After nearly two decades of rejecting Sacha Baron Cohen’s satirical depiction of Kazakhstan in Borat Sagdiyev, the country’s tourism board has finally given in and embraced the ‘Very Nice!’ publicity he brings. The first film’s version of the Kazakhstan national anthem begins with the words: “Kazakhstan greatest country in the world, all other countries run by little girls.” (The true anthem begins: “Sky of golden sun, steppe of golden seed”.) However, following the release of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm on Friday, October 23, the tourism board has finally given in to the ‘any publicity is good publicity’ mentality. The idea for the campaign came from American Dennis Keen, who travelled to the country on a high school exchange, then studied with a Kazakh professor at Stanford University. He now lives in Almaty, where he gives walking tours, the New York Times reported. 👇 Watch the movie now on Amazon Prime Video👇 "Great Success" Sources: UNILAD, TheGuardian Nur-Sultan Tour Guide Emerald Towers, the tallest skyscrapers are located in the youngest capital of the world, Nur Sultan Nur-Sultan as known between 1998 and 2019 as Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. In March 2019, it was renamed Nur-Sultan in honour of the departing Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. It stands on the banks of the Ishim River in the northern part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region. In 2018, Nur-Sultan attracted more than three trillion tenges (US$7.91 billion) in foreign direct investments, a record amount for the city. The growth was achieved due to a large number of construction projects. Tourism becomes one of the factors that drive economic growth in the city. 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 Architecture 🏛 Design Thinking: Located in the heart of the developing historic city, the Emerald Towers consist of three buildings, two of which are 37-storeys and one is 54. As the tallest buildings in Kazakhstan, the Towers have become a tourist attraction and an elegant icon on the skyline of Astana. The Towers gracefully integrate itself into the rapidly developing urban texture and compliment the historic grand boulevard. Working in harmony with the surrounding landscape and architecture, the Towers form an architectural interpretation of indigenous prairie grass swaying gently in the wind. Key Features: The first two phases contain primarily office space, while the third phase will be a mixed-use hotel and condominium. At the tower’s base, the 2,000 car parking podium includes pedestrian-friendly retail, as well as a large conference centre and health spa. Source: Zeidler A bit about Astana, the youngest capital metropolis on the planet. Astana also is known as Nur-Sultan became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. A 2017 official estimate reported a population of 1,029,556 within the city limits, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan, behind Almaty, the capital from 1991 to 1997. The Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the master plan of Astana Founded in 1830 as a settlement of Akmoly or Akmolinsky prikaz, it served as a defensive fortification for the Siberian Cossacks. In 1832, the settlement was granted town status and renamed Akmolinsk. On 23 March 2019, following a unanimous vote in Kazakhstan's parliament, the city was renamed Nur-Sultan from Astana, after former Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Read more: Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories. 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student Top 5 engineering consulting firms 2019 What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world?

The Torre Cepsa is a skyscraper located in the Cuatro Torres Business Area in Madrid, Spain. With a height of 248.3 m (815 ft) and 45 floors, It is the second tallest building in Spain and the 5th tallest building in the European Union. Designed by Lord Foster, it was first known as Torre Repsol and would have served as headquarters for Repsol YPF oil and gas company. In August 2007 the building was purchased from Caja Madrid for €815 million. Awarded the best Large Structural Project, awarded by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois Foster + Partners Architects Torre Cepsa was originally built as a landmark headquarters for Caja Madrid, Spain’s oldest savings bank – its subsequent transfer to the oil company, Cepsa