Yesterday, on the 13th of April, German well-known company OBO Bettermann held introductory seminar at Armenia Marriott Hotel. The company this year celebrates its 100-year anniversary and is one of the leading European companies offering information technology and electrical network services. The seminar was organized by the Root ITSP, which is the official representative of OBO Bettermann in Armenia. Representatives of leading contructors of the republic were invited to participate in the event. Following the introduction by Root ITSP CEO Gegham Sargisyan, specially invited representatives of OBO Bettermann Waldemar Mader and Tarmo Riit took the floor. Mr. Riit described in detail the use of company products, and expressed hope that the presented systems and products will succeed in the Armenian market. It is important to mention that in contrast to the European market, where OBO Bettermann's production has taken a leading position in its sector, the existing technology of construction works in Armenia will not allow to use such products widely. However, we strongly recommend all interested Armenian companies to get acquainted with OBO Bettermann's proposals at the Armenian representative office, or visit the official website of the company.

This New Year began with the news that artificial islands -The World are slowly sinking into the sea. The World consists of 300 islands, with 232 kilometers of coastline and a total area of 55 square kilometers. Things have not gone well for The World from the very moment of its creation; unlike another exclusive development project Palm Jumeirah, The World couldn't attract investments. Today the development of the events surprised everyone! Last week Google announced that it is going to buy those man-made troubled islands and rearrange it into the Google logo. According to Google report, after completion of the project the big "G" in Google, that will be formed from five islands, is going to be used as company's headquarter in Dubai and a staff private resort. The rest of Google- shaped islands will be sold through the auction the highest bidder. Among the reported implicit bidders on the remaining islands are Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, who had already reserved part of The World. Google is well known for its green and sustainable lifestyle and The Google Islands will be not an exception; they will be equipped with wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and even tidal power in order to maintain self-sufficient and premium life on the islands. Google will also hire top engineers to define the damage that the islands have sustained and reinforce them.

In sports & concert complex after K. Demirchyan has opened 8th international specialized exhibition CAUCASUS BUILDING & RECONSTRUCTION EXPO 2011 that lasted three days, from 8-10 of April 2011. Welcome speech was delivered by Prime Minister of RA Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of Urban Development Vardan Vardanyan and others. According to Tigran Sargsyan, this exhibition will definitely contribute to the development of the industry. : Certainly, we all wish that such events serve for strengthening business relationship between organizations, raising reputation, business development, as well as for information enrichment in construction market. : Despite the wide geography of the exhibition, where besides Armenian companies were also represented organizations from Turkey, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine and Iran, we should be realistic and accept that the interest in exhibitions has somehow decreased. : According to the organizer, LOGOS EXPO Center, instead of last year's nearly 100 participants the number of companies taking park in exhibition this year hardly topped 60. The reason for participants decrease may be ongoing crisis in construction sector, or perhaps interest decrease in such kind of exhibitions when internet communication is widely spreading. Participation in exhibitions requires significant expenses, when internet is almost free and has unlimited business opportunities.

The construction of the sixth Disney theme park has started today, on April 8 in Shanghai. As previously reported, the Walt Disney Company has clinched deal with China's Shanghai Shendi Group Co. Ltd. to build Disney amusement park in Shanghai last year. Shanghai's Disneyland will include 2 hotels, a lake, restaurant and commercial complex. According to the head of Disney's parks and resorts division Tom Staggs, it will take five years to complete this project. Shanghai's mayor has estimated the amusement park will cost $3.7 billion, which would make it one of the largest foreign investments in China.

The official opening of Niemeyer Center (Centro Niemeyer) was held this week in Aviles, (Asturias, Spain). That ambitious cultural project was carried out by legendary and brilliant Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (he was born in December 15, 1907). The first stone was laid 4 years ago, in April 2007. This unusual structure with spiral staircase consists of a three-storey dome-shaped museum, an auditorium for 1000 spectators, almost 4.000 square meter open-plan exhibition site and a viewing tower over the estuary and the city panoramic view. This cultural complex will also contain a multi-use building with rehearsal areas, conference and meeting halls, cinema house and an open square to hold entertainment and cultural activities. The Niemeyer Center is the only creature by Oscar Niemeyer in Spain. The first sketches, drawn with a thick black marker, later where transformed into an ambitious cultural master plan and in his own words, it's the one he most loves of all he has done outside of Brazil: "I am making such a unique work for my first time, and it represents one of the highest points of my ongoing effort to transform architecture into a piece of art". According to the author, the center opens the doors to culture in of all its directions and forms, traditions and styles; music, theater, cinema, indoor and outdoor exhibitions, conferences and educational programs. Oscar Niemeyer is one of the founders of the of modern Brazilian architecture school, a pioneer in exploring the formal possibilities of reinforced concrete solely for their aesthetic impact. Niemeyer architecture is distinguished by plasticity, expressiveness and warmth. As he said: "It is not the right angle that attracts me, nor the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. What attracts me is the free and sensual curve - the curve that I find in the mountains of my country, sinuous course of its rivers, in the body of the beloved woman."