Landscaping of the cities not only raises the aesthetic indicator, but also helps to solve a number of essential tasks. Due to landscaping the microclimate and the health conditions of the city are improved, particularly, the temperature falls, decreases the speed of the wind, significantly changes the humidity of the air, as the green plantations detain dust and have the ability to absorb toxic gases, which creates more comfortable living environment. Landscaping of urban areas is made taking into account their geographical location, climatic conditions and the structure of urban planning. This approach to city planning has been used since time immemorial. Even in the great pages of our history, there are many examples where authorities planted forests, built nature reserves, city gardens, many of which exist till now. Our capital was designed using the same approach. Taking into consideration that climate in Yerevan is semi-arid, great importance was given to the landscaping of the city during the development of the master plan. Having a capital drowned in greenery decades ago, today we are faced with the fact that society is fighting for even the smallest green space. Since the independence of Armenia, the number of recreational zones in Yerevan has been decreasing every year. Perhaps in 90-s this action was inevitable and justified, but this practice was not cancelled, moreover, it improved, turning into business. That is why the city loses its "green lungs". The wave of business did not care even for historical and cultural complex Dalma gardens, which reached to us from the time of the ancient Van kingdom. But as they say, the error is good for its correction. And such a correction was the project of reconstruction of the park behind the statue to Myasnikyan. It should be noted, that on December 26, 2017, the Vardanyan Family Foundation presented a plan for the reconstruction of the park dedicated to the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan which was unanimously adopted at the meeting of the Council of Elders. In the course of construction works the trees were cut, which caused bewilderment of the townsfolk. As a result, the Yerevan Municipality provided explanations on the matter, “We would like to remind, that in February this year we already reported that in the framework of the construction works in the park located between Beirut and Italy streets of the city, only dry and old trees were cut down. We also reported that in the course of the works it is planned to plant fourfold more new trees in the park.” As an answer to perplexity of the townsfolk the "Vardanyan Family" charitable foundation replied that 48 healthy trees were planted along the perimeter of the park. And how will look the new park of our capital? According to the project the number of the trees will increase fourfold, and the green space will double. In the comfortable park there will be more than 60 types of exotic trees from other countries fully meeting our climatic conditions. The park will be fully paved with seven-colored granite slabs creating in the plan ornaments of Armenian carpet art. The park will be decorated with modern benches and bronze statues on the themes of ancient Urartu. Besides that, the park zone will be equipped with a modern lighting system. But one of the most graceful decisions was the construction of a large fountain complex, in the central part of which it is planned to install symbols of 12 administrative districts of Yerevan made from onyx. It is planned also to build a fountain square of granite slabs, on which the map of the capital will be located. The construction of the fountain complex is carried out by the Russian company VODALUX. In addition to the park improvement works, the "Vardanyan Family" charitable foundation also expressed his willingness in the future to carry out the engineering and technical maintenance of the fountains in the park at its own expense, in case of equipment failure - repair and replacement, as well as replacement of the worn tiles and gardening. The next important, long-awaited and very rare decision is that the park is not rented by the foundation but continues to belong to the community. The fund put only one condition: in the park zone within 99 years any kind of entrepreneurial activity should be banned and it should serve only as a rest zone for Yerevan residents. Thus the Fund tried to prevent the "appetite" of entrepreneurs to turn the park into any business. The project is a gift from the charitable foundation «Vardanyan family» for the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan. Studying the project and following the explanations and promises of the fund, the residents of Yerevan look forward to the opening of the new park. We hope, that someday the words of Linch about our capital will become true again. «The landscape from the higher level in the north, from where you drive to Erivan, produces an impression that is never forgotten. The entire Ararat massif is seen from top to bottom, but poplars are so high, and so magnificent are the numerous varieties of fruit trees, that the tops of mosques and the churches and the entire city scattered to your feet is drowned in their green leaves.”

Dubai is famous for its decadent hotels and record-breaking buildings. Now, the city is continuing to push the boundaries when it comes to architecture, with a 26-story skyscraper that has been designed to look like an iPod. Suitably called The Pad, the residential building is located in Business Bay in central Dubai. Inspired by Apple’s iPods and iPads, the building was designed by Hong Kong-based architecture firm James Law Cybertecture, which beat out stiff competition with its intriguing and unique proposal. Due to open at the end of the year, the building also includes a number of futuristic technological features that will allow the inhabitants to program their own software, such as mood lighting, voice control, biometric locks, and mirrors that can monitor health. Construction began in 2007, but was suspended in 2009, only to be restarted in 2013 again. Upon completion, The Pad will house 256 apartments, ranging from studios, to one- and three-bedroom duplexes overlooking the Dubai canal. The structure of the building is inclined at 6.5 degrees, as the leaning tower references the original iPod device on a charging dock. “Traditionally, architecture is a piece of concrete structure that contains conventional spaces to live or work. The Pad was conceived as the start of a new generation of architecture that is more akin to smart phones, where the buildings are programmable with software to match the needs of individual inhabitants. The concept came from designing the building to mimic a giant iPod,” architect James Law said.

Zaha Hadid Architects has won the Admiral Serebryakov Embankment competition, an international master planning contest for Novorossiysk, a Russian city on the Black Sea coast with the nation’s largest shipping port. Created in collaboration with local architecture firm Pride TPO, the winning master plan aims to reconnect the city with its coast and celebrate the region’s rich industrial history and relationship with the sea. The master plan will introduce a diverse mix of programming and facilities that prioritize non-vehicular circulation. As the nation’s main port on the Black Sea, the southern Russian city of Novorossiysk connects the country with the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and the Suez Canal. The city is the third-busiest port in Europe by turnover and is the leading Russian port for exporting grain. Zaha Hadid Architects and Pride TPO tap into Novorossiysk’s rich history and traditions as a center of trade in their master plan. The 13.9-hectare master plan is a phased development of nine principal buildings with a total floor area of approximately 300,000 square meters. Applying the concept of “instancing”, in which nine iterations of a single form evolve in a gradient across the site, the configuration of each building is established according to its unique function, conditions, and requirements. The master plan’s first phase will include facilities for civic, cultural, and corporate events as well as a hotel. More than 40 teams from 13 countries took part in the competition. Construction of the master plan’s first phase is projected to start in the second half of 2019.