demonstrates the flexibility of its office accommodation. The tower’s design continues the practice’s investigations into the environmentally sensitive, uplifting workplace, which can be traced through the design of a family of office towers, most notably for the Commerzbank, Swiss Re and the Hearst Corporation. Design ⚒️ Owner • CurrentPontegadea Inmobiliaria • PastBankia; Khadem al-Qubaisi; Repsol YPFDeveloperRepsol YPFArchitect Design Foster + Partners; Gonzalo Martínez-Pita Copello Structural Engineer • DesignGilsanz Murray Steficek; Halvorson and Partners Steel Supplier • ArcelorMittal Structural Material Composite design: Core: Reinforced Concrete, Columns: Steel, Floor Spanning: Steel The fifty-five-storey tower is located on the site of the former Real Madrid training grounds, where the Madrid city council assigned sites for four new towers, to be designed by leading international architects. Torre Cepsa is the tallest of this group. It marks a curve in the wide boulevard of the Paseo de la Castellana – the ‘backbone’ of Madrid – and is carefully positioned to maximise the exceptional qualities of its site. Compositionally, the building can be thought of as a tall arch, with the services and circulation cores framing the office floors. At ground level, a 22-metre-high glazed atrium provides the transition from the street and accommodates a ‘floating’ glass-walled auditorium set into a mezzanine. At the top of the building, the void beneath the uppermost section of the ‘portal’ frame is designed to house wind turbines, which are capable of providing a significant proportion of the building’s power supply. Although the building was conceived as a corporate headquarters, it also has the flexibility to be partly sub-let if required, enabling Cepsa to expand or contract its accommodation easily in the future. This degree of adaptability results in part from pushing the service cores to the edges of the plan – a strategy pioneered in the design of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank – to create 1,200-square-metre floor plates. You may also like: Commerzbank Tower | World's first ecological high-rise building | Frankfurt At fifty-three storeys and a height of 300m, the Commerzbank in Frankfurt is the world’s first ecological office tower structure. Designed by Fosters+Partners and structurally engineered by ARUP. Read more... The north-south orientation maximises natural shade by directing the low-angle sunlight towards the cores, a move that has the added benefit of framing spectacular views of the hills of Sierra de Guadarrama to the north and the centre of Madrid to the south. Strategies such as triple-glazing the office facades further improve the building’s energy efficiency. Air Solutions Used developed LG Key Video Notes: 12 technical plants are present in the structure that contains all the facilities that provide different services to the building. This structure had rooms that were in extremely high-density usage that needed air conditioning requirements that are not present in the supply industry except LG Products. Concept In terms of composition, the building can be thought of as a high arch, with services and circulation cores framing the body offices. Designed by Foster + Partners, its floating rectangular arc angle is one of the most ecological visionary designs throughout the project. The open space on the roof leaves opens the possibility of future installation of wind turbines. Structural System The structural system for all floors above ground is composed of I-section steel beams supporting concrete slabs of 75mm thickness at each floor. All Floor steel racks are K2G3 S355 / G4. Thicker slabs are used in levels were service floors are located with a 150mm thickness to minimise the noise transmissions of the engine rooms. Vierendeel truss structures The Vierendeel frames and truss members take into account the creep and shrinkage of the two concrete cores (red&yellow) of the building so the vertical movement of the two structural components can be allowed. The Vierendeel framework in the perimeter of each floor office has columns that are adjacent to the central wall that provides shear resistance to the steel frame. Images from: Wikiarquitectura Source: Foster + Partners Architects , wikiarquitectura Read more: 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student Top 5 engineering consulting firms 2019 What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world?

