Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, UK, has opened a life-sized replica of a healthcare centre for infants, offering visitors an opportunity to discover how new and expectant mothers in the early 1960s were cared for and supported. The new Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre is housed in its own building, allowing visitors to explore a waiting room, doctor’s surgery, a dispensary and other exhibits – as well as meet

Perkins and Will have broken ground on Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3mi (2.1km)-long outdoor art, culture and museum area celebrating Black Los Angeles (LA). Running along Crenshaw Boulevard, Destination Crenshaw was conceived to celebrate the energy and accomplishments of Black LA, to document and preserve its 200 years plus of history, to seed a "community-driven, counterbalancing force against gentrification" and to drive economic security and opportunities for local residents. The project,

Pozzoni Architecture has added a 60-person fitness suite and converted the original fitness suite into a ‘state-of-the-art’ multipurpose studio at Formby Pool in Sefton. The new studio can be fully blacked out and features a music and LED lighting system that can be used to create tailored immersive experiences. As part of the project, which was valued at £1m, an overspill car park was also added to the site. To

The new Addenda Architects -designed Bauhaus Museum, which takes the form of a 100m (328ft) long “Black Box” of reinforced concrete on stilts enclosed within a glass envelope, has been opened in Dessau, Germany. The outer envelope measures 105m (344ft) long, 25m (82ft) wide and 12m (39ft) high – and is made up of 571 triple-glazed glass panes. Inside, the Black Box allows no natural light in, but provides the

Architects who love Lego will be able to treat their families to a Lego holiday experience when a new Lego waterpark opens in Italy in 2020. Gardaland has announced plans to open Europe's first Lego-branded waterpark, designed by Merlin Magic Making, with the multi-million dollar development set to open its doors next year. Aimed at families with children aged two to twelve, the new addition to the Italian theme park

Architects who love Lego will be able to treat their families to a Lego holiday experience when a new Lego waterpark opens in Italy in 2020. Gardaland has announced plans to open Europe's first Lego-branded waterpark, designed by Merlin Magic Making, with the multi-million dollar development set to open its doors next year. Aimed at families with children aged two to twelve, the new addition to the Italian theme park

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) will transform Novorossiysk – Russia’s largest shipping port – adding dramatic buildings, public spaces and amenities for the city’s residents and visitors to enjoy the Black Sea coastline. Inspired, in part, by a time-lapse photograph – the Admiral Serebryakov Embankment masterplan features nine principal commercial and leisure buildings, with a total floor area of approximately 300,000sq m (3.2 million sq ft). Each structure, designed using parametric

Design studio 4a Architekten have completed an aquatics centre embedded into the landscape of the Offenburg Citizens’ Park in the south of Germany. The design of the Stegermatt Centre is characterised by the interplay of architecture and landscape, with expansive roof surfaces, spacious glass façades and atmospheric spatial volumes interlocking with the natural surroundings to emphasise the contrast between the man-made and the natural. The building is divided architecturally into

A former prison in the city of Offenburg has been transformed into a hotel called Liberty following an extensive renovation. Set just outside the city walls of the old town, close to the Black Forest and the French border, Hotel Liberty features 38 rooms and suites spread across two 19th century buildings, which have been connected by a new contemporary glass volume. The prison was designed by German architect Heinrich

Chicago's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, has announced ambitious plans to transform the city’s famous Willis Tower into a civic destination offering “unique retail and entertainment experiences.” The building – an architectural icon and, at 1,450ft (442m), one of the world's tallest structures – was designed by architect Bruce Graham at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and opened in 1973 as the Sears Tower. It has not been renovated in the four decades

Final plans and brand new renderings have been released for Leonardo DiCaprio’s ambitious eco resort and wildlife reserve off the coast of Belize. The Hollywood star, Oscar winner and environmental campaigner wants the island of Blackadore Caye to become the world’s leading example of green hospitality. It has been conceived with the aim of restoring its fragile surrounding ecosystem, while offering guests a taste of luxury in a tropical setting.

