New Zealand's government has suspended NZ$25m (US$17m, €14.5m, £12.3m) financing for a convention centre in Wellington, New Zealand, with the plans on hold until Sir Peter Jackson can reach an agreement with the city over his proposed movie museum project. The country's government had agreed the financial package to help pay for the NZ$165m (US$111.6m, €96m, £85.6m) development, which would also feature Jackson's museum, however, the Ministry of Business, Innovation

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced that former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama will deliver the keynote speech on the opening day of the 2017 AIA Conference on Architecture. Obama will address AIA members as part of the organisation’s annual Conference on Architecture, which will take place in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center from 27 to 29 April. Obama leads a host of

Pestanan Hotel Group has launched new signature spas for its Pousada Mosteiro do Crato and Pousada Convento de Arraiolos properties. Twenty years after its opening, Portuguese architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça has revisited the original Mosteiro do Crato and designed a spa feature a Turkish bath, whirlpool, sauna and treatment rooms. Built within a century-old convent, the Pousada Convento de Arraiolos now boasts an indoor pool with views overlooking

Kevin Spacey, the award-winning US producer and actor, is to give the keynote speech at the 2016 American Institute of Architects convention in Philadelphia. The star of hit Netflix series House of Cards will address the convention on 19 May about the importance of innovation and risk-taking. “What can architects learn from an award-winning producer and actor whose Netflix Original Series made appointment TV obsolete?” the AIA asked in a

Viceroy Hotel Group and investment firm KIT Capital will redevelop the UNESCO World Heritage site of Obra Pía, a site which dates back to 1640 as the original capital of the Spanish Empire in the New World, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. This site originally functioned as a Franciscan convent and was later home to a hospital, army barracks, orphanage and most recently – a school. Scheduled for completion in