Singapore's latest development will finally blossom later this month, with an imposing canopy of artificial trees up to 50 meters high towering over a vast urban oasis, reported The CNN. The colossal solar-powered supertrees are found in the Bay South garden, which opens to the public on June 29. It is part of a 250-acre landscaping project -- Gardens by the Bay -- that is an initiative from Singapore's National Parks Board that will see the cultivation of flora and fauna from foreign lands. The man-made mechanical forest consists of 18 supertrees that act as vertical gardens, generating solar power, acting as air venting ducts for nearby conservatories, and collecting rainwater. To generate electricity, 11 of the supertrees are fitted with solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into energy, which provides lighting and aids water technology within the conservatories below. Varying in height between 25 and 50 meters, each supertree features tropical flowers and various ferns climbing across its steel framework. The large canopies also operate as temperature moderators, absorbing and dispersing heat, as well as providing shelter from the hot temperatures of Singapore's climate to visitors walking beneath. Bridges dubbed "skywalks" have been erected connecting several of the higher 50-meter supertrees, letting visitors stroll between them and view the gardens from dizzying heights. The horticultural heaven also boasts two green conservatories in close proximity -- the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome -- climate-controlled biomes inspired by the shape of an orchid flower, which project organizers hope will become the park's main attractions. The biomes are the equivalent size of four football fields and will become the new home for 220 thousand plants from almost every continent. Designed by Grant Associates, the project is part of a redevelopment scheme to create a new downtown district in the Marina Bay area, on Singapore's south side. Project organizers hope the completed Gardens by the Bay will become an eco-tourist destination showcasing sustainable practices and plants from across the globe. Launched seven years ago by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the horticultural oasis will be a contrast to the country's extremely dense urban environment, forming part of the government's overall strategy to transform Singapore into a "city in a garden."

The benefits of white and green roofs are nothing new to us, but a recent study by two top NYC universities has shed light on just how effective these non-traditional roofs can be at lowering building temperatures. Non-reflective dark roofs are known to exacerbate the urban heat island effect and do absolutely nothing to reduce storm water runoff, which is why New York City sewers overflow almost every time it rains. But a recent study released by Columbia University and City University of New York has found that greening NYC rooftops or adding a few coats of white paint can reduce temperatures by as much as 84%! Just think how much that could help you out on your electricity bill this summer. In order to ascertain the real benefits of greening or whitewashing city rooftops, researchers studied three different roof surface treatments at the Con Edison Learning Center in Queens: a green roof, a dark roof and a white roof. Measurements on each one showed that on average the white roof was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit (17dg?) cooler than the dark roof, while the planted sedum roof was a whopping 60 degrees(33dg?) cooler! NYC is working towards applying white paint to one million square feet of rooftop a year in order to reduce those draining summertime highs, but city dwellers can do their part by taking the initiative as well. Green roofs, which cost about US$ 160 per square meter according to the New York Times, are even better. Not only do they reduce temperatures, but they also promote better air quality by absorbing carbon emissions and capture storm water runoff. Furthermore, depending on the size of each individual roof and personal budgets, it's possible to grow your own produce sans all the nasty chemicals and fertilizers that are coming under increasing scrutiny.

The company Lend Lease last unveiled plans to build the first high rise apartment building in Australia and the tallest in the world using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which it says heralds a new era for the construction industry, reported the resource Architecture Design. The new wooden tower called Forte, will be constructed in Victoria Harbour, Melbourne and it will rise over 10 stories, offering 23 boutique residential apartments and 4 townhouses. Designed and built by Lend Lease, the building, due for completion in October 2012, will reflect the contemporary inner-city lifestyle of Victoria Harbour while combining environmental initiatives such as better energy efficiency in terms of heating and cooling. Building with CLT is seen as a more efficient and environmentally-friendly construction process, which has proven successful in Europe for more than a decade, but has not been undertaken in Australia before. By using CLT, Lend Lease claims, the project, Forte, will reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 1,400 tonnes when compared to concrete and steel - the equivalent of removing 345 cars from our roads. CLT is an engineered mass timber product and very different to a traditional wood frame. Mass timber - dense solid panels of wood engineered for strength through laminations of different layers - provides significant benefits and has the equivalent structural integrity to concrete. CLT on a weight to strength basis meets, and in some cases exceed, the performance of reinforced concrete, resulting in a very stable and durable structural outcome. Designed and produced in a factory environment means it will also be built 30 percent faster than its material counterparts, while being cleaner and more efficient. Currently one of the highest modern wooden buildings is in London. Called the Stadthaus, Murray Grove, it's a nine-story residential building that stands at just less than 30 meters (98 feet). Even the lift shafts and stairwells are made from wood. Architect Michael Green, one of three principals at McFarlane Green Biggar Architecture + Design (MGB), also has plans for a 30-story wooden skyscraper in Vancouver.