The W group's Amsterdam hotel has been extended with the renovation of the historic Bank building, which houses a 300sq m (3,229sq ft) Away Spa set in the former vault. Originally designed by F.W.M. Poggenbeek in 1908, the building was one of the first concrete constructions in The Netherlands. Spa consultant 4SeasonsSpa worked with designers Baranowitz + Kronenberg and consultants Raison d'Etre to create the spa, which is housed behind

The world-famous Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is expanding its offering beyond the slopes, announcing a US$345m (€300m, £238m) plan to revitalise and invest in its mountain facilities. To be rolled out in three stages, the ‘Renaissance’ expansion plan will focus first on a US$100m (€87m, £69m) plan to create weather independent, year-round attractions. Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners – who also prepared the first masterplan for Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain

A Dutch architectural collective has proposed an iconic landmark for the Southern Gulf region: a city located inside a decommissioned oil tanker. The concept, called The Black Gold, imagines the storage tanks within the ship being adapted to house hotels, restaurants, museums, shops and apartments, while the base floor of the vessel could be used for big cultural event-based uses, such as concerts. The double steel walls would ensure a

A Romanian aquaculture and tourism development company has revealed plans to build the Black Sea's largest holiday resort. AgriEuro Corp owns over 4,000 acres of land in the Danube Delta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and has earmarked the area as an ideal location for an “all-inclusive entertainment and accommodation resort with an exotic surrounding landscape, a mild climate and unique geographical features.” The company has hired Romanian

An up-and-coming designer has created the perfect canvas for drinkers seeking to paint the town red: the world’s first completely black and white bar. Everything in the new Bulmers #LiveColourful Bar in London is strictly monochrome, with the walls, all of the furniture, pictures, art, ping pong table, board games, bar food and even the staff completely stripped of all colour. The bar was created by Alexandra Toomey – who

Blackstone, one of the world's biggest real estate investors, has announced that it will buy Chicago’s Willis Tower, the second-tallest building in the US for US$1.3bn (€1.19bn, £800m). Previously known as Sears Tower, the Willis Tower is an iconic structure – designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill – it dominates the Chicago skyline. Vendors, 223 South Wacker, said Blackstone will be an "excellent steward of this world famous building". Blackstone

Manchester-based architecture firm Buttress has seen off stiff competition from Heneghan Peng and Austin-Smith Lord to win the design contract for a £21m (US$32m, €27m) museum in Blackpool Winter Gardens. The Blackpool Museum will document the town’s rise as the world’s first working class Victorian seaside town and celebrate its contribution to pop culture. As part of the plans, the close to derelict Pavilion Theatre – which is part of

Blackberry Farm – the 62-bedroom chateau property in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee – will unveil its new wellness spa centre on 1 June later this year. The 12,663sq ft (1,176sq m) stand alone Wellhouse has been designed by Blackberry Farm founder and director of design Kreis Beall along with Johnson Architecture. The newly appointed Wellhouse director, Amanda Anderson, has previous experience working with Red Door Spas, The

One of the world's largest indoor illumination experiences, Illuminasia, will open in Olympia Arena at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, UK on 18 April. The £3m investment means the 45,000sq ft (4,180sq m) space inside Olympia Arena will be made into six family-friendly zones, illuminated by 35,000 lights using Chinese lantern crafts and LED bulbs. Investors - Shanghai's Yi Sai Culture Communication, International Special Attractions Ltd and Global Entertainment Productions

Blackpool Council has reopened the resort's historic Winter Gardens to the public ahead of the February half term break, following a £1.25m overhaul. Conservation architects Donald Insall Associates have carried out restoration work on behalf of the council, which acquired the attraction in March 2010. The Grade II-listed building's Church Street entrance has been resorted as part of the work, along with improvements to the Rotunda and the Floral Hall.

Construction work is due to commence on Blackpool's new £4m Southpoint Youth Hub, which has received funding from the government's myplace initiative. The demolition of an old building on the site next to Palatine School has already started, with the build process expected to get underway in January. Facilities at the new youth hub will allow local young people to participate in a number of arts, music and sports activities,

Blackpool Council has appointed Donald Insall Associates to start work on the first stage of restoration work at the Grade II-listed Winter Gardens. The London-based conservation architect has been selected to revamp the Floral Hall and to open up the venue to visitors as part of phase one of the scheme. Existing features will be refurbished and the entrance located on Church Street and Coronation Street will be restored. New

Blackpool Council has announced that it has signed a deal with Muse Developments for a £220m mixed-use scheme that is set to transform the famous Lancashire seaside resort. The Talbot Gateway development agreement is centred on a 10-hectare (24.7-acre) site around Blackpool North railway station and Talbot Road, and is designed to create a new business district in the town. Plans include a new pedestrianised square, a supermarket, hotels, shops,

Blackpool Council (BC) has announced that it will bring forward the opening of a new seafront promenade in a bid to capitalise on the expected increase in domestic tourism. Most of the construction work, which is being carried out by Birse Coastal, is now expected to be completed in time for the summer season. The remaining work will be carried out later this year. Maxine Callow, BC's cabinet member for