Carbon cube a wake-up call for global leaders, MAD creates a vertical urban forest and struggling architects going back to school for free.
DENMARK
A carbon dioxide "cube" has been placed in front of Copenhagen's Tycho Brahe Planetarium, showing global leaders and citizens what one metric tonne of CO2 looks like. Created by artist Alfio Bonanno and architect Christophe Cornubert, the cube is a representation of the amount of CO2 that an average person produces in one month.
CHINA
MAD Architects has unveiled plans to create a vertical Urban Forest. Designed for Chongqing, the project consists of a stacked vertical forest, designed to bring more nature and open space to the city. Urban Forest is a commercial high-rise with over 70 floors, each in an abstract, curved shape, slightly off-centre to give to facade an "organic" look, Archi-Europe reports. Some floors are nothing but open space, while others contain office and residential space as well.
UNITED KINGDOM
Unemployed and under-employed architects can now attend free development courses at Westminster University as part of the Build Up program. There are 1,500 places on offer and three program strands - networking and career development workshops; courses on skills such as project management and inclusive design; and collaborative, interdisciplinary projects.
UNITED STATES
Rafael Vinoly's Las Vegas Hotel in CityCenter opened on 1 December. The 57-storey Vdara Hotel and Spa is distinguished by its slender profile and curvature and the interlocking arcs of ARIA Resort and Casino located across the shared circular drive. Amenities include a two-level wellness spa, salon and fitness centre. The Hotel comprises 1,495 suites and has achieved LEED Gold certification.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Great Outdoors awards were held last week in Maastricht, rewarding interior designers in various categories and promoting discussion on the growing importance of the interior throughout the world. Swedish agency, Guise, was named Design Firm of the Year and Japanese firm, Design Spirits, took out the 'Relax and Consume' category. Alexander Reichert won the 'Show and Sell' category while Bureau Ira Koers and Studio Roelof Mulder were presented with the 'Serve and Facilitate' prize.
