Higher than a bird, almost as high as some planes. It's Super Tower. And it's coming to Bangkok. Real estate developer Grand Canal Land unveiled plans for a 125-storey office and hotel tower that would make Bangkok home to the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia. The 320 thousand square-meter "Super Tower" - the name is not final and a naming competition will be held later - is being designed by Architects 49. The mixed-use project will offer 90 thousand square meters of office space and house a "six-star" hotel with 260 rooms. Other amenities include an observation tower for tourists and garden on the rooftop of a lower floor. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which maintains a database of the tallest skyscrapers, the Bangkok "Super Tower" will be the world's ninth tallest if it is built on schedule. It would be the third tallest if built today. The developer intends the tower as the center of a new business, shopping and residential district in Bangkok costing US$ 3.1 billion. If completed, the tower would dwarf the tallest building currently in Thailand, the "Baiyoke II tower", which tops out at 304 meters (328.4 m to tip) on its 85th floors. The second-tallest structure, to be completed in 2016, is Mahanakhon condominium at 314 meters. If built today, the tower would be the third-tallest in the world and the highest in the Southeast Asia region, planners said. Southeast Asia's current tallest building is the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur at 452 meters.

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.

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 ,

The Shard in London has secured the top prize for the world's most renowned prize for high-rise architecture - the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2013. The Shard, currently Western Europe's tallest building, was selected for first prize from more than 300 skyscraper submissions from around the world. The award, which is now in its 14th year, is issued by Emporis, the international provider of building data. To qualify, skyscrapers had to be completed in 2013 and reach a height of at least 100 meters. London's winning mixed-use skyscraper rises 306 meters and was designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. The Shard crystallizes the skyline with its sharp, angled glass facade. Second place was awarded to "DC Tower 1" in Vienna, Austria, designed by Dominique Perrault Architecture. According to the architects, the facade's folds give DC Tower 1 a malleability which constantly adapts to the light, a reflection or an event. They said its shimmering undulated facade is a prominent part of the Vienna skyline; it now holds the title of Austria's tallest building at 250 meters. The skyscraper also impressed due to its comprehensive sustainability concept, including photovoltaics to generate energy, local plants with low water requirements in the green areas of the building, and electric car chargers to save on CO2 emissions. China's unconventional Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort by MAD architects took third place. The hotel skyscraper reaches 102 meters and echoes the shape of a giant ring. This enables all rooms to have balconies and views and absorb daylight from all directions. An impressive 19,000 LED lights illuminate the facade at night, imposing reflections on the building of it's Lake Tai location. Last year's top prize went to the curvaceous Absolute World Towers in Canada, while Frank Gehry's stainless steel skyscraper marvel New York by Gehry secured top honor's the year before. In 2010 Prestigious architectural award Emporis Skyscraper Award won the Hotel Porta Fira in Barcelona.

Russian "Itera" group has completed the erection of the monolithic frame of high-rise residential complex "Sail", which is situated in the center of Minsk. According to holding's press realize Belarus first skyscraper will be completed in 2013. To date the height of the building is 118.1 meters, which is already height record for high-rises in Belarus. Earlier was reported, that the building, which includes 204 apartments, will reach 133 meters in height with spire. The residential high-rise "Sail" is a part of multifunctional complex on Maxim Tank Street. The first 4 floors of the building will occupy administrative and commercial premises. The last 4 floors will occupy four duplex penthouses. The "Sail" also provide apartments, offices, sport center and underground parking. Apartment floor areas will range from 61 to179 square meters with 3 meters ceiling height. "Itera" holding consists of dozen companies from CIS, Baltic States, Western Europe Asia countries and from USA. Company's main line is the gas-business. Company's other strategic directions are real estate development, gas chemistry and energy.