most notable projects in history.
Yes, this is the firm that designed Burj Khalifa, as of today still the tallest building in the world with a stunning height of 828 meters (2,717 feet).
Other famous projects designed by SOM are the Willis Tower in Chicago, the One World Trade Center in New York, and the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City.
4. It became the tallest twisting skyscraper in the world upon completion
The first major twisting skyscraper that was constructed was the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, one of the most influential skyscrapers in history.
Designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, this Neo-Futurism building was completed in 2005 and stands 191 meters (627 feet) tall.
The Cayan Tower surpassed the Turning Torso by quite a margin in 2013 and became the tallest skyscraper in the world with a twist of over 90 degrees.
It was in turn surpassed in 2015 by the Shanghai Tower, a building that is more than double as tall at 632 meters (2,073 feet).
5. The construction was halted for a year due to a serious accident
It took almost 7 years before the tower was completed. The first stone was laid on August 19, 2006, but it wasn’t officially completed until June 10, 2013.
A disaster occurred during the construction when a wall that was holding back the water from the Dubai Marina canal was breached and started flooding the construction site.
This happened about a year and a half after construction had started and it took over a year before this mess was solved.
The breach happened on February 7, 2007, and construction work only resumed in July 2008.
6. Its name was changed from Infinity Tower to Cayan Tower for a specific reason
The tower was officially announced as the Infinity Tower, but the developers figured that this wasn’t unique enough to make it stand out.
The twisting design alone wasn’t unique enough as well because dozens of twisting skyscrapers had popped up way before the tower was completed.
It was only renamed after it was completed because there were too many infinity towers already, and as the developers stated, there will never be another Cayan Tower in the world.
7. The residents inside the tower aren’t bothered by sunlight in any way
There are 495 apartments in the tower, and yes, this means that this amazing skyscraper is solely used as a residential tower.
The problem with many towers in a sunny location like Dubai is the sunlight that penetrates the condos inside the building.
All apartments are equipped with titanium-colored metal panels that are adjoined by sunscreens to avoid any direct sunlight from entering the rooms.
Yes, residents of this tower don’t have to worry about the sunlight at all, which is quite fascinating considering there are no balconies.
8. The tower looks even more impressive at night
Dubai is a fascinating city if you like skyscrapers, and walking around near the tallest block in the world is certainly an amazing experience.
This amazement is definitely magnified when you walk around at night, a time when all tall buildings are illuminated in different ways.
It’s an amazing sight to behold and the Cayan Tower is definitely one of the most notable features of the Dubai skyline.
