London

Should all go well and planning permission indeed be received, Citicape House is due to be completed in 2024

Architecture

Greenery-covered building will feature 400,000 plants on its facade

A remarkable new greenery-covered project has been submitted for planning permission in the City of London. Assuming it gets the thumbs-up, the Citicape House mixed-use hotel will integrate some 400,000 plants into its facade.

The Stow-Away Hotel consists of 20 container-based

Architecture

Shipping containers stacked five high to create London hotel

Shipping containers continue to spark the imaginations of architects and the latest example of this comes from UK design studio Doone Silver Kerr, which used recycled shipping containers to create a new hotel in central London.

Compass Pools says that construction of its Infinity Pool tower could kick off as early as next year if it can confirm all of its project partners and contractors

Architecture

World's first 360-degree infinity pool would top a 55-story tower in London

London may soon become host to a swimming facility that is as weather-defying as it is death-defying, with plans underway to build the world’s first 360-degree infinity pool high up in the frosty English capital.

Black Box is located on a cramped London plot

Architecture

Mechanical shutters control light and views in compact home office

After being commissioned to create an extension for a Victorian-era terrace in London, MATA Architects conceived a neat method of providing fine control over the amount of light inside and the privacy available. The firm installed a prefabricated shutter system that's controlled by hand crank.

The Tide is designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the firm behind the first phase of NYC's High Line, in collaboration with Neiheiser Argyros

Architecture

London's High Line-style elevated park to rise with the Tide

New York City's High Line elevated park proved such a good idea that it's since been replicated around the world, including Seoul's Seouullo and Sydney's Goods Line. Londoners will soon be able to enjoy something similar too, courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Neiheiser Argyros.

Heatherwick Studio recently received planning permission for the Olympia London project and construction is expected to begin in 2020

Architecture

Heatherwick Studio plans $1.3 billion development in London

Heatherwick Studio blended old and new with impressive results for London's Coal Drops Yard and is set to do the same again with Olympia London. The £1 billion (roughly US$1.3 billion) development will update the 132 year old Olympia exhibition center with new hotels, retail and restaurant space.

Captain Flinders was the first man to circumnavigate Australia

Remarkable People

Remains of explorer who put Australia on the map found under Euston Station

Archaeologists excavating an abandoned burial ground under Euston Station in London have uncovered the remains of the Royal Navy explorer Captain Matthew Flinders, who led the first expedition to circumnavigate Australia in 1802 and gave the country its name.

The Tulip, pictured on the right, will rise to a height of 305.3 m (1,001 ft)

Architecture

Striking Tulip observation tower planned for London

The City of London may soon receive an unusual new addition to its skyline courtesy of Foster + Partners' aptly-named Tulip observation tower. Assuming it goes ahead, the building will offer viewing points and glass slides, as well as pod rides on its exterior.

In a nice touch, the 80,000 slate tiles that top Coal Drops Yard's roof were drawn from the same slate quarry in North Wales that were used on the original 1850s buildings

Architecture

Heatherwick Studio raises the roof on London shopping center

Heatherwick Studio has done a stellar job melding old and new with its latest project, Coal Drops Yard. The firm turned two dilapidated Victorian-era coal storage buildings in London into a large new shopping center crowned by a stunning roof structure.

Bloomberg London represents the third time that Foster + Partners has been declared the winner of the most prestigious award in British architecture, RIBA's Stirling Prize

Architecture

Best of British: Bloomberg HQ named UK's finest new building

The Royal Institute of British Architects has declared Foster + Partners the winner of the 2018 Stirling Prize, Britain's most prestigious architecture award, for its new Bloomberg headquarters in London. The massive project is impeccably designed and boasts considerable sustainable technology.

To the front, the Kensington billboard displays adverts to London drivers, while pedestrians at the rear get to enjoy Zaha Hadid's signature design language

Architecture

There's more to this Zaha Hadid-designed billboard than meets the eye

Whether an architectural masterpiece or a toilet, Zaha Hadid's design language is recognizable in all her work. We're reminded of this again by a new billboard conceived by the late Hadid and longtime collaborator Patrik Schumacher that was recently installed on a busy road in London.

There's something grabbing about Mario Kart VR

Games

Hold on to your bananas: Hands-on with Mario Kart VR

After finding success at Bandai Namco’s VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Mario Kart VR launches at London’s O2 arena on Friday. I popped along on Monday to don an HTC Vive headset, grab some VR bananas and give it a try. Here’s what I found.