Compare this design from Rem Koolhaas (OMA) for the RAK, a new research facility in Dubai, with the Death Star (Star Wars, remember ..). This is no coincidence - The Emperor is not amused!

‘Restless Planet’, this will be the name of the ‘amusement park’ being build right now in Dubai, for the exorbitant pricetag of 1,1 billion dollar. Closer to Jurassic Park, you can’t get. Me likes a lot!

In just a few weeks, constructors in Dubai start with their next architecture record attempt: building the biggest and highest arch bridge in the world (genre http://vwkombi.com/photos/around-australia/Images/16.jpg, so not competing with hanging bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge). 200 Meters high, 12 driving lanes and a price tag of 817 million dollar. Not that they needed this bridge - they just like doing stuff like this. ‘Because they can’. In all cases: this looks spacy and cool. Take a look at this render, and think that this iddylic landscape with grass, water and little sailing boats is right in the middle of the dessert. In the background you see the ‘Dubai Towers’. In a few years, movie directors won’t need CGI anymore, they can film ‘Minority Report 2′ easily in Dubai ..

Belgium dredging companies are already working for years in Dubai now, adding and removing some sand, creating canals, islands and the like - doing everything to create a most luxurious atmosphere in Dubai. The famous ‘Palm Island’ is already reality and is being finished ‘as we speak’. But it doesn’t stop there. A luxurious world of small islands is being made in front of the coast line, to be transformed in a chill out holiday resort. State of the art exclusivity - like they call it themselves in the promo video.