Chinese architect Wang Shu, designer of the Ningbo Museum of Art and Ningbo History Museum has been given the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Wang becomes the first Chinese architect to win the coveted accolade, widely acknowledged as the highest honour in architecture. Commenting on the award, Wang said: "This is really a big surprise. I am tremendously honoured to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. I suddenly realized that I've done

Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has announced that work has commenced on a multi-million pound restoration of Duthie Park, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The local authority approved the scheme in November 2010 and has contributed £2.67m to help fund the work, with the Heritage Lottery Fund providing a further £2.56m. Hunter Construction has been appointed to deliver the restoration, while consultants URS is to

A new NZ$20m (£10.6m, EUR12.5m, US$16.8m) temporary stadium is scheduled to open in Christchurch, New Zealand, ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby Season next month. Populous have designed the 18,000-seat complex, which boasts two partially covered stands and will be the city's only outdoor sports and entertainment facility for the next few years. It follows a devastating earthquake more than a year ago, which left the city's AMI Stadium -

St James Theatre is to become central London's first newly-built theatre complex for three decades when it opens on the site of the former Westminster Theatre in September. The new facility, which has been designed by Foster Wilson Architects, is located on Palace Street, Victoria, and has been entirely funded through private sector investment. A 312-seat auditorium, a brasserie and a bar will be included among the facilities, along with

Renowned musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has marked the topping out of a new £10m arts complex being built overlooking the River Clyde in Greenock, Scotland. The LDN Architects -designed Beacon Arts Centre is on course to open this summer and is to replace Greenock Arts Guild Theatre, which has been operating for more than 60 years. Part of the wider regeneration of industrial land along the Inverclyde waterfront,

Shakespeare's Globe has received a £1.5m gift from an anonymous private donor towards its plans to open the historic London arts venue's Indoor Jacobean Theatre next year. The £1.5m donation will be used to match every pound raised by the Globe and it is hoped the match-giving scheme will encourage more people to contribute towards the project. Allies and Morrison were appointed last summer to work on the £7m scheme,

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has welcomed the latest milestone in work to construct a new £24m leisure centre for the city, following the installation of the roof. S&P Architects are behind the design of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, which will boast a 500sq m (5,382sq ft) spa area with a 60sq m (646sq ft) terrace when complete. Willmott Dixon is the lead contractor and is

Rugby Borough Council (RBC) has "unanimously approved" proposals for a new £12.5m leisure centre to be built on the site of a car park at the Warwickshire town's existing venue. The B3 Architects -designed complex is to be called the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Centre and, once complete in 2013, will lead to the demolition of the 40-year-old Ken Marriott Leisure Centre. A 25m, eight-lane swimming pool and a 17m x

Bianca Sharma, a US-based businesswoman, is to launch a new boutique hotel and spa within a former a 17th century monastery on Italy's Amalfi Coast in May. Sharma, who is also a director of the Sharma Foundation, acquired the building after visiting the region in 1999 and has taken more than 10 years to transform the historic property. Howard Consulting has worked on the conversion of the building into the

London's historic Café Royal will reopen in June as a member of The Set, a newly-unveiled hotel collection established by Alfred and Georgi Akirov, following an extensive renovation. David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates have overseen a comprehensive facelift of the Regent Street property, which has been carried out over the last three years. Among the new additions to the 159-bedroom hotel is the 800sq m (8,611sq ft) Akasha

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that one of its affiliates has signed a management agreement for Thailand's landmark Park Hyatt Bangkok, which is due to open in 2014. The deal has been signed for Central Embassy - a wholly-owned mixed-use scheme owned by the Central Group of Companies - and will see the hotel located in the heart of the city. Park Hyatt Bangkok will be housed in an iconic

A new spa including seven treatment rooms and relaxation areas is to open in Suffolk, UK, after plans to convert an existing art gallery were given the go ahead by the local authority. Lavenham's Wildlife Art Gallery is linked to the historic Swan Hotel building and is to be transformed into the 528sq m (1,732sq ft) spa, with the gallery to move to another site. The scheme also incorporates two

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced a new 344-bedroom property will open at the 103-storey Guangzhou International Finance Center, China, later this year. Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou will occupy floors 69-98 of the Wilkinson Eyre Architects -designed tower, which stands 440m (1,444ft) tall and overlooks the Pearl River Delta. Among hotel's facilities will be the Hua Spa, which will be situated on the 69th floor and will comprise nine

Conwy Council has announced North Wales-based Wynne Construction has been awarded the contract to deliver a new watersports development on Colwyn Bay Promenade. The firm, which was recently involved with the construction of the £6.5m Parc Eirias Events Centre in Colwyn Bay, is expected to take nine months to complete the new facility. A single-storey watersports centre designed by K2 Architects will house a café/bistro and an educational/conference facility, as

