London, England
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has announced Norman Foster’s Swiss Re Headquarters, a.k.a. “The Gherkin,” as its first 10 Year Award recipient. The uniquely-shaped skyscraper, as described by CTBUH, “turned the tide in an environment that was anti-tall-building,” said Antony Wood, CTBUH Executive Director.
Image: CTBUH-Toby Phillips
Courtesy CTBUH
Nanyang, Signapore
UK designer Thomas Heatherwick has released design images of a technology education building under construction at Nanyang Technology University in Singapore. The building consists of several 8-storey towers containing stacks of ‘corner-less’ tutorial rooms and open galleries in an attempt to encourage a new kind of collaborative studying.
Image: Heatherwick Studio
Courtesy Dezeen
Paris, France
Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines Architectes have won a competition to design a centre for the production and performance of music on Île Seguin (Sequin Island). The 36,500 sq m ‘ship-like’ concept features a wooden structure, which ‘seems to float on the river’ in Shigeru Ban’s signature style.
Image: Shigeru Ban Architects Europe - Jean de Gastines Architects
Courtesy World Architecture News
China
China’s President Xi Jinping has placed a ban on the construction of government buildings for the next five years, in an attempt to tackle corruption, cut wasteful spending and improve the image of the Communist Party (CPC). The ban also includes luxury renovations and expansions “done under the guise of repair work.”
A government office building in Yingquan district in Fuyang. Image: China Photos/Getty Images
Courtesy Bloomberg
Krasnodar, Russia
Manchester-based practice AFL Architects has pledged to create a ‘frightening’ 45,000-seat stadium to house one of Russia’s oldest football club, FC Kuban. The stadium will be capable of hosting FIFA tournament games as well as other sports and events. AFL has said it believes the stadium’s angular design will strike fear into visiting teams.
Courtesy Architects Journal