Facts📐📚 Type: Residential Location: Lower Parel, Mumbai Construction started: 2011 Cost: US$321 million Owner: Anup Mandal (owner of government company) Height: 442 m (1,450 ft) Floor count: 117 Area: 750,000 m2(8,072,933 sq ft) Lifts/elevators : 12 Design and construction Architect: Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Structural Engineer: Leslie E. Robertson Associates, Jay L. Berman, AIA, Lead Designer Main contractor: Simplex and Muscovite Group Material: Composite ( Reinforced Concrete) CTBUH 2011 Seoul Conference - Jay L. Berman & William J. Faschan, "World One Tower" Read more: Orthodox Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade used as a tank's parking in WW2 |Read to learn more Reims Cathedral visit tour Guide Everything you need to know about the iconic Norte-Dame de Paris before in burned to ashes About World One🏙 Composed of 3 towers, uniquely curvilinear in shape, The World Towers forms a stunning sculpture of glass and steel. A powerful symbol of Mumbai’s unfettered aspirations and unstoppable drive, The World Towers soar and redefine the city’s skyline. A magnificent 17-acre estate ensconced in the Golden Mile, the glittering stretch that comprises some of Mumbai’s finest residences, business spaces and luxury hotels, The World Towers embodies global standards in luxury. The Avenue, an elegant boulevard lined with palm trees, boasting some of the finest gourmet restaurants, ushers you into a grand landscaped entrance courtyard extending over almost 100,000 sq. ft. Here, on a 5-acre podium, amidst gardens and serene water bodies, The World Towers soar into the sky. Source: Wikipedia, pcf-p.com PHOTOS

General Information ℹ️ Height: 40 m (131 ft) Architects firm: MVRDV Structural engineer: Royal HaskoningDHV Construction completion: 1 October 2014 Cost: €178.000.000 (£151 million) CNN included the Markthal in the Top 10 of most ‘eye-popping’ buildings. For more stories visit Structure’s Insider HomePage The Markthal (Market Hall) is a residential and office building with a market hall underneath, located in Rotterdam. The building was opened on October 1, 2014, by Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Besides the large market hall, the complex houses 228 apartments, 4600 m2 retail space, 1600 m2 Horeca and an underground 4-storey parking garage with a capacity of 1200+ cars. ArtWork Artwork by Arno Coenen named Hoorn des Overvloeds (Horn of Plenty) The artwork Hoorn des Overvloeds (2014) in the famous Markthal in Rotterdam is by Iris Roskam and Arno Coenen. It is the Horn of Plenty and refers to the Cornucopia from the ancient Greek mythology. Hence the many enlarged pieces of fruit, vegetables, grains, sweets, fish, flowers and insects. The Ultimate tour guide for Rotterdam Recommended by Structures Insider Available to buy on Amazon for only £5.75 A bit about the Structural Engineers 🕋 : Royal HaskoningDHV 👷🏻‍♂️ Website: https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb About them: "Royal HaskoningDHV has been connecting people for more than 137 years. Together, through our expertise and passion, we have helped contribute to a better society and improved people’s lives with work underpinned by our sustainable values and goals. We are an independent international engineering and project management consultancy leading the way in sustainable development and innovation. Our professionals deliver services in the fields of aviation, buildings, energy, industry, infrastructure, maritime, mining, transport, urban and rural development and water." Source: https://www.holland.com You May Also Like: Concrete variable radius arch dam explained New York City is planning to expand Manhattan into East River to battle climate change Dracula's luxurious residence has 57 rooms and has its own private wooden church FACADE Engineering What are Cable-net Glass Facade Systems? The load acting on the glass is transmitted to the structural support system which is the cable-net structure via the glazing system and eventually to the boundary or building structures such as columns and beams. This concept allows large open spaces up to the full height of the facade in the building where the glass cladding is the interface between the exterior and interior of the building. Source: The largest cable-net facade of Europe The two cable-net facades are 34 meters in height and 42 meters wide. The cables have been pre-stressed in between the concrete arch and the foundation of the building, closing the building at both sides. The galvanized steel cables have a diameter of 31 millimetres and are fixed in heavy steel boxes, embedded in the concrete structure. The 22 horizontal and 26 vertical cables are the only structure of the façade and the cables divide the glass surface in a grid of 1.5 by 1.5 meters. By means of a hydraulic tension bridge, the cables have been pre-stressed step by step with a maximum applied pretension of 300 kilonewtons per cable. During this operation, the cables have been stretched around 150 millimetres each. The cables have a surplus capacity of 50 kilonewtons to absorb the impact of creep in the concrete over the first couple of years. The maximal theoretical wind load can cause the façades to deform 700 millimetres inwards and outwards. Although this is one of the characteristics of cable facades, amplitude in the middle of the glass surface of 1400 millimetres is considerable. Under such deformations, the glass panels are protected against too much torsion by special rubber profiling at the corner fixation of each laminated heat-strengthened glass panel. Also, the silicon joints in between the glass panels contribute to the flexibility of the façade. However, in the corners of the façade, the glass panels are fixed on 2 sides. Here only one corner of the glass panel can move, causing substantial torsion of the glass surface. Octatube has dealt with this by employing its more than 10 years of experience in cold bending and twisting of glass. Source: International Facade Community

