One of Britain's top entrepreneurs has unveiled a new plan to build London's most expensive block of flats in Mayfair. "Audley Square House" is being billed as Britain's first US$ 3 billion apartment block. The previous records belonged to private projects One Hide Park and 199 Knightsbridge, which construction costs were US$ 2.2 billion. According to British publication Daily Mail John Caudwell, the founder of Phones4U, bought the five-story Audley Street garage in Mayfair, central London for US$ 230 million in order to knock it down and build a high-end housing complex. At first the site has consent for a nearly US$ 450 million scheme by Foster & Partners but John Caudwell has since added an extra building to the plot. After ditching the Foster's scheme he interviewed 30 "leading architects from around the world" before appointing New York-based Stern for its "ability to design high-quality buildings that do not stand apart from their surroundings but rather fit in comfortably amongst their neighbors". The 18,500 square meters scheme, known as "Audley Square House", will be 9 stories above ground, capped by large penthouses and duplexes, plus 5 underground - including 2 levels of car parking, plant and a leisure center. Each townhouse and penthouse will have its own gym and swimming pool, while the penthouses will have dedicated lifts to ensure their owners' privacy. The development's communal facilities will include a 15-meter swimming pool, a business center for holding meetings, a gym, spa and cinema and games room. At the first of April plans for the ambitious complex were submitted to Westminster Council. But as mentioned Becky Fatemi, director of Rokstone estate agents during her interview to Daily Mail, powerful locals might not be happy with the years of building works which would be likely to ensue in the area. The neighbors are powerful and include the Embassy of Qatar, the Dorchester Hotel and very wealthy apartment owners who will expect the site construction to be managed to the highest levels to ensure no noise or construction impact and they will expect constantly clean roads.

A two-story luxury condo in Manhattan has just become the most expensive apartment ever sold in New York City. A duplex penthouse spanning the top two floors of the One57 condominium tower was sold for $100.5 million, setting a record for the most expensive residential deal ever completed in Manhattan. The apartment, which spans all of the 89th and 90th floors of the 306-meter tower, with almost 1020 square meters, include 6 bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a steam room, a library, and an indoor movie theater. All apartments of this tower have soaring ceilings, rosewood flooring and custom Italian marble baths. Residents of the building also have access to a gaggle of uber luxe amenities, including a gym, a pool and Jacuzzi, a steam room, a library and a screening room. The trophy tower, which is nearly sold out, has attracted local and foreign buyers. Sales at One57 began in 2011 and reached US$ 1 billion in the first six months, including the last record deal. Another duplex at the building, spanning the 75th and 76th floors, is under contract to be sold for more than $90 million to an investment group that includes Bill Ackman. Earlier we reported, that the prime minister of Qatar was ready to plunk down nearly US$ 100 million for the city's most expensive penthouse - an ultra-luxe, two-story pad atop the under-construction One57 condominium. Now, the duplex penthouse owner name wasn't published. And though $100 million may seem like a lot, New York's priciest penthouse will most likely prove to be a savvy investment as more expensive homes continues to go on sale. Already, a tower on 520 Park Avenue has a penthouse on the market for $130 million, and prices are only expected to climb. Previous price record belonged to the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought an apartment in New York for US$ 88 million for his student daughter.

On September 10 took place the solemn opening ceremony of the multifunctional block of flats built at Tsitsernakaberdi 1/2 in the capital. On the basis of the suggestions made by the special inter-departmental commission formed on the instruction of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan, within the scope of the RA Government decree 342-A, dated 04.04.2013, apartments in the newly-built block of flats have been allocated to the families whose purchased homes were lost as a result of the failure of construction carried out by a private developer at the address Arami 72-80 in Yerevan. The honor of opening was given to Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and the director of new building developer company "D and H group"Vahe Petrosyan. It should be noted that a criminal case was launched by the Department of state interest defense of the RA Chief Prosecutor's Office in December 2011 concerning the case of grabbing big amounts by cheating and abusing confidence of the residents in 2005-2011. The developer of the failed building was "Gapbnakshin" Ltd. The total area of the building at Arami 72-80 was about 21 thousand square meters, but the developer sold 53 thousand square meters. One apartment in the building at Arami 72-80 was sold to 8 buyers! As a result of all machinations 476 families became the victims of dishonesty losing big amounts. The citizens had to turn to the President of the Republic expecting the state help in this issue. As a result the President instructed to form a special inter-departmental commission in March, 2012. Taking into account that the problem referred to 476 families it was vital to find a non-standard solution. A part of the citizens suffered the dishonesty were given apartments in this building at Tsitsernakaberdi 1/2 address, the other part was allocated flats in the building at Arami street. So the problem got a complete solution. The building built in accordance with all necessary standards and provided with all conveniences. The surrounding area of the complex with total area of 65 thousand square meters was completely improved: benches, dustbins, bowers, children's playground was constructed at this area. Today 476 families have got apartments, but there are still many who believe, that their housing problems also should be solved in the near future. Still many defrauded families did not received compensation for expropriated land and apartments located on the street Byuzand, district Kond and some other problematic developments. During the grand opening ceremony mayor of Yerevan told that all deceived residents will receive new houses. Committee on these issues now is considering what model to choose for solving the problem and how to find new investors.

Damac Properties, one the Middle East's largest luxury real estate developers, recently announced that every customer will receive a new car on select luxury property units sold during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF). Customers buying a Damac Properties penthouse during DSF will be given a Lamborghini Aventador roadster with their purchase. Buyers in other select Damac Properties units will receive either a BMW or a Mini Cooper, depending on the size of the unit. "Damac Properties' DSF promotion is always highly anticipated and we see some of the best results of the year during this time," Niall McLoughlin, senior vice-president, Damac Properties said. In 2013, penthouse buyers were offered a 2014 Audi R8, buyers of three-bed units will be given an Audi A8, two bedrooms were given an Audi A6 and one bed got an Audi A4. During the economic crisis Dubai housing prices fall by 50 percent, but now the market recovers quickly. In 2013 house prices in Dubai increased by 20-30 percent. The growth mainly is due to the foreign buyers' activity.

The Dutch have been fighting the rising and falling tides for centuries, building dikes and pumping water out of areas that are below sea level. Now, rather than fight the water infiltrating their land, the Dutch will use it as part of a new development called "New Water", which will feature the world's first floating apartment complex, The Citadel. Netherlands-based firm Waterstudio just announced plans to construct the world's first floating apartment complex in 2014! The Citadel will offer 60 luxury apartments made from 180 modular units that will be arranged around a central courtyard and topped with green roofs. The Netherlands is home to over 3,500 polders, or patches of low-lying land that are protected by dykes. Since they are below sea level, water needs to be pumped out of these areas around the clock. The Citadel apartments will be one of six projects comprising the New Water development, which is located in one of these polders. After completion, the land will be flooded to allow the Citadel to float atop the water. The main deck will consist of a floating, heavy concrete base measuring 73 x 128 x 2.8 meters that will support the lightweight apartments and a parking lot. Each unit will be wrapped in aluminum and topped with a green roof. A bridge will connect the Citadel to the mainland and allow access for emergency and maintenance vehicles. Once water is reintroduced to the polder, the entire complex will float atop six feet of water. Inside the Citadel, each unit boasts a private outdoor space, a berth for a small boat, and greenhouses will be scattered among the units. Water will be pumped through submerged pipes to cool the structures. The overall design is estimated to make the apartments 25% more energy efficient than developments on land. Due to its size, residents will not be able to detect the motion of the water. Waterstudio is planning to begin building early next year.