Super tall skyscrapers are a dime a dozen in Dubai, so it’s time to try something different. How about a super slim one instead? Enter Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning studio RCR Arquitectes, who have unveiled their design for the 1,247-foot-high Muraba Veil skyscraper in downtown Dubai. The tower will stand out not just for its height but for its unique design, it will be only one apartment wide.
The rendering shows it rising like a sleek toothpick amidst a curtain of robust towers. But if standing out is the goal, the Muraba Veil has already succeeded. It’s no small feat to shine in Dubai’s supercharged architectural landscape, and Muraba’s minimalist, narrow profile rooted in centuries-old domestic architecture makes it a winner.
The Spanish studio has partnered with Dubai-based developer Muraba to create this 73-story skyscraper, which will house 131 apartments, each spanning the width of the building for panoramic views in both directions.
According to Dezeen, the luxurious residence will also feature a spa, restaurant, art gallery, paddle court, meeting rooms, a private cinema, and a “dune-like” communal space at its base. Clad in stainless steel mesh, the building’s exterior truly lives up to its “veil” name.
The width of the building, just 22.5 meters, matches the size of a single apartment, with the design inspired by traditional local homes arranged around a reimagined “Arab courtyard.”
Apartments start at AED 18 million ($4.9 million). Alongside the Muraba Veil, several other under-construction skyscrapers are set to dominate Dubai’s skyline, including the world’s tallest residential tower, Tigers Sky Tower, and the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Burj Azizi.
The record for being the skinniest building in the world is currently held by 111 West 57th Street, also known as Steinway Tower. This supertall residential skyscraper in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City is an 84-story, 1,428-foot tower designed by SHoP Architects and completed in 2021.
