Would Dubai island be fitting memorial to pop star?

Sunday, 27 September 2009 2:23 PM

JACKSON ISLAND: One of the designs put forward for a Dubai island to be a lasting memorial to pop star Michael Jackson.

A global competition to design a fitting memorial to pop star Michael Jackson has seen three entries proposing a new Jackson-shaped island off the coast of Dubai.

The design competition, launched by US architecture and design website Archinect and its sister site Bustle , attracted a total of 158 entries from fans across the world.

Three of them centred around building a new island near Dubai similar to The World and Palm Jumeirah.

Two proposed building an island in the shape of a dancing Michael Jackson while another suggested a development in the shape of his head, next to The World project.

Below are the three entries:

The King of Pop
By Steven Ward (Louisville)
In tribute to Michael Jackson, Dubai’s most spectacular artificial island development to date will capture Jackson’s signature pose in profile. From the tip of The Palm Jumeirah development, The King of Pop will extend an additional 25km into the Gulf, adding hundreds of kilometres of new shoreline to the Dubai waterfront and thousands of opportunities for Jackson’s legacy to inspire exciting new residential, leisure and entertainment centers in a variety of settings.

Jackson Island
By eigenvectors (NYC)
Michael Jackson’s iconic dance moves are recognisable as the earth’s map or a palm tree. The Michael Jackson Memorial Island would be placed off the coast of Dubai next to the other man made islands. The island would include an airport, hotel, amusement parks, and many ranches.

Jackson Islands
By zsuzsanna (Vienna-Budapest)
Dubai has been the place of architectural miracles, whose achievements are visible even from outer Space. None of the existing constructions will, however, be comparable in monumentality to the new Jackson islands. With a size of 10 by 15km, the islands are formed after the lines of Michael Jackson’s face. His face, an enclosed bay, is turning towards the continent. Unlike all the other islands in Dubai, these ones are artificial hills, reaching a peak of 3,776 metres (the height of the Fuji Mount).

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Posted by: Dubai2005 Tuesday, 29 September 2009 9:34 AM[UAE] - U.A.E.

Haters, the lot of ya... ha ha As good for Dubai's economy it may be (in that it would employ scores of design companies, engineers & contractors) the water depth out there makes reclamation unfeasible and the additional 25km into the Gulf, past the 11km The World already occupies, puts MJ Island close to or even in Mr. Ahmadinejad's territory!...

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Posted by: Mart Monday, 28 September 2009 8:54 PM[UAE] - Dubai, UAE

As if Dubai doesn't have enough debt already. If they build another Island 25km big they'll probably have a debt mountain to rival that of the Late Mr Jackson himself.

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Posted by: Mike Monday, 28 September 2009 2:52 PM[UAE] - UAE

For god's sake, let's stop this stupidity and focus on building Dubai's reputation not continue to destroy it with such ridiculous projects!

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Posted by: Puck Monday, 28 September 2009 10:22 AM[UAE] - UAE

hmmm, this scheme seems just about perfect!....a wacky monument for the king of wackiness in the capital of wackiness (with apologies to LA and LV)....let's see if one of the local groups pick it up, perhaps Dubailand?

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