Thierry Henry has lodged controversial plans to demolish his US$ 9.5 million north London house and replace it with a larger property - incorporating a 12 meters high fish tank that will cost US$ 400 thousand to build, reported The Daily Mail. Henry wants to rebuild his luxury home - which was completed only in 1999 and is described as one of the finest examples of modern architecture in the UK. Stretching 12 meters from the bottom of his house to the very top, it will take 5.5 thousand gallons of water to fill house 300 fish. The aquarium will actually be made up of four separate tanks, one for each storey of the house. Each will be made of Perspex-like material and will give the optical illusion of one giant aquarium - but will be cheaper to clean, run and maintain than a single tank. Each aquarium will require a filtration system to ensure the water stays clean and fresh. Experts say there are 2 thousand species of marine life suitable for the tanks, ranging from smaller breeds of shark to clown fish, yellow tangs, blue tangs and angel fish. Henry's new home will be taller than the existing one and include a bar, a cinema and a swimming pool. Despite spending at least US$ 3.2 million on rebuild costs, the finished house is likely to be worth at least US$ 16 million. The footballer is keen to highlight the eco-features of the new home, which includes extensive glass paneling to capture natural light and a so-called "biodiverse" roof, which will incorporate plants and trees. The French footballer is the latest in a long line of celebrities including Madonna, the Beckhams, Cher and Premier League footballers Stephen Ireland, Joe Hart and Micah Richards, to splash out on opulent fish tanks. Ireland has reportedly spent more than US$ 160 thousand on his 4 meters aquarium, and is now believed to be planning a shark tank under his kitchen floor. But Henry's super-size version will dwarf them all.

Polish firm Deep Ocean Technology has unveiled the latest of Dubai's outlandish architectural endeavors - the Water Discus Hotel - which is to be comprised of a series of sci-fi styled discs, one of which will be positioned 10 meters underwater with twenty-one hotel rooms. Offering guests a view directly into the Persian Gulf from the beds of their modest two-person rooms, the hotel is to be constructed by shipyard firm Drydocks World. In addition to the unusual accommodation, the proposed hotel is to include a diving center, underwater tourist vehicles, a spa, garden areas, an above-water terrace, and a helipad for guests. As reported The World Architecture News, ship repair, conversion and construction firm Drydocks World has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BIG InvestConsult AG, a Swiss company representing Polish firm Deep Ocean Technology (DOT)0 which has developed highly innovative designs for an underwater hotel. The proposal still needs to be refined but currently suggests a Water Discus Hotel in Dubai. Dubai announced plan to construct another underwater hotel, Hydropolis, in 2006. The project cost was estimated US$ 480 million, and it was assumed to be as one of the world's most expensive hotels, home to an array of facilities including a cosmetic surgery clinic and a marine biological research laboratory. After a series of delays, the hotel remained only on the paper. This latest-intentionally-submerged project, looks to have the backing to become a reality. And, if not constructed in the planned location, Deep Ocean Technology have made design plans adaptable to varying sea levels. Formed of a 'stacked' structure of discs, DOT explains that "Each design will be tailor-made to suit its future users and local conditions, such as the shape of the coastal line and depth of water around the coral reef." And if that particular area of Dubai were to fall out of fashion for any reason, well, DOT has thought of that: "If any changes in environmental or economic conditions occur, the Water Discus modules can be transferred to a different place. This offers a unique opportunity to live underwater on a permanent basis with unlimited options to change locations." The discs which form the hotel are themselves surprisingly versatile. Mounted atop three legs and a vertical shaft containing an elevator and stairway, the discs themselves are interchangeable. From an interior design standpoint, this allows for renovations to be conducted offsite, with minimal disruption to business. Equipped with monitoring and warning systems for safety, the above water discs have "positive buoyancy, which means they can be used as lifesaving vessels after being detached from the main body of the upper disc."