Tree-shaped buildings

The residential location consists of two 37 story towers located in Mumbai, India. The Aquaria Grande Tower will feature several different amenities including a car park, fully equipped clubhouse, and a sustainable podium garden.

Aquaria Grande is an iconic residential development intended to become a disntinct landmark in the Borivali suburb of Mumbai. This distinctive project originated from the idea of adjacent forestry and trees of Borivali.

 

The clubhouse in the podium is inspired by a tree form which integrates landscape and architecture harmony.

 

The forms of the twin towers are inspired by the forms of trees. The two distinctive towers provide over 200 comprehensive typical apartments as the trunk of the building, in the roof top, garden and shelter will provide to metaphor the form of leaf shade.

 

On the top of the tower, the triplex Sky Palace apartments will be the most luxurious and attractive units in the twin tower.

 

The Rooftop equipped with sizable decking provides a barbecue deck with internal garden, a Jacuzzi and splendid outdoor view.

 

The shelter on the roof of Sky Palace metaphors the concept of tree branches. It benefits underneath apartment by using 3 types of cladding: 1. Solar panels to absorb excess heat gain and minimize use of indoor energy. 2. Opaque panels to resist awful glaring indoors. 3. Transparent glass makes use of natural lighting to the roof garden.

 

 

 

 

China's ancient capital to get stunning waterfront

The second largest commercial centre in the East China region is preparing for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

A landscape masterplan for the development of 30 kilometres of prime waterfront is coming up in Nanjing, one of China’s four great ancient capitals and the second largest commercial centre in the East China region, in preparation for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

The masterplan designed by Atkins will provide connectivity and access along its length addressing of industrial sites and urban dereliction as well as linking with recent new developments and existing open space.

The waterfront draws inspiration from the local silk industry which produces brocade known as Nanjing Yunjin, a series of weaving patterns using a consistent palette of colour threads.
 

The city of Nanjing, on the banks of the River Yangtze, incorporates some of China’s most important historical, ecological and social landmarks and this project is part of a major masterplan to both consolidate and celebrate these aspects within the overall riverside corridor, according to Atkins.

Covering an area of 11 sq km, Atkins’ design incorporates seven landscape and activity zones which interconnect yet remain distinctive. The zones feature tourism, leisure, commercial facilities and incorporate natural landscape highlights.

Not only will the improvements provide better access to these key features, especially for the visitors to the Games but will provide a lasting legacy celebrating the heritage on Nanjing along its waterfront.

Atkins was the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is currently overseeing the transformation of the Olympic Park into an exciting new visitor destination and community park.

Two-headed animals and other bizarre creatures

A rare Two headed Albino California King Snake is Displayed at the Moscow Zoo, on March 19, 2013. According to the zoo officials the occurrence of two-headed snakes are one in a million and they usually don't survive in the wild.

Frank and Louie, a grey feline with two mouths, two noses and three eyes, turned 12 years and the world's oldest, living two faced cat.

Leonard Sonnenschein, president of the world Aquarium in St. Louie, holds a two-headed albino rat snake. The eight year old oddity of nature is known affectionately by fans worldwide as we died of natural causes in 2007.

A two-headed Honduran milk snake is shown in Ridge Manor, Fla. Parker, a University of Central Florida biologist, says the most two-headed snakes have typical coloration. Albino snakes don't have dark pigmentation in their skin. Albino milk snakes appears in bright shades of red, orange and white. The biologist says two-headed snakes have been documented to live as long as 20 years captivity. but with two brains giving commands to a single body, Parker says the snaked would have a difficult time surviving the wild.

A turtle born with two heads and an extra set of legs between them is held by an employee of a Jenkintown, Pa., Pet store on Sept. 22, 1986. The owner of the store said while it was the strangest thing he'd ever seen he had no idea how long it would live.

 Hakod Avetyan(not pictured) holds a two-headed calf in the Armenian village of Sotk, on January, 28, 2011.The two-headed calf was born on January 25 in the Avetyan's cow house. 