A 100-bedroom hotel and sports pitches are among the leisure facilities to be included in a new 15-acre (6.1-hectare) scheme in south London, which has been given the green light. Ballymore is leading the Embassy Gardens development, which will 'wrap around' the site of the new US Embassy in Nine Elms. Wandsworth Council has approved the plans. Wandsworth Council planning chair Nick Cuff said: "Another 15 acres of industrial land

Northern Ireland environment minister Alex Attwood has granted planning permission for a new £100m (US$157m, EUR118m) golf resort development on the North Antrim coast. Located near the villages of Bushmills and Portballintrae, Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa will incorporate a 120-bedroom hotel with conference and spa facilities when complete. An 18-hole championship golf course; a golf academy; a three-hole practice facility; and 75 guest suites/lodges are also included in

A new 38-station gym equipped by Life Fitness and exercise studios have become the first facilities to open to the public as part of a refurbished leisure centre in the City of London. Fusion Lifestyle has overseen the renovation of Golden Lane Sport and Fitness on behalf of the City of London Corporation, with Cartwright Pickard Architects behind designs for the Grade II-listed site. A range of new classes have

Regent Hotels and Resorts has been appointed to operate the first hotel to be built as part of the Porto Montenegro marina destination in Montenegro, which is due to open in 2014. The property, which will have 34 guestrooms and 46 serviced residences, has been designed by ReardonSmith Architects in keeping with the style of houses along the Adriatic coastline. Located on the Boka waterfront with the Venice Square Basin

Createability has started work on a new "nightclub-style" club in Swindon for budget chain Kiss Gyms, which is due to open in April. The 14,500sq ft (1,347sq m) club is housed in a former bank and is to become the group's second 24-hour location, following the 2011 launch of its first site in Milton Keynes. A 13-week build process has now started at the building, which will comprise a 150-station

Camden Council has revealed that operator Greenwich Leisure (GLL) is to run a proposed new sports facility to be built as part of a new development in Kings Cross, London. GLL already operates leisure facilities across the London borough on behalf of the council but has now agreed to add the new centre to its portfolio when it opens in 2014. A 25m swimming pool and 'lagoon' fun pool; a

Kier Construction has started work on a £2.6m worth of improvements to leisure facilities at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, on behalf of Rossendale Borough Council (RBC). Part of a wider £5.6m local authority investment in local provision, the Marl Pits project will widen the range of sports on offer at the venue and enhance the swimming pool. Four five-a-side football pitches and a gym with 45-stations also form part

Assael Architecture has unveiled its vision for the future of Dreamland Margate in Kent as part of a public inquiry into whether the local authority can compulsorily purchase the site. The London-based practice has worked up plans to protect and reuse a Grade II*-listed cinema and scenic railway as part of a housing scheme that aims to attract investment for the project. A cultural and amusement hub will be at

A design team has been selected for the renovation and expansion of the Kimball Art Center in Utah, US, which is home to Sundance House during the annual Sundance Film Festival. Denmark-based BIG and US-based Architectural Nexus will lead the team that also includes Dunn Associates, VBFA, Envision Engineering and Big D on the proposed scheme. Work is due to commence on the project in mid-2013, with the project to

British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson has joined Reigate and Bansted Borough Council's (RBBC) Brian Stead to officially open the new £9m Horley Leisure Centre. The centre, which opened to the public last month, was designed by S&P Architects and has been built on the site of the former Court Lodge School to replace the Horley Anderson Centre. Netherlands-based Pellikaan Construction delivered the building, with facilities including a 25m,

The new 1,608-bedroom JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will become one of the world's tallest hotels at a height of 355m (1,164ft) when it opens this year in the United Arab Emirates. Due to launch during the fourth quarter, the new property is just 26m (85ft) shorter when compared with the Empire State Building in New York, US, and will open in two phases. Facilities will include the 1,500sq m (16,146sq

A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of work on a GBP28m redevelopment of the Everyman theatre in Liverpool, which has been designed by Haworth Tompkins Architects. The Everyone for the Everyman project will include the creation of a 400-seat auditorium; a new creative hub for writers; rehearsal space; and improved front-of-house facilities. A dedicated space for schools and community groups will also be established at the theatre, which is

A special event has taken place in Leeds to mark the start of construction work on the city's new GBP27m Holt Park Active leisure, wellbeing and adult social care complex. The government confirmed final approval for the project last December, with the work being funded through a Private Finance Initiative. The centre is due to open in December 2013. Mentor, a partnership comprising FaulknerBrowns Architects and GHM Rock Townsend, designed