Recently Korean architects presented the new hotel project which will host the Winter Olympic Games 2018. The green terrace-lined design snakes in cascading curves that form an infinity shape. The new hotel will be located in Gangneung in Eastern Korea in a prime position for tourism. The resort itself is within approximately 5 kilometers from Olympic stadiums and facilities in the area, most of which are due for completion in 2016. The building, designed by the Seoul architectural firm "Planning Korea", looks like a three-dimensional infinity sign or volume Mobius strip. Architectures also mentioned that the sweeping figure-eight form of the resort draws inspiration from the ecological structure of the plankton, and references the project's conceptual basis of "a strip of healing or recreation." The twisted loop forms the predominant circulation space of the structure, whilst also providing a substantial space frame upon which a glass facade will be mounted. Offering 946 rooms and sprawling across nearly a 30 thousand square meters site, the hotel will offer a combination of marine and mountain leisure activities. The hotel will also feature a swimming pool suspended in a "belt" linking the building's dual cores. Rooftop sky facilities will adorn the hotel's top level, while LED lights at lower levels create a media facade. Approaching ground level the structure assumes a form evocative of Korean traditional housing, the Hanok. Planning Korea hope to "form a village" using these modernized versions of the traditional typology, interspersing restaurants and retail outlets in their midst. It is envisioned that the resort will allow "activities, recreation and healing within the nature" during the 2018 Winter Olympics, after which point it will be used for conventions and other events.

At the beginning of last year GDS Architects official site reported that they were in the early planning stage of building what will be known as the world's first invisible tower named Tower Infinity. Today GDS Architects was just granted the green light to begin construction on a sparkling new super-tall skyscraper in Seoul, South Korea. Tower Infinity will reach a height of 450 meters, placing it among the top 10 tallest buildings in the world. Designed for a location near the Incheon International Airport, Tower Infinity will also have the distinction of being 'invisible'. Using optical illusions and lighting, the tower will appear to disappear into the sky, making it a less obtrusive anti-tower. Tower Infinity will be located at the heart of the Yongsan International Business District, whose master plan was originally designed by Samoo. The "superscraper" will be a landmark project for the area, and it will serve as an iconic landmark for visitors coming from the international airport. GDS Architects won the competition to design the tower back in 2008 and just this summer they were granted permission to begin construction. The observation tower will largely be used for entertainment purposes - it will feature observation decks, wedding venues, a theater, a roller coaster, lots of restaurants, a water park, and a variety of landscaped gardens in the surrounding area. The crystalline tower is not just a vanity skyscraper though - as GDS has proposed a sort of anti-tower that blends into the sky and seems to disappear with the help of optical illusions, and lighting.

In our days skyscrapers construction isn't surprising, especially in Asian countries. Whereas most skyscrapers aim to stand out from crowded skylines, South Korea architects managed to bring something new in skyscraper construction planning Infinity Tower which will stand apart by blending in as the world's first "invisible" tower. GDS Architects are in the early planning stage of building what will be known as the world's first invisible tower, reported GDS architectural studio's official site. To be located near Incheon International Airport, the tower is meant to be a gateway to South Korea's bustling cityscape, symbolizing the region's rising power through a self-diminishing "celebration of the global community" - though this passive approach is somewhat offset by the unabashedly phallic design of the super tower. The tower itself appears to disappear through a unique optical technology. The key to making the tower invisible is the architects use of optical technology, with this ingenious development, the crystalline tower is expected to be completely see-through, which makes this project very impressive. The main developer of this project is the "Korea Land Corporation and Cheongna Organization". The completion of project schedule for 2014. Nevertheless the project is only in its planning stage. The main budget and date for the beginning of construction aren't announced. The 450 meters tall tower will land 145 thousand square meters area. It will also house retail areas, a water park and other ecological activities. The tower also planned to have the second tallest observation deck in the world at 385 meters high.

As reported by english.chosen.com, this week construction began on the Yongsan Landmark Tower, which is expected to be the most expensive building in the world once it is completed, standing 100 stories tall and rising half a kilometer into the sky. The tower is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016. Scheduled to be built in Seoul, inside the international business district in Yongsan, the tower will not quite measure up to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (162 stories, 828 meters) or the Lotte Super Tower being built in Jamsil (123 stories, 555 meter), but it will be the most expensive building per square unit. At present, each 1 square meter costs around US$ 3,150. The total construction cost is US$ 1.2 billion and the entire price tag for the building, including the land, stands at more than US$ 3.4 billion. It is more expensive than the Burj Khalifa, which cost around US$ 3,000 million per 1 square meter and costs 40 percent more than the Samsung Group headquarters in Seocho-dong, which cost US$ 2,400 per 1 square meter. Design alterations and the use of more high-tech materials could bump the price tag up further. The skyscraper will be packed with cutting-edge equipment and facilities. The structure was designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, who created the Pompidou Center in Paris and London Bridge Tower. Samsung Corporation, which also served as the main contractor on the Burj Khalifa and Taipei 101 (101 stories, 508 meters), the latter in Taiwan, will build the new architectural landmark in Yongsan. It will house the offices of global businesses and will offer a wide range of high-tech functions. First of all, the skyscraper will be equipped with the fastest elevators in the world that travel at 800 meters per minute, more than six times faster than the lifts installed in high-rise condominiums in Korea (120 m/min). In order to withstand the staggering weight of 100 stories of steel and concrete, ultra-high intensity concrete will be used to build the skyscraper, capable of supporting up to 800 kg per square cm.

As reported by Inhabitat.com, last week South Korea inaugurated the world's first solar-powered and largest floating island on Hangang River in Seoul. With two more islands slated to open in September, the recently opened Viva is already drawing crowds en masse with its first-rate entertainment complex. The stunning structure includes a 700 seat convention hall, restaurants and arcades - all powered by solar energy. When the development is completed, the trio of islands will be linked together by twenty-three weather-proof chains. Seoul's man-made islands differ from those common to Dubai, which are constructed by building up sand on the ocean floor. Viva, and its satellite islands, instead float, and are buoyant on the river's surface. Should there be a flood, the islands while rise and fall with the water levels, rather than be flooded over. A high tech tracking system will alert a controller should the islands float too far from their home site, due to changing water levels. Supported by 24 giant airbags, Viva weighs in at 2,000 tons, but can support building facilities up to 6,400 tons. The island will be harnessed by chains to a 500 ton concrete block to keep it in place. The three story building which holds all facilities is covered with 54 square meters of solar panels, which produced 6 kilowatts of energy each day, providing the facilities below with electricity, and also illuminating the facades at night. The $83.9 million dollar government project includes the 3.2 thousand square meters Viva, 1.3 thousand square meters Vista and nearly 371 square meters Tera. Combined, they will host international conventions, water sports events, restaurants, cultural performances and exhibitions. All three islands should be open by late August 2011.