Brazil's star architect Oscar Niemeyer, who revolutionized modern architecture with his sensual curves inspired by "the body of the Brazilian woman," feted his 104th birthday on December 15 in his Rio workshop overlooking Copacabana beach, reported Yahoo News. During his seven-decade career, Niemeyer has designed more than 600 projects around the world, and is famous for some of Brazil's most distinctive buildings. Niemeyer, a disciple of Le Corbusier, designed his first building, the Ministry of Education and Public Health in Rio de Janeiro in 1943. His iconic buildings also include the National Congress of Brazil, the Cathedral of Brasilia, the Niteroi Contemporary Art museum, and he was a part of the panel that designed the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. He recently designed a new theater for Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. Niemeyer, who won the 1988 Pritzker Prize -- "architecture's Nobel" -- chose his birthday to launch the 11th edition of "Nosso Caminho (Our Way)," the architecture magazine he publishes with his wife Vera Lucia. For a birthday present, he was given "Laura," a bronze sculpture with breasts exposed which was designed by famed Brazilian caricaturist Lan and made in bronze by artist Marcos Andre, according to the daily O Globo. Last August, Niemeyer told reporters that there were still a few things he would like to do, such as "a beautiful project for Copacabana." "I was once asked what I thought about life. My reply: As long as I have a woman next to me, come what may," he joked.

Germany's Porsche design Group and a local developer Dezer Properties planned to built Porsche Tower in Miami, reported the Trulia. A US$ 560 million project, a 57-storey building will rise in Sunny Isles Beach. According to Moscow Sotheby's International Realty in December project was approved by the city authorities. It is the world's first condominium complex with elevators that will take residents directly to their units while they are sitting in their cars (however we wrote about the same type going building). Finding a parking space near their front door will no longer be a worry for anyone lucky enough to live in the new multimillion pound. They can just pull into a designated space, turn off the engine and sit back and enjoy the oceanfront view as they are escalated in a glass elevator to the front door of their apartment. After the resident pulls over and switches off the engine, a robotic arm that works like an automatic plank will scoop up the car and put it into the elevator. The glass elevators will give residents and their guests unparalleled views of the city or of the ocean during their high-speed ride, expected to last 45 to 90 seconds. The luxury building will be constructed on 9 thousand square meters of land on Collins Avenue. It will have 132 units, with smaller units being allocated two parking spaces and the larger ones, four, and 284 robotic parking spaces in total accessible via three elevators. Apartments will range from 350 to 880 square meters and are expected to cost up to US$ 9 million each.

Kuwait begins constructing on a world-class city from scratch in one of the most ambitious projects in the Arabian Gulf, reported constructiondigital. As one of the smallest geographical countries on the map and covered mostly by the harsh Arabian Desert, Kuwait is not, on the surface, an obvious candidate for one of the most radical and expensive construction projects in the region. Kuwait is the fifth wealthiest country per-capita in the world, with expansive oil fields and a booming economy. This success has led government officials and investors to leap ahead with plans for a modern oasis in the desert, a sprawling 250 thousand square meters metropolis directly across the bay from the bustling economic hub of Kuwait City. Madinat Al Hareer, the City of Silk, will be completed in 2023, and will propel Kuwait into the global urban spotlight. With an initial government investment of over US$ 132 billion and numerous private investors, the construction is underway on the basic infrastructure of the site, with various stages of construction taking place over the next decade. The City will host a number of innovative landmarks: The Jaber Al Ahmed Bridge - Connecting Madinat Al Hareer with neighboring Kuwait City, the Jaber Bridge will span more than 23 kilometers across Kuwait Bay, reducing travel time between the cities from an hour and a half to under 17 minutes. The Burj Mubarak al-Kabir - Standing 1001 meters above the desert, in reference to the popular Arabian Nights talebased on the region, the Mubarak al-Kabir Tower will consist of three twisting, interlocking structures and, at the time of its completion in 2016, will be the tallest in the world. The Silk Road - Free Enterprise Zone - Located next to the international airport, this economic zone will feature duty-free merchandise and business-friendly tax laws to spur economic growth in the City. With rail, air, and road access to much of Asia, this is sure to become a major hub in the region. Bubiyan Port - Potentially one of the closest sea ports to Central Asia, the Bubiyan Port is slated for construction on Bubiyan Island, Kuwait's largest island. The port would handle traffic from Iran, Iraq, and other Middle-Eastern countries. Sports City - A sprawling assemblage of sporting complexes, Olympic Stadia, recreation centers, parks and health facilities will highlight the City's focus on athletic events and a commitment to physical excellence. There are also plans for several sports medicine and research academies. Convention and Exhibition Centers - Taking a cue from the World's Fair and other major gatherings of entrepreneurs and professionals, the City's facilities will host a variety of innovators from around the world to showcase advances in technology, energy, and design. Kuwait hopes to bring the global spotlight to a local stage.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you - the waters have indeed parted! This incredible "sunken" bridge located in the Netherlands is giving visitors a unique way to access a beautiful 17th Century Dutch fort. According to Inhabitat the Moses Bridge, designed by RO & AD Architects, literally parts the waters that surround the fort, allowing pedestrians to pass through. The bridge is made from sustainable Accsys Technologies Accoya wood. A series of moats and fortresses were built over the West Brabant Water Line region of the Netherlands during the 17th century in order to provide protection from invasion by France and Spain. Fort de Roovere was surrounded with a shallow moat that was too deep to march across, and too shallow for boats. In turn the earthen fort had remained protected - until now. From afar, the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye. The flow of the moat appears continuous, as the water level remains at the same level, reflecting the surrounding foliage. As visitors approach the fort, the bridge appears as a break in the water with its sloping walls containing it. First lying flush with the earth, the bridge then descends deeper into the ground. Lined with wood sheet piling for walls, the deck and stairs sit between. The bridge and its components have been made from sustainable hardwood. The Accoya wood is also treated with a nontoxic coating, protecting it from fungal decay and increasing its durability - an ideal material for a sunken bridge. Like a dam, the walls of the bridge hold the waters of the moat back, and like Moses, the bridge parts the waters so that pedestrians may pass. The Moses Bridge gives visitors a unique opportunity to pass through parted waters, to eventually meet a historic fortress of defense.

Singapore's newest skyscraper in the Central Business District, the 43-storey Asia Square Tower 1, took three years to build and is one of the latest green buildings to be built in Singapore, where the sustainability and eco-friendliness of it are part of the main considerations during the design phase, reported Asiaone. Calling itself "one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the region", Asia Square held its official opening ceremony on November 11 night. The building is equipped with a biodiesel generation plant that recycles food oil waste produced from its catering establishments, making it the first waste recycling plant to be located within a commercial development. Asia Square also collects condensation water from air-conditioning and uses it for irrigation needs. Banking on the concept of "Work, Play, Live, Grow", Asia Square boasts offices, a hotel, a gym, food & beverage outlets and retail stores. At the moment, over 60 percent of Tower 1 is occupied: Citibank is the anchor tenant with nine floors, Pure Fitness took up one entire level and Google has three and a half storey. Westin Hotel will be located at Tower 2, which will be ready in August 2013.