General Info about Vernacular architecture Vernacular = sustainable = low-carbon designs The term vernacular means "domestic, native, indigenous"; from verna, meaning "native slave" or "home-born slave". Buildings before the 17th century are considered vernacular architecture. Build with locally learned skills Build by people for the people: the buildings are simple, cost-efficient and easy to build (ease of construction was key) Materials are locally sourced. The design reflects the climate and the regional culture of the people that build it. For more stories visit Structure’s Insider HomePage The vernacular architecture provides a vital connection between humans and the environment. It re-establishes us in our particular part of the world and forces us to think in terms of pure survival – architecture before the architect. Vernacular architecture is described as a built environment that is based upon local needs; defined by the availability of particular materials indigenous to its particular region, and reflects local traditions and cultural practices. The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World defines vernacular architecture as: ...comprising the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources they are customarily owner- or community-built, utilizing traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of life of the cultures that produce them. Frank Lloyd Wright described vernacular architecture as "Folk building growing in response to actual needs, fitted into the environment by people who knew no better than to fit them with native feeling" One of the most significant influences on vernacular architecture is the macroclimate of the area in which the building is constructed. Buildings in cold 🥶 climates invariably have high thermal mass or significant amounts of insulation. They are usually sealed in order to prevent heat loss, and openings such as windows tend to be small or non-existent. Buildings in warm 🥵 climates, by contrast, tend to be constructed of lighter materials and to allow significant cross-ventilation through openings in the fabric of the building. The design is reflective of the climate. For instance, builders might consider what direction the home is facing when positioning windows. Specific materials might be used to help with the winter season, etc. It encompassed 95% of the world's built environment in 1969. Architecture designed by professional architects is usually not considered to be vernacular. EXAMPLES OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE 1.MINKA HOUSE, JAPAN 🇯🇵 Minka = house of the people Minka was the dwellings of farmers, artisans, and merchants (i.e., the three non-samurai castes). Minka developed through history with distinctive styles emerging in the Edo period a period of high economic growth and prosperity of Japan. Minka comes in a wide range of styles and sizes, due to different geographic and climate regions and the social status of the Minka owner was indicated by the size and complexity of the building. Materials Abundant bamboo was used for roofs, eaves, doors and floors. Roof: the roof is slanting down in 4 sides in more like a pyramidical shape. Miscanthus reeds or wooden shingles were used. On top of that, they were putting rocks for the shingles not to be blown away from the wind (climate requirement). Later on, they were using tiles as it is a more durable material. Walls were made out of clay. During the evolution of Minka, the machiya townhouses gradually changed its construction away from perishable and flammable materials to those of a more durable nature. Thatched roofs were replaced with tiles and exposed timbers were covered up with layers of clay plastering. Structural Concepts c. Minka's are divided up with primary posts that form the basic framework and bear the structural load of the building; secondary posts are arranged to suit the functional arrangements of the plan. The 'inverted U' consists of two vertical posts fixed at the top with a horizontal beam; these units can then be joined with side girders. The beam can be fixed to the top of the post either by resting upon it or via a mortise and tenon joint (no nails joint). These wooden structures were slightly elevated from the ground with either tiled or thatched roofing. They were constructed with steep, thatched roofs that resembled Buddhist monks’ hands pressed together when in prayer. The architectural design developed through the years to withstand the elements. The gassho-zukuri roofs were timber-framed–made without nails–to allow for a much larger attic space, to cultivate silkworms, for example. 2.DOMESTIC (WINDCATCHERS) BAGDIR YAZD, IRAN Aka WINDCATCHER aka wind tower aka wind scoop (approx. 