Architecture practice RMJM's Shenzhen office just won a design competition for a new observation tower in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai. Inspired by Doumen district's traditional water culture, the architects designed the skyscraper in the image of a jumping fish by covering the twisting structure in a scaly facade. The iconic tower will serve as a major city landmark and will be prominently located at the confluence of two major rivers in the center of the city's new promenade development. Measuring nearly 100 meters in height, the Zhuhai Observation Tower will be clad in 1,400 perforated aluminum panels that will give the building its fish-like look and protect the tower from the sun. Composed of twelve two-dimensional curves, the skyscraper's likeness to a jumping fish symbolizes the prosperity and rapid transformation of Zhuhai. Since the tower will be integrated in an urban promenade, RMJM minimized the building's footprint in order to make room for pedestrian-oriented landscape elements and recreational activities. Cafes and restaurants will also be located on the first floor of the tower to help spur activity in the plaza square. The mixed-use tower is split into three main activity zones: the ground podium with retail and restaurants, the leisure activity zone in the middle, and an observation deck on the top floor that will offer 360-degree views.

La Grande Arche in La Defense has dominated Paris' skyline for twenty five years, however the immense structure has fallen into disrepair as its marble facade crumbles and threatens to fall on people below. Fortunately, the French government has decided to invest US$ 267.5 million to renovate the iconic building and work is scheduled to begin in October. The 110-meter high and 110-meter wide cube of La Grande Arche surpasses the Notre Dame cathedral in size, and its large viewing platforms and commercial spaces once attracted over 250,000 visitors per year. It was designed by Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, who won an international competition, but due to illness he had to pass on responsibility for its construction to French architect Paul Andreu. La Grande Arche was inaugurate back in 1989 as a symbol of prosperity and economic growth, but it has suffered substantial damage over the years. Several recent studies found portions of the building unsafe, partly due to the porosity of the stone. The weather and pollution have also left their mark on the architectural behemoth, and the area around the foot of the north side of the arch has been closed to the public. Additionally, some of the occupants of the office spaces on the south side have complained about the poor working conditions and the lack of natural light. The renovation work will focus on the building's south side and is expected to last for two years.

Koen Olthuis and Dutch Docklands have announced a new project: a five-star floating hotel off the coast of Norway named the Krystall. Reminiscent of their Maldives development the Greenstar, this cold-climate sister project will take the form of a six-pointed ice crystal. As with Dutch Docklands' other floating structures the development will be low-impact, and it's designed to "blend in with the "winter environment" between the most beautiful fjords." The Krystall will float offshore from the northern city of Tromso, located within the Arctic Circle. Designed to be completely self-supporting and self-sustainable, the hotel will have a diameter of 120 meters, and facilities will include 86 guest rooms, conference rooms, and spa and wellness facilities. It's also billed as a perfect spot for viewing the Northern Lights due to its glass roof. The five-star luxury and spectacular nature of the project is aimed at attracting wealthy visitors from Japan, Russia and Europe. As Olthuis told CNN, "In the hotel, you'll float through hallways lined with cool, futuristic blue shapes, recline by a fireplace faced in transparent bricks resembling ice blocks and sleep in rooms tricked out in minimalist, winter-themed designs." But true to Olthuis's green principles, the design is not just about the aesthetics. To be built in dry dock and then positioned in place, the hotel will not leave a lasting footprint on its location. "That's the only way to bring a hotel to such a precious and beautiful marine environment," he says. Floating structures are a pragmatic design concern for the development company, as they ameliorate the risks to coastal properties associated with rising sea levels. As Olthuis explains, "We live in a dynamic world where static buildings do not bring us the needed flexibility. Building on water brings us new space for expansion, safety against floods and flexibility to adjust developments without demolition whenever needed." The hotel is set to open in December 2016.

One of London's most recognizable landmarks, the Gherkin, has been put up for sale and is expected to be snapped up by an overseas buyer. The 40-storey City of London skyscraper was put into receivership in April, and the agents appointed to sell it are hoping for offers in the region of US1 billion to US$ 1.1 billion. Savills and Deloitte Real Estate have been jointly instructed to sell the 46,900 square meters office building, which was designed by Lord Foster and opened in 2004. The two firms said marketing of the Gherkin - including an advertising campaign and a dedicated website - was about to begin, "with interest expected to come from all corners of the globe". Built at St Mary Axe on the site of the Baltic Exchange shipping market, which was badly damaged by an IRA bomb attack in 1992, the Gherkin quickly became a London landmark, featuring in TV programs and films. Perhaps its most prominent role came in the 2006 erotic thriller Basic Instinct 2, in which the building doubled up as the office of a criminal psychiatrist. The building currently has about 20 tenants, including the insurer Swiss Re, which originally owned the building, and is also used as a wedding venue. Stephen Down, head of central London investment at Savills, said several parties had already registered their interest, and added that he anticipated they would be looking to close the deal by the end of September or the beginning of October. He said the building had been well looked after: "It's in very good order." Potential buyers could include a sovereign wealth fund from the Middle East or Asia, or perhaps a large pension fund or private equity house. Deloitte, which was appointed to take control of the tower, previously said that the Gherkin's co-owners - a Mayfair-based investment bank and a German property investor, IVG Immobilien - had run into problems related to currency issues, rather than any difficulties with the wider property market. Read more about the Gherkin ,

Faced with rising sea levels, would you consider a move onto the water? Soon, a community of Londoners will have exactly that option. DRMM Architects has won the Royal Docks competition to design England's first floating village. London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed a consortium including Carillion Igloo Genesis and Buro Happold who will together transform 60 thousand square meters of water just east of the Emirates Airline. Floating villages are a new idea for the UK, but already popular in Europe, especially in Holland where designers have long considered sea levels in relation to housing and city planning. The Royal Docks scheme borrows expertise developed at the floating prefab village of Ijburg near Amsterdam. In Scotland two schemes are already planned, including a solar powered floating community for Edinburgh and a £30 million development directly adjacent to the Glasgow Science Center. The water site at the Royal Victoria Dock, just east of the Emirates Airline, will be transformed into a community with 50 custom-built homes, plus restaurants, bars and offices. There will also be a blue-water square framed by a market square, a floating cornice and an events space. Plans for additional facilities, such as a lido and ice rink, were also proposed as part of the bid. The winning scheme will be 100% floating with the walkways, residential and non-residential units anchored in place using a series of piles located within the dock and connected to the dock by bridges. Future inhabitants will be able to play a part in the design of their property. Chris Brown, director of Carillion Igloo Genesis said: "Living in a floating home you've helped to design is a dream lots of us have. By combining the floating home experience of our Dutch collaborators with our custom built business we hope to make these dreams come true in Royal Victoria Dock... East London's place on the tourist trail is growing fast. It's about to be joined by Europe's largest floating village, with floating markets, creative workspace, events and watersports." Alex de Rijke of DRMM recently presented his studies on floating villages to the Venice architecture biennale. The prefabricated floating water-homes will use the same type of concrete foundations that are already in use at the Ijburg development in Holland. The construction of the homes - including the bases - will be carried out off-site and then transported by water to site. The scheme is due to enter the formal planning process with Newham council in Spring 2015, and it is expected to address the need for affordable housing to avoid opposition from local authorities and residents.