Architecture and design news
Maldron opens first UK hotel in Cardiff
by Pete Hayman | 19 May 2011
Ireland-based operator Maldron Hotels has expanded into the UK with the launch of a 216-bedroom property in Cardiff - part of a wider scheme led by Rush Developments. The new 12-storey hotel has been built on the site of the former Central Hotel, near Cardiff Central railway station, and has been designed by Belfast-based White Ink Architects. Delivered by McAleer and Rushe, the £25m project was funded by Cardiff's Julian
Hettema Group to design China theme park
by Pete Hayman | 18 May 2011
California, US-based Hettema Group has been appointed by Japan-based Sanrio to draw up a masterplan and concept designs for a new Hello Kitty Park in Anji, China. Due to open in 2014, the planned new amusement park is the result of a licensing agreement between Sanrio and Zhejiang New Insight Leisure Tourism Development Co. The deal will enable the use of the Sanrio-owned characters and intellectual property as part of
Work starts on £8.1m Tipton pool project
by Pete Hayman | 18 May 2011
Sandwell Council has announced that work has now commenced at the site of a new £8.1m swimming pool complex to be developed in Tipton, West Midlands. Work is currently being carried out to create a new access road to the new pool complex site from Alexandra Road and Thursfield Road. The project is to be completed by spring 2013. The venue - designed by Sandwell Urban Design Architects, the council's
Green light for next phase of Wembley City
by Pete Hayman | 17 May 2011
Brent Council has resolved to approve planning permission for a 160,000sq m (1.7 million sq ft) mixed-use development at the Wembley City complex in north west London. Quintain Estates and Developments is leading the scheme, which will feature a 1-acre (0.4-hectare) public square; a multi-use games area; up to 20,000sq m (215,278sq ft) of hotel space; and 1,300 new homes. Land along Olympic Way - the iconic route into Wembley
New Knowsley venue to open in September
by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011
Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, a new £16.1m multi-purpose complex being developed in Huyton, Merseyside, is scheduled to open its doors to the public on 26 September. Designed by Broadway Malyan, the 6,600sq m (71,042sq ft) complex will feature a wet spa area with steamroom, sauna and whirlpool, as well as treatment rooms and a relaxation area. Two swimming pools; a six-court sports hall; a fitness suite with up to
Ritz-Carlton to open first Abu Dhabi hotel
by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company (RCHC) has announced that it has secured an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) to open its first property in the Emirate state. Due to open in late 2011, the waterfront Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal will boast a 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) ESPA-managed spa area with 20 private treatment rooms. The 447-bedroom property will also incorporate 85 villas; a fitness centre; outdoor tennis courts;
July launch for Malaysian wellness resort
by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011
A new spa and organic wellness resort, which has been modelled on the 18th century Haut Koesnigburg castle in France, is due to open in Malaysia by the end of July. The 210-room Chateau Spa and Wellness Resort is sited in the Berjaya Hills amid a 150-million-year-old rainforest and will be the world's first organic destination spa resort. Facilities will include the La Santé spa, which will use Voya organic
£60m London River Park plans unveiled
by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011
London mayor Boris Johnson has announced that up to £60m has been secured towards the creation of a new 1km (0.6-mile) floating promenade along the north bank of the Thames. International architecture practice Gensler have drawn up designs for the London River Park scheme, which is to be financed by Venus Group of Singapore. A Memorandum of Understanding has now been signed between Gensler and the mayor in a deal
Minister launches Architecture Tours Ireland
by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011
Architecture Tours Ireland - a new joint venture between the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) - has been officially launched. Jimmy Deenihan, the Irish minister for arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht, has given his support to the scheme, which aims to generate interest in architecture as a cultural form. Architecture Tours Ireland is already working with tourism agency Fáilte Ireland in order
£23m Dagenham facility nears completion
by Pete Hayman | 13 May 2011
A new £23m leisure centre being built in Dagenham, East London, by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) is to open its doors to the public at the end of May. Becontree Heath Leisure Centre has been designed by S&P Architects and delivered by the London-based construction firm, Leadbitter Group on behalf of the local authority. Facilities will include a 95-station fitness suite and three workout studios with
Work starts on The Healing Spa in Kansas
by Pete Hayman | 12 May 2011
Tierra Verde Development Company LLC has commenced work on the construction of The Healing Spa at Tierra Verde - part of a wider 'green' scheme in Wichita, Kansas, US. The destination spa will offer an extensive range of services and facilities, as well as offering an environment for patients to recover from surgical and medical procedures. Skilled medical concierge services will be offered by fully-certified nursing staff, an on-call doctors
Ramsey County to partner on Vikings project
by Pete Hayman | 12 May 2011
