3D printers are everywhere and they have been used to construct everything. Recently a Chinese company WinSun has successfully 3D printed a five-story apartment building and a 110 square meters villa from special print material. China's newest mansion is not only made from recycled materials, but the sprawling 110 square meters home was made with 3D printing. The luxury mansion was 3D printed in layers, using recycled stone and construction waste. In order to print a mansion, WinSun had to construct a larger-than-life 3D printer. The mansion printer stands 6.6 meters high, 10 meters wide and 40 meters long. Combining recycled materials and quick-dry cement, the giant printer squeezes out layer upon layer of pasty materials in strong diagonal shapes, which then harden. The pieces are reinforced with steel, and then filled with insulation like any other wall when building a house. In addition to the mansion, WinSun has also 3D printed a five-story apartment building and 10 affordable homes from recycled materials. WinSun's 3D-printed five-story apartment building took just one day to print, and then five additional days to assemble, with low construction waste and minimal laborers needed. The mansion, which was 3D printed inside and out, also saved on construction and labor. In the future, WinSun plans to use the efficient and low-construction waste process to build bridges and soaring skyscrapers. The company has already proven its stake in the 3D-printed architecture market, printing 10 homes at US$ 5,000 a piece in March of last year. Last year the Dutch company DUS Architects developed 3D-printid house using bioplastic.

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) annual report about skyscrapers construction all over the world, 2014 was a record year. The CTBUH has determined that 97 buildings of 200 meters' height or greater were completed around the world in 2014. Nearly half of all high-rise buildings were being built in China. The 11 of these supertalls were 300 meters or higher. The 97 buildings completed in 2014 beat every previous year on record, including the previous record high of 81 completions in 2011. This was the "tallest year ever" by another measure: The sum of heights of all 200-meter-plus buildings completed across the globe in 2014 was 23,333 meters - setting another all-time record and breaking 2011's previous record of 19,852 meters. The number of 200-meter-plus buildings in existence has hit 935, a 352% increase from 2000, when only 266 existed. China completed the most 200-meter-plus buildings (58). This represents 60% of the global 2014 total. According to CTBUH their annual number of skyscrapers will increase related to economic development of China. The Philippines took second place with five completions, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar share position three with four completions, and the United States, Japan, Indonesia and Canada tie for fourth, with three completions each. At 541 meters, One World Trade Center was the tallest building to complete in 2014 and is now the world's third-tallest building. From 97 skyscrapers, built in 2014, 47 are designed for offices. Another 26 are classified as multi-functional center with a hotel, commercial and residential areas. If anything, 2015 promises to be more active than 2014 and indeed, any year previous. We currently project the completion of between 105 and 130 buildings of 200 meters' height or greater, eight to 15 of which will be supertalls, and one of which will be a megatall - Shanghai Tower (632 meters). Founded in 1969, the Council's mission is to disseminate multidisciplinary information on tall buildings and sustainable urban environments, to maximize the international interaction of professionals involved in creating the built environment, and to make the latest knowledge available to professionals in a useful form. Now CTBUH headquarters located in Chicago.

As anyone who's ever visited Italy knows, the ancient Romans were master engineers. Their roads, aqueducts, and temples are still holding up remarkably well despite coming under siege over the centuries by waves of sacking marauders, mobs of tourists, and the occasional earthquake. But it seems the Romans also knew a thing or two about making concrete. While world's 1960s concrete tower blocks and flyovers are crumbling, Roman monuments such as the Pantheon and the Coliseum are still standing. Now scientists have discovered the secret ingredient behind the longevity of Roman concrete - volcanic ash. The study by the University of California, in Berkeley, found Roman concrete showed no corrosion, with a smooth surface suggesting long-term stability. Manufacturing modern cement requires heating a mix of limestone and clay at 1,450C. But Roman architectural mortar uses 85 per cent volcanic ash, fresh water and lime, which is cast at a much lower temperature, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Now the researchers want to take the Roman techniques and apply them to modern cements. Dr Marie Jackson said: 'If we can find ways to incorporate a substantial component of volcanic rock in the production of specialty concretes, we could greatly reduce the carbon emissions associated with their production. We could also improve their durability and mechanical resistance over time.'

After two years of design development, Tokyo-based Shimizu Corporation just unveiled blueprints for the world's first underwater city that, by the construction company's estimates, could be completed in just a few decades at a cost of US$ 26 billion. Dubbed the "Ocean Spiral" the sustainably powered, Atlantis-like metropolis is the latest futuristic scheme proposed by Shimizu. Shimizu Corp.'s vision of the modern-day Atlantis is divided into three parts, with the underwater city contained in a 500 meters wide sphere that could house up to 5,000 residents and comprise mixed-use developments where people can live, work, and play. The spherical city floats at the surface of the sea, but can descend down a 15 kilometers long spiral pathway into the deeper depths during times of bad weather. The spiral pathway is connected to a research facility, which would excavate the seabed for precious metals and create energy for the city above using temperature differences in ocean water. "This is just a blueprint by our company, but we are aiming to develop the technology that would enable us to build an underwater living space," Shimizu spokesman Masataka Noguchi told the Wall Street Journal. Desalinated water would be created using hydraulic pressure and fish farms would be built around the structure. The proposal also mentions harnessing the power of microorganisms to convert carbon dioxide to methane energy. Although seemingly farfetched, Shimizu's proposal underscores fears of sea level rise and loss of habitable environments. The design was realized with help from University of Tokyo researchers, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and the government's Fisheries Research Agency. The Shimizu construction company estimates that the technology to implement the "Ocean Spiral" could be in place by 2030.

Property Development Company CJSC announced the launch of the construction of "Kamar" multifunctional business center in Yerevan by laying its foundation stone on November 6. The business center, designed in accordance with the most advanced international technologies, will be the first in Armenia to be certified by BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), a global leader in the design and assessment of sustainable buildings based in the UK. The development of the unique "A" Class office building will comply with the modern energy efficiency and environmental standards, thus considerably elevating the overall standards of the commercial real estate in the country. Property Development Company CJSC, the owner of the building, has approached to the project with ultimate responsibility and care, highly prioritizing the buildings in this historical area. For several years before the start of construction works, the company has been organizing various public discussions with experts and beneficiaries to identify the most appropriate solutions and to insure high level of transparency throughout the entire process. The initiative started at least 5 years ago. Right at the beginning of the project the company organized an open architectural contest for the development of the concept by involving the best and most recognized engineers and architects from various countries. Committed to preserving the values of Armenian history, they have stored every single stone from the old building. Company further developed an architectural and engineering solution that highlights the historical importance and overall design of this part of the city. The main problem is that the complex should combine innovative solutions with the old constructions. The total value of the project is about US$ 37 million. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will provide a US$ 9 million loan and secure another US$ 9 million loan from DEG (Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH). The rest of the investment will be provided by Property Development Company CJSC.