The world's tallest vertical garden now adorns Sydney skyline. The One Central Park is already completed and offers its potential owners a unique combination of architecture and nature. One Central Park designed by Jean Nouvel in collaboration with his French compatriot Patrick Blanc, a botanist, the vertical garden incorporated in the facades is made of different plant species which provide natural regulation of incoming solar radiation, adapting to the seasons of the year. The majority of Central Park is being developed jointly by Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia - two global companies with a shared passion for sustainable communities. The vertical garden consists of 250 native Australian exotic plant species. The shrubbery covers 50 percent of the building's facade and according to the designers intends to extend the greenery from the adjacent park onto the building. The Central Park project by Ateliers Jean Nouvel consists of two adjoining residential towers. Nouvel's towers are 116 meters and 64.5 meters in height and are part of a larger mixed-use development that includes apartments, shops, cafes, restaurants and office units. The tallest tower features a large cantilever that contains 38 luxury penthouse apartments. On the underneath, there is a heliostat of motorized mirrors that direct sunlight down onto the surrounding gardens. After nightfall the cantilever is used as a canvas for a LED light installation by artist Yann Kersale. One Central Park is part of an "urban village" in downtown Sydney that features residential towers, retail shops and collaborative spaces for artists and architects. The dynamic setting was designed around a beautiful and spacious 64,000 square meter park. Much like New York's iconic Central Park, the grounds will serve as a tranquil respite from city life, with a large lawn for relaxation, chessboards, an open-air cinema, and occasional festivals and live music. One Central Park from Asia and Australia named the best tall building in the world for 2014 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

One of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is celebrating its 80th birthday, reported BBC. The 1.149 thousand meters bridge, which took almost 10 years to build, was officially opened on 19 March 1932. Construction began on the span in 1923, and involved 1.4 thousand workers and 52.8 thousand tons of steel. The attraction is listed as the world's widest long-span bridge by Guinness World Records, reported The Huffingtonpost. The bridge cost US$ 9.9 million to build and 16 men reportedly lost their lives in the construction process. When the bridge - also known locally as "the coathanger" - was opened, it connected the northern and southern shores of the harbour for the first time. In its early days about 11 thousand vehicles crossed the bridge daily. Now, it sees daily traffic of about 160 thousand vehicles. Born from the mind of Dr. JJC Bradfield, who is considered the "Father of the Bridge", the contractor's consulting engineer, Ralph Freeman, carried out the elaborate design and the acute plans for the erection process. Known for their fierce competition with each other, and a very heated disagreement about whose idea the bridge originally was, the two men endured a bitter rivalry. Mr. Freeman later received knighthood for his contribution to this spectacular site.

During a joint Australia-China business forum on April 26 in Beijing, a prominent Chinese leader announced that the country plans to take a more active role in Australia's economy. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang announced that China wants to play a key role in the construction of Australia's infrastructure. In construction sector Li Keqiang pointed to port and rail construction in Australia as potential areas that China could have greater involvement in. The Australian government is also planning an expansion of its National Broadband Network and Keqiang believes Chinese construction companies could play a role in the project. Australia is also in dire need of key transport infrastructure, with the existing network unable to cope with the rapid increase in export demand for the country's mineral resources. "We would encourage capable and responsible Chinese companies to take part in Australia's construction sector," said Mr. Keqiang. China's construction companies and equipment manufacturers have built up a presence overseas, predominantly in developing countries where, backed by cheap funding from Chinese banks, they are building much needed infrastructure. But despite Australia's need for infrastructure, China's involvement in the sector may still face some roadblocks. Chinese construction companies operating in the developing world often bring in their own labor, causing some tension in the local communities in which they operate. Many countries are now turning to China, which has accumulated huge foreign exchange reserves ($ 3.05 trillion- I qr., 2011.), and which quite willing to invest in various projects abroad. However, many appreciate such an active economic expansion not only as a cost-beneficial cooperation, but also as a sharp increase in China's political influence in these countries and in the world at large.