The United Nation’s global strategy on sustainable development will be put under the spotlight at a forthcoming London conference, which will see some of the world's best-known architects discuss the biggest issues facing the built environment. A programme of events and keynote speeches will take place around the British capital between 3 and 7 July for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Week, with the theme for the

The Italian architect and ‘vertical forest’ pioneer Stefano Boeri has overseen the start of construction on his vast masterplan for Liuzhou Forest City in China; a metropolis where every building – from houses and hotels to restaurants and the railway station – will be entirely covered by plants and trees. The green city, designed to fight pollution through design, is the first of its kind in the country. It will

HOK’s sport and recreation division has been recognised for its sustainability credentials, being nominated for a Sports Humanitarian of the Year award. The Kansas-based architecture practice finds itself in the Corporate Community Impact Award category of the third edition of the ceremony, which is organised by sports broadcaster ESPN. Among the achievements it is being recognised for is its design of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which is the first-ever

Three of AECOM’s leading engineers have told CLADglobal how they used advanced in digital technology to complete this year’s Serpentine Pavilion in London. Director Jon Leach, associate director Amy Koerbel and principal engineer Michael Orr explained how virtual and augmented reality software allowed architect Diébédo Francis Kéré to virtually walk around his full-scale structure in the earliest stages of the design process, helping his team and AECOM to translate his

Architecture competition organiser Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) has launched the one-stage race to find a designer for a new concert centre in Kaunas. Practices from across the world have been invited to produce concept designs for “an emblematic new building of national and international significance”; the first of its kind in the Lithuanian city. The Kaunas M.K. Ciurlionis Concert Centre – named in honour of an influential 20th century Lithuanian

International architecture firm UNStudio have completed a diamond-patterned destination for shopping, strolling and socialising in Shanghai. Lane 189, located in the Putuo district of the Chinese city, has been designed to “rearrange the typical mall into a vertical city centre.” It is a seven-storey leisure complex, with a combination of retail, restaurant and office spaces and public realm. UNStudio have incorporated elements of what they describe as "old Shanghai" through

A consortium including British architects FaulknerBrowns has been appointed as the preferred developer to regenerate Queen’s Parade in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Investment manager Cubic3 is leading the group, called Angelvale, which includes a number of international entertainment and leisure investors and operators. FaulknerBrowns are the team’s masterplanners. Queen’s Parade is best known as a traditional seaside holiday destination, and is surrounded by vibrant Edwardian and Victorian buildings and a popular

A historic fine art museum in Nantes, France, will re-open to the public tomorrow (23 June) following a major transformation by British architecture practice Stanton Williams. The firm have designed several extensions to the Musée d'arts de Nantes’ original 19th Century ‘Palais’ building and 17th Century Oratory Chapel – creating an additional 4,000sq m (430,000sq ft) of space for artworks to be exhibited. The €48.8m (US$545m, £430m) project was conceived

Houston’s Holocaust Museum has announced plans to nearly triple in size following a US$15m (€13.5m, £11.8m) gift from longtime patrons Lester and Sue Smith. The Smith’s donation goes towards the museum’s ongoing US$49.4m (€43.9m, £39.6m) capital fundraising campaign, which includes in addition to costs for the redevelopment, US$11.7m (€10.5m, £9.2m) in endowment funds. Expanding in size to 57,000sq ft (5,300sq m), the US$33.8m (€30.3m, £26.6m) expansion will see two thirds

Citizens should be empowered to play a much more active role in the design of the built environment as part of democratic society, the architect Daniel Libeskind has argued. In an exclusive interview with CLADglobal, Libeskind said that the need to enhance public participation in the design process is “the biggest challenge facing architecture today.” “I think architecture can only thrive in a democratic environment, and that means through involving

Danish architects EFFEKT have released new images showcasing the spiralling 45m tall (147.6ft) observation tower they are designing in a preserved Danish forest. The studio won planning permission in January to design “a new and unique destination” for the Camp Adventure park in Gisselfeld Klosters Skove, an hour south of Copenhagen. Called the Treetop Experience, it will consist of a 600m long (2,00ft) two-tier elevated walkway that leads visitors around

This year's Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Diébédo Francis Kéré, has been unveiled today (20 June) in London’s Hyde Park. At a press launch, the architect told CLADglobal that the high-profile commission had given him an “exciting opportunity to explore new ideas, new ways of shaping space, new materials and new way of using materials.” His pavilion, designed “to bring a sense of light and life” to the park, was inspired

China has removed restrictions on foreign investment in large-scale theme park projects, opening up the possibility for new developments in what is already a hotbed for theme parks under development. China’s leaders have previously pledged to open the country’s economy – the second largest in the world – to wider foreign investment. At the end of March, China’s State Council approved the establishment of seven new free trade zones to

Seven diverse proposals from the design teams vying to create a new ampitheatre and pavilion in the heart of Edinburgh have been revealed to the public. The new landmark Ross Pavilion is intended to revitalise Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens, one of the city’s most emblematic places, and the shortlisted groups were tasked with submitting visions of “exemplary design quality inspired by, and appropriate to, the significance of its setting.”