Ukraine Two-headed turtle.

The 13 best foods we aren't eating: Here are some foods that are bursting full of health benefits but somehow never make it to most people's plates. Starting today, make sure you include them in your everyday diet.

 

 

Pumpkins are fibrous, and boosts immunity.

Pomegranate: Pomegranate juice is full of antioxidants and helps lower blood pressure.

Turmeric: Turmeric is said to have anti-inflammatory properties and fights cancer.

Dried plums: Plums are packed full of antioxidants.

Swiss chard: This green leafy veggie is full of carotenoids that protect the eyes against the effects of ageing.

Sardines: Sardines are heavy on omega-3, full of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B.

Blueberries: Blueberries are known to improve memory and mental health.

Gobi berry: The goji berry is used to protect the liver, and to improve immunity longevity, and fertility.

Guava: Guavas are great for the digestive system, as well as in controlling high blood pressure and lowering the risk of cancer.

Cabbage: Cabbages are loaded with a chemical called sulforaphane that is known to fight cancer.

Cinnamon: This super-spice helps control blood sugar and cholesterol.

Beetroot: Beets are a rich source of folate and are thought to be a natural way to combat cancer.

Pumpkin seeds: The seed of the pumpkin is full of magnesium, and is known to lower the risk of early death.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels' - touted as India's most luxurious train - is a joint venture between Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (RTDC) and the Indian Railways.

The train will run every Sunday between October and April from Delhi. It will travel across three states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Consisting of 35 coaches, the train has a ferrying capacity of 82 passengers in one trip. The train has on board a spa, gymnasium, specials suites, deluxe saloons and two restro-lounges which make the journey truly a 'royal experience'.

While the journey will cost $4,130 (Rs.2,14,760), one will have to shell out $1,600 (Rs.83,200) per day more if one travels in the special suite.

"The train will go to Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Khajuraho and Agra. And the journey will culminate in Varanasi," RTDC chairman Pramod Sharma said. The entire journey would be completed in seven days.

"So far, the service has been really good and the crew is really hospitable. It would be too early to say anything about the train as the journey has not even started yet," an Australian tourist Kent Vodan told IANS while the train was at Safdarjung station.

On Sunday, as the train started its maiden trip, there were 61 foreign tourists on board.

Dramatic images from around the world

Cruise ships float on the Danube river in central Budapest, Hungary.

Visitors admire a model of Thailand's Wat Arun of Bangkok during a media preview of Legoland Malaysia at Nusajaya in the southern state of Johor. The 76-acre theme park opened on September 22. It is Asia's first Legoland park. 

 

Tourists descend the stairs of Santa Marija Tower on the Maltese island of Comino. Comino is the smallest of the three inhabited islands that make up the Maltese islands. The fortified Santa Marija Tower was built in 1620 to facilitate defence and communication between the larger islands of Malta and Gozo, according to local media.

A Kashmiri man rows a boat past fountains in the polluted waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. The lake has been polluted during decades of neglect and a separatist revolt.

An aerial view of the Thames River in London from the air with the Shard and Tower Bridge in the foreground.

People visit the Spiral Minaret of the Great Mosque as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad on August 20, 2012. Also see: Holy Mosques of the World.

This aerial view shows the Seattle Great Wheel (bottom) and a Washington State ferry boat on the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle.

Tourists gather around the Magic Fountain of Montjuic during the music and light show on August 4 in Barcelona, Spain.

The four-masted Russian tall ship Kruzenshtern (R) is flanked by the French tall ship Bellem (C) as they enter the Bay of Douarnenez as part of an armada participating in the "Tonnerre de Brest" maritime festival in Finistere, Brittany, in western France.

Tourists ask a "tuk tuk" taxi driver for directions along Khao San Road in Bangkok.

People walk in a square near Kul Sharif (also known as Qol Sharif) mosque in Kazan. Kazan is the capital of Russia's mainly-Muslim Tatarstan region.

A paddle board rider surfs at sunset on New Year's Eve at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.