A new publicly-owned stadium will be developed in Ramsey County, US, after local officials secured an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings American Football team. The multi-purpose facility on the site of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant will feature a retractable roof and is expected to cost around US$884m (£538.6m). Populous are behind the design of the scheme. A further US$173m (£105.4m) is to be invested in on-site infrastructure
June launch for £18.5m Billingham Forum
by Pete Hayman | 12 May 2011
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and leisure operator Tees Active have announced that the Billingham Forum complex is to reopen on 3 June, following an £18.5m overhaul. Morgan Sindall, the scheme's main contractor, completed work on site at the start of May, which has enabled preparations to commence ahead of the leisure venue's reopening. Facilities at the Devereux Architects-designed Billingham Forum include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool, with an additional training pool
La Maddalena Hotel and Yacht Club to open
by Pete Hayman | 12 May 2011
La Maddalena Hotel and Yacht Club - located on the archipelago of La Maddalena between Sardinia and Corsica - is to open its doors on 20 May. Created by Studio Boeri Architetti, the hotel also features Porto Arsenale Marina - a former military base that has been converted to accommodate more than 600 boats. Facilities at the 96-room property feature a spa boasting three treatment rooms overlooking the sea, a
Andermatt resort spa details revealed
by Tom Walker | 10 May 2011
The 426-bedroom Chedi Andermatt Hotel at the skiing resort of Andermatt in the Swiss Alps will include a 1,620sq m (17,000sq ft) luxury spa when it opens in 2013. Facilities at the spa, designed by Zürich-based archites Hotz Architekten AG, include 10 treatment rooms; a 125sq m (1,350sq ft) relaxation zone; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; a sauna world with a number of saunas, steamrooms and plunge pools and a
£18.1m Lyric Theatre unveiled in Belfast
by Pete Hayman | 10 May 2011
A gala performance of Arthur Miller's The Crucible has marked the unveiling of the new £18.1m Lyric Theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland - two years after work commenced. Dublin-based architects O'Donnell and Tuomey were selected to design the new venue; one of 56 entries into an international competition held in 2003. Built by main contractor Gilbert Ash N.I., the Lyric Theatre is nearly three times larger than its predecessor and
Cardiff project to take shape later this year
by Pete Hayman | 10 May 2011
Construction work on the Bayscape development in Cardiff Bay - including Wales' tallest building - could be poised to get underway in late summer/autumn this year. Developers are currently in discussions with architects Harper Downie to finalise plans for the scheme, which is to include a 32-storey hotel operated by Wyndham Hotel Group. Ardmore Construction has been appointed to deliver the scheme, which will include the 200-room hotel; serviced apartments;
Further scrutiny for Oxford pool scheme
by Pete Hayman | 09 May 2011
Plans for the development of a new multi-million pound swimming pool in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, are to face further scrutiny after being called in by members of the local authority. Oxford City Council's (OCC) strategic development control committee approved proposals for the scheme on 28 April, but will now go before the planning review committee. The FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed facility would be located at the existing Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and
Official launch for St Pancras Renaissance
by Pete Hayman | 09 May 2011
JW Marriott has officially unveiled central London's historic St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which follows the completion of an extensive £150m restoration of the Victorian property. Manhattan Loft Corporation worked alongside contractor Galliford Try; RHWL Architects; conservation architects Richard Griffiths; and GA Design International on the scheme. Facilities at the 245-room hotel include a 6,226sq ft (578sq m) spa area, which includes five treatment rooms and a couple's suite; a spa
MVRDV to design China comic museum
by Pete Hayman | 09 May 2011
Netherlands-based architects MVRDV have been appointed to design the new China Comic and Animation Museum (CCAM), which is to be developed in Hangzhou. The group was selected following an international design contest for the EUR92m (£81.6m) scheme, with the attraction to comprise eight speech balloon-shaped structures. Covering a total area of 13.7 hectares (33.9 acres), the complex will also include a series of parks on islands; a public plaza; and
Chester Zoo's biodome project put on hold
by Tom Walker | 06 May 2011
Chester Zoo has shelved its plans for a new £90m Heart of Africa biodome attraction, saying that the project will now form a 'latter part' of the zoo's £225m Natural Vision scheme. A spokesperson told Attractions Management the biodome had been postponed due to government cuts and that another part of the Natural Vision would take priority and open as the first phase of the ambitious redevelopment. She said: "The
French hotels declared 'palaces' by government
by Tom Walker | 06 May 2011
Le Bristol hotel in Paris has been declared a national treasure by the French government following a 103m euro (£92m, US$150m) redevelopment of the property. The hotel, which is privately owned by the Oetker family, has been recognised as having 'palace distinction' and becomes the first hotel in France to receive the accolade. In total, the French government has awarded eight French hotels the right to call themselves a palace.