34m high) aka thermal chimney In Iran, a windcatcher is called a bâdgir: bâd "wind" + gir "catcher" A traditional architectural element used to create natural ventilation and passive cooling in buildings. Windcatchers come in various designs: unidirectional, bidirectional, and multidirectional. Windcatchers tend to have one, four, or eight openings Construction Most buildings are constructed of very thick ceramics with extremely high insulation values. Furthermore, towns centred on desert oases tend to be packed very closely together with high walls and ceilings relative to Western architecture, maximizing shade at ground level. The heat of direct sunlight is minimized with small windows that do not face the sun. When coupled with thick adobe - a natural building material made from earth, shaped into bricks using forms and dried in the sun - that exhibits high heat transmission resistance qualities, the windcatcher is able to chill lower-level spaces in mosques and houses in the middle of the day to cooler temperatures. Climate-Temperature Control Windcatchers in areas with stronger winds will have smaller total cross-sections, and areas with the very hot wind may have many smaller shafts in order to cool the incoming air. Windtowers with square horizontal cross-sections are more efficient than round ones, as the sharp angles make the flow less laminar, encouraging flow separation; suitable shaping increases suction. Taller windcatchers catch higher winds. Higher winds blow stronger and cooler. Higher airs are also usually less dusty. In hotter climates, they are narrower, and the air is cooled on its way in. Even the thermal inertia of thick masonry walls will keep a building warmer at night and cooler during the day. Windcatchers can thus cool by drawing air overnight. 3.TRULLO APULIA, ITALY General Concept The trulli are entirely composed of stone, including their cylindrical (sometimes square) bases and conical roofs. No mortar required between the stones Load bearing support system: Cylindrical shape means that gravity holds the stones together (as an acting arch will do) Originally as temporary field shelters. Depending on the area, the building material used could be either hard limestone or calcareous tufa. Model showing the typical construction technique of a trullo of Alberobello; the cavity between the inside ashlar wall face and the exterior covering of stone tiles or chiancharelle, is filled with stone rubble and the vault is one of the stone voussoirs. Walls: In Alberobello, the structural walls of a trullo are laid directly on the bedrock, after removal of the topsoil when necessary. Their width varies from 0.80 metres to 2.70 metres (a measure recorded in the Trullo Sovrano). Their height ranges from 1.60 metres to 2 metres. Their exterior facing has a 3 to 5% batter. Roof: The roofs are constructed in two skins: an inner skin of limestone voussoirs, capped by a closing stone, and an outer skin of limestone slabs that are slightly tilted outwardly, ensuring that the structure is watertight. The roof stones may be taken away without compromising the stability of the rest of the building. Climate control Owing to the concentration of houses, trulli have few openings except for their doorway and a small aperture provided in the roof cone for ventilation. As a result, it can be quite dark inside. Some trullo houses have had their perimeter walls raised substantially so that their cones may be hidden from view, making the buildings resemble ordinary houses. A number of conical roofs have a truncated top with a round hole in it covered by a movable circular slab. Access to the hole is by an outside stairway built into the roof. These trulli were for storage of grain, hay, or straw. The thick stone walls and dome of the trullo that cool pleasantly during the summer, tend to become unpleasantly cold during the winter months, condensing the moisture given off by cooking, making it difficult to feel warm even in front of the fire. The inhabitants simply leave the doors open during the day to keep the interior dry, and live more outdoors than in. REFERENCE The Spruce. 2020. What Is Vernacular Architecture?. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. Designingbuildings.co.uk. 2020. Vernacular Architecture. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. ArchDaily. 2020. Vernacular Architecture And The 21St Century. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. KCP International. 2020. The Japanese Minka Homes | KCP Japanese Language School. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. En.wikipedia.org. 2020. Minka Kelly. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. Solaripedia.com. 2020. Solaripedia | Green Architecture & Building | Projects In Green Architecture & Building. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. En.wikipedia.org. 2020. Windcatcher. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. 2020. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020]. En.wikipedia.org. 2020. Trullo. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 September 2020].

General Facts about Amsterdam 📚📐 Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands! These days the city has a population of just over 790.000 inhabitants and is the largest city in the country. Amsterdam is located in the province ‘Noord-Holland’, situated in the west. It is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.5 million tourists annually. Amsterdam also has 165 canals that give it the name of " Venice of the North". 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 The Ultimate tour guide of Amsterdam Recommended by Structures Insider Available to buy on Amazon for only £5.75 5.Heineken Experience HISTORY: The Heineken company was founded in 1864 when the 22-year-old Gerard Adriaan Heineken bought a brewery known as De