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle is about to undergo a major renovation, with a refitted observation deck, glass-floored restaurant and new elevators to be installed in a modernisation of the structure. Opened in 1962 for that year’s World’s Fair, the John Graham-designed structure has become a staple of the Seattle skyline. US firm Olson Kundig Architects are behind the US$100m (€89.4m, £78.3m) renovation of the observation tower, which will completely revamp

The organisers behind Melbourne’s annual MPavilion have officially revealed the design of the structure it is building for 2017: an adaptable amphitheatre created by OMA’s Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten. MPavilion 2017 “brings to life a flexible space that can function as a stage, tribune or even playground.” The design blurs the lines between inside and outside spaces by covering the amphitheatre with a semi-transparent floating roof. A circular wooden

Ground has broken on a new contemporary art museum in San Antonio, Texas, with a design by British architect Sir David Adjaye that was inspired by an artist’s dream. The modern crimson-hued building, called Ruby City, will house the Linda Pace Foundation’s growing collection of more than 800 paintings, sculptures, installations and video works by contemporary artists from around the world. Pace, who died in 2007, was an artist and

The landmark London building where British prime minister Winston Churchill worked during the Second World War is to be transformed into a luxury hotel and residence operated by Raffles; the group’s first property in the UK. The Grade II* listed Old War Office building in Whitehall is located close to 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. It was designed by Scottish architect William Young before his

Designer Inge Moore and her new studio Muza Lab have completed the interiors of South America's first luxury sleeper train, the Belmond Andean Explorer in Peru. Carrying up to 48 passengers, the Explorer is formed of 16 carriages from the former Great South Pacific Express train. They have been contemporised by Moore with a refined, pared-back aesthetic featuring timber floors, linen roman blinds and colourful woven textiles. There are four

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have won an architectural award with a difference: a special baking prize for a gingerbread interpretation of their Arenas de Barcelona building in Spain. The firm were one of several to take part in the 2017 Great Architectural Bake Off in London’s Fitzroy Square. Rival teams competed to recreate some of the world’s most iconic buildings entirely out of cake. Staff from studios including Zaha

The hotly-anticipated new hotel by Ian Schrager has opened in New York’s Bowery neighbourhood, in a building designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. According to the pioneering hotelier, the 367-room Public will be “the people’s hotel,” providing unique memories for guests looking for more than just a place to sleep. “I truly believe that everyone deserves a one-of-a-kind experience that lifts their spirits and makes their heart beat

A new pay-as-you-go lifestyle gym for boutique operator Core Collective looks set to be built in London’s St John’s Wood, with Westminster City Council giving the project the go ahead. Waind Gohil + Potter Architects (WG+P), who specialise in wellbeing and leisure design, have created the concept – described as “a relaxed, luxury environment and where people want to hangout, not just workout.” The gym will feature contemporary design features,

Greek architect Theoni Xanthi has won an international design competition for a new archaeology museum in Cyprus, which will house the nation’s treasures. The New Cyprus Museum will replace the country’s current archaeological institution in Nicosia. That building was established in the late 1800s and now lacks enough space to house the museum’s growing collection of antiquities. Its €49m (US$54.6m, £43m) replacement will occupy the site of the old Nicosia

Marriott International has revealed ambitious plans to grow the number of independently owned hotels in its portfolio by nearly 50 per cent by 2019. Making the announcement at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in New York, Marriott said it would actively look to add new hotels to its three collection brands – The Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection Hotels and Tribute Portfolio. As part of the expansion plans, the

Czech glassmaker Lasvit has celebrated its tenth anniversary by introducing new lighting collections created in collaboration with some of the world's foremost architects and designers. Kengo Kuma, Zaha Hadid Design, Ed Ng & Terence Ngan and Yabu Pushelberg are among those who have designed lighting products for Lasvit’s Laterna Magica range, which was first launched at Milan Design Week earlier this year. The products were inspired in part by a

The architecture practice of Jean Nouvel have revealed new renderings of the plant-covered hotel they have designed for Rosewood in São Paulo. Developer Allard Group is transforming a complex of early 20th century landmark buildings in the Brazilian city into a development featuring a hotel and spa, private residences, art galleries, high-end retail and entertainment venues. Nouvel has been commissioned to create the centrepiece hotel, located in and around the

Australia’s minister for the arts Don Harwin has awarded AU$244m (US$186.2m, €164.8m, £145.4m) to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with the funding going towards the museum’s grand AU$344m (US$262.5m, €232.4m, £205.2m) expansion. In addition to the government funding, the Sydney gallery is planning to launch a capital campaign later this year, seeking a further AU$100m (US$76.3m, €67.5m, £59.6m) in philanthropic support for the project, of which AU$70m (US$53.4m,