Taiwan Tower
The winning design for the awe-inspiring Taiwan Tower in Taichung Gateway Park was selected back in 2011. Tipped to be the Taiwanese equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, the development sees a triangular section of the park essentially suspended 300m into the air. With no solid structure underneath save a selection of steel support beams, the...
The Future of France
Given the controversy that still surrounds the Montparnasse tower, completed some 40 plus years ago, it’s hard to imagine the futuristic proposal “2050 Paris Smart City,” in a realistic manner. The proposal comes about as a response to architectural responsibility to the environment, examining the role of high-rise architecture and targeting a 75% decrease in...
The Skyscraping Walkie Talkie
The much anticipated Sky Garden gracing the top of 20 Fenchurch St, London, was opened to the public on Monday. Coined the Walkie Talkie building for its swollen upper levels and subsequent resemblance to the apparatuses, the nickname has taken like a duck to water. One of the advantages of swelling the building is having...
MAD Tree-House
Tree covered terraces and translucent metallic walls line the exterior of the approved renovation plans for a residential block in Rome. After initially winning a design competition in 2010, the Beijing Architecture studio, MAD, was charged with completely overhauling the 8-storey building originally built in 1971. 4 years later MAD has finally gotten approval from...
Beirut Breaks Ground
A unique design challenge has been presented to the architects behind a new 11-storey residential building in the trendy neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael in Beirut. The unique design challenge comes in the form of a heritage listed, charming little cottage built in the 1920’s, which resides adjacent to the construction site. Immediately calling to mind...
The Last Stop
One of the few opportunities motorists are afforded to learn about the culture, tradition and history of the towns they travel through, is about to become a thing of the past. Roadside stops in North America are becoming a seriously endangered part of the landscape as motorway budgets become tighter and tighter. While only 24 of...
Rainforest Identification Tool
There is a new and important resource for rainforest plant identification. Developed over 13 years by Gwen Harden, Hugh Nicholson, Bill McDonald, Nan Nicholson, Terry Tame & John Williams, this interactive identification key and information system is a must have tool for Educational Institutions, Native Nurseries, Bush Regenerators, Botanists, Landscapers and anyone with an interest...
Vertical Farming
A mix of residential living and urban farming Killing two birds with one stone, an unconventional live-in aged care facility has just been unveiled for Singapore, and combines a residential building with a vertical urban farming facility. Singapore, like many other of the world’s fast growing cities, is faced with the ever prevalent problem of...
An Epic Scale Overhaul
A huge, multi-faceted proposal has won the opportunity to completely overhaul Busan North Port in South Korea. In an effort to capitalise on the city’s panoramic harbour side, the new design re-unites the bustling city, once a small port town – now the second largest city in South Korea, with the relaxing seaside. Featuring a...
Melbourne Lights Up
Tired and weary travellers no need to be hesitant! A dynamic and absorbing new light installation has just been completed at Melbourne Airport. A decidedly contemporary update to the terminal façade, the forecourt and smaller individual surrounding sites are set to be a permanent addition to the infrastructure. A 14m illuminated ‘Melbourne’ sign characterises the...
Street (Creeks) Ahead
Rainwater gardens are set to vastly improve the water quality in NYC. A city that virtually screams ‘technologically advanced’ it’s hard to believe New Yorkers haven’t quite figured out how exactly, and effectively, to keep sewage and stormwater separate and avoid Combined Sewage Overflow (CSOs) resulting from heavy rainfall. Architect Ate Atema recently released a...
Belle of the Bay
It’s been five years since Clarence City Council in Tasmania created a spectacular boardwalk at Kangaroo Bay in Bellerive and today, the boardwalk, which looks out over the Marina onto Hobart’s picturesque Eastern Shore, still looks as amazing as ever. The boardwalk has retained it’s features well thanks to Enduroplank™ decking, which the council used to create the...