First 'feathered' flight for Virgin Galactic
by Pete Hayman | 05 May 2011
Virgin Galactic's efforts to establish a new commercial space travel service have taken a step forward after the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) vessel completed its first "feathered" flight. SS2 - named VSS Enterprise - was transported to a height of 51,500ft (15,697m) by carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo from Mojave Air and Space Port, California, US. The vessel was released and established a stable glide profile before using its "feathered" re-entry configuration, which rotates
Cypress SkyCycle set for Florida attraction
by Pete Hayman | 05 May 2011
Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida in St Cloud, US, has revealed that it will launch a new eco-tourism experience that will allow visitors to cycle through treetops. The new Cypress SkyCycle is due to open in July and involves a one-hour journey through the 4,700-acre (1,902-hectare) Forever Florida Wildlife Conservation Area. Suspended from a network of high-tension steel cables, specially-designed SkyCycles will allow visitors to travel over pine flatwoods and
New Mersey Leisure proposals submitted
by Pete Hayman | 05 May 2011
Benmore Group, the UK-based property developer, has submitted its plans for a new £30m leisure-led mixed-use scheme adjacent to New Mersey Retail Park in Speke, Liverpool. Hotels, restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a gym have been proposed as part of the New Mersey Leisure complex, which would occupy a 15-acre (6.1-hectare) site. It is anticipated that the first £30m phase of the Falconer Chester Hall-designed scheme will open by the
Glenrothes leisure contractor appointed
by Pete Hayman | 05 May 2011
Graham Construction has been selected to deliver Glenrothes' new £21m sports and leisure centre, which will replace the existing Fife Institute for Physical and Recreational Education (FIPRE). It is anticipated that work will commence on site shortly, with the new facility to be delivered in phases to ensure there is minimal disruption to services during the construction process. Designed by B3 Architects and Crea8 Architecture, the complex will comprise a
JFK museum expansion opens
by Tom Walker | 05 May 2011
The new US$30m (20m euro, £18m) wing of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, US has been opened to the public. The 30,000sq ft (2,800sq m) expansion includes 15,000sq ft of archival storage, an additional classroom, a staging area for exhibits and curatorial work, and a new temporary exhibit gallery. Boston-based architect Einhorn Yaffee Prescott and Quincy-based construction firm Lee Kennedy Company were chosen by
National Mining Museum Scotland opens Phase 5 restoration project
by Tom Walker | 04 May 2011
The National Mining Museum Scotland has opened its Scottish government-funded conservation project, restoring some of Scotland's most fragile industrial heritage and saving the buildings for future generations. The work has consisted of preservation of the tippler floor, picking tables, elevator shed and brick-vaulted undercroft. The conservation has been carried out by a team of architects, structural engineers, project managers and builders. An exhibition is currently running in the museum to
GORD and QOC announce new agreement
by Pete Hayman | 04 May 2011
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been agreed by the Gulf Organisation for Research Development (GORD) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC). The document will see both organisations work together on the creation of environmentally-sustainable sports venues using Qatar Sustainability Assessment System standards. It is anticipated that the MoU will help reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in the construction of new sporting facilities across the Middle Eastern
Anantara to launch first Vietnam property
by Pete Hayman | 04 May 2011
Thailand-based hospitality operator Anantara has announced plans to open its first property in Vietnam this autumn - Anatara Mui Ne Resort and Spa. Located nearly 200km (125 miles) north east of Ho Chi Minh City on the south eastern coast of Vietnam, the resort will be sited near to the town of Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan province. Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa will feature a 361sq m (3,886sq ft)
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