Stumbled upon this great link, which is a collection of images documenting the boomtown madness that is Dubai. In the designer’s mind, this looks like a series of renderings of fantastical buildings from the deepest recesses of an architects wildest fantasies and while, in some sense that could be true, the wild part is that virtually all of these projects have been greenlighted.

Leaving us recession(ish)-shaken Americans with gaping jaws at the mere thought of these monstrosities coming to light is a humbling experience. Not since the Post-War era have we even come close, and even that pales in comparison.

According to the link, Dubai is said to currently have 15-25% of all the world’s cranes. As a bourgeoning showcase for the world’s tallest buildings, it has lofty goals of making a name for itself by any means necessary. Also fascinating is the development of Hydropolis, the world’s first underwater hotel, said to be ready by 2009. Found a truly bizarre website which seems to be the corporate entity for this “under”-taking, but be sure to put on your goggles with the UG-LEE filter first.

With their oil reserves dwindling, Dubai has sought to reinvent itself as a tourism mecca for Europe and beyond. The appeal is definitely reaching beyond, as least to the most adventurous of us. Would like to think I will actually make it there someday, as prices seem to be reportedly dropping, due to the onslaught of the tourism industry. Would make for one aesthetically mind-boggling, sensory walloping experience that really shouldn’t be missed.