World Construction

Having a bad day? Then just imagine being a demolition worker on this job.

Chinese engineers used 190 tonnes of explosives to blow up a temporary barrier used during construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

The massive blast created more than 170,000 cubic metres of concrete fragments and unleashed the full force of the Yangtze River upon the world's largest hydroelectric project.

And here's betting it made any workers frustrated with the fillings in their sandwiches or angry at their low pay - feel instantly better.

While the detonate button was pushed way back in 2006, the blast still rates as the world's toughest demolition job.

I just wonder, as a worker, how do you ever top the job where you blasted a 500m long dam sky-high?

While other banks are drowning in the global financial crisis, HSBC is considering building swimming pools all around the world.

In what could be a dire effort to diversify its business during the slowdown, the bank wants to replicate the success of a Mumbai swimming pool that has shocked locals.

Working with Ogilvy & Mather, the bank built a swimming pool in Mumbai that has an aerial photograph of the New York skyline stuck to its floor.

The idea was to show the adverse impact of climate change by submerging the city in water, while also promoting a HSBC £50m climate change initiative.

Perhaps HSBC should approach the London's Olympic bosses to sponsor the aquatic centre pool - the 2012 budget could sure use the cash and surely the swimmers wouldn't mind.

When all that freedom and wide open space gets a bit too much, what is a person to do? Apparently, build an adult-sized birdcage.

Chinese man Zhu Hu built the 5m high cage in the backyard of his home at the foot of Yuhuang mountain in Hangzhou after being inspired by the birds he keeps.

He reckons hanging out in the cage is the perfect way for his family to relax.

"It feels very secure and happy spending time inside the birdcage. And also it lets us realise how birds must feel," he said.

Visitors to the area bizarrely said the birdcage worked - combining the human habitat and the natural environment well.

Wonder what the local birds think?

While the rest of the world is catching the construction slowdown sniffles, Shanghai seems to have contracted a case of Dubai's mega-building mania.

Three months after opening the world's second tallest skyscraper, the Chinese city will start construction on Saturday of an even taller building - the 632m Shanghai Centre.

The 121-storey steel and glass skyscraper was designed by Gensler and has been nicknamed the Dragon because it will supposedly look like a dragon's tail.

In China, dragons are believed to be able to control the weather, and this skyscraper could possibly do just that.

Designers say its spiral shape will minimise wind resistance and energy consumption and that 54 wind turbines will sit at the top of the building.

Like all developers of super-tall buildings, Gu Jianping, managing director of the Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Group says that by the time the building is open in 2014 the economy will be booming.

"Launching construction at this time will help boost Shanghai's confidence in fighting the financial crisis," he said.

He obviously hasn't heard of the never-fail "skyscraper index".

Star Trek's Enterprise could be zooming its way to Dubai to save the troubled emirate from property implosion.

At least that is what a development vaguely resembling a Trekkie communicator badge planned for the troubled emirate suggests.

The Atrium is a 278m tower designed by American firm Pickard Chiltern that rises from a shared podium as two separate towers and halfway up moulds into a single arching tower.

Australian developer QMM will build the skyscraper with the Sunland Group on Dubai's coast and plans to have its 1,000 luxury apartments open by 2013.

Obviously the news that Dubai is on the brink of a bust travels slow down under.

US president-elect Barack Obama is about to go on a construction spending spree, building new schools, bridges, roads and pipelines.

Unveiling his economic team, Obama announced he is spending his way out of the recession with a building bonaza worth up to £463bn.

The spendaholic president-elect hopes to create 2.5m jobs by 2011 with a public works programme that could rival the programme that dragged the US out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Although details have been scant so far, insiders say work could start within months.

CNN reports that some 3,000 projects costing £11.6bn could be under contract in less than 90 days. Many of these would be addressing a backlog of projects, such as bridge strengthening and road repaving.

Experts are also calling for the construction of new transport corridors that bundle together highways, high-speed rail, pipelines and utility lines.

Last month this blog ran a post on America's crumbling infrastructure and the 10 projects the US desperately needs.

I've often thought that fashion designers are like builders with nicer fingernails or like architects but worse at maths.

They are out there in all their fabulous glory constructing something new, but unlike builders they're working with fabric not bricks.

But finally the divide between building and fashion has been breached.

Designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac has turned to the world's favourite building blocks for inspiration - and built nifty Lego hats for his doll-like models.

While, technically they are hard hats, I don't think we will see any on building sites any time soon. But perhaps this might inspire some contractor out there with nice fingernails to take to a sewing machine.

Or maybe builder's bum will finally become fabulous, darling.

Pop the champagne, the bottle opener has been named the year's best skyscraper!

The 492m Shanghai World Financial Centre, which opened earlier this year, has been judged the best skyscraper completed this year by an international group of architects.

Likened to a bottle opener because of the void at its top that reduces the stresses of wind pressure, the tall building was recognised for its sleek form and sustainability.

The tower, which is the second tallest building in the world, was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and lays claim to having the world's tallest observation deck.

Architect Tim Johnson, who led the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's selection committee, praised the building's innovative structural design which uses steel trusses to make the building lighter.

The tower's tapered form creates the impression it is dissolving into the heavens, he added.

Even the glitz and glam of a £13.5m party in Dubai over the weekend could not hide the news that the emirate is heading steadily towards bust.

The boom of fireworks to celebrate the launch of the £1bn Atlantis Resort could not quiet the shrieks of get-rich-quick investors watching as their credit evaporates.

An interesting article in the Times today looks at the pressures on Dubai's property market and how it is faring in the credit crunch.

And it isn't good news. The Guardian also features a dire article on Emaar Properties' announcement that Dubai will pull back on its building spree and reduce supply.

It seems the old skyscraper theory as reported on another CJ blog could be true - when people start talking about building the biggest skyscraper look out for a financial collapse heading your way.

Routinely voted the world's worst airport, Los Angeles International is set for a massive make-over by airport extraordinaires Fentress Architects.

A major face-lift is earmarked for the Tom Bradley International Terminal by 2013 as well as a cross-field taxiway, midfield concourse and a passenger processing facility (more pics).

Plans show the Bradley and midfield concourse will be linked by a soaring sky bridge over the taxiway, giving passengers views of the Californian ocean, mountains and city.

"We want to change LAX into L.A. wow," Curt Fentress said.

Fentress is behind one of America's best airports - the Denver International. Including Denver, here are 5 Great Airports:

5. Denver International

Not only set among visually spectacular scenery, this airport has a roof line that mimics the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

 

 

 

 

4. Beijing Capital International

Designed by Foster + Partners, the airport features a soaring aeordynamic roof and dragon-like form representing traditional China. It is also the world's largest airport building.

 

 

 

 

3. Marrakesh Menara, Morocco
This elegant structure cleverly references Arabic patterns while promoting modernism. The openings in the exo-skeleton facade are filled with etched glass panels that feature a secondary pattern.

 

 

 

 

2. Incheon International, Seoul

Also designed by Fentress, this airport has been voted best airport three times by the Airport Council International. Rejecting the cold and cavernous, it features a warm, curved facade.

 

 

 

 

1. Madrid Barajas

Designed by Richard Rogers Partnership, this airport has almost as many design awards as it has passengers. Its' undulating roof and use of graduated colour makes it a memorable stop over in even the eyes of even the most jetlagged passengers.

And here are some more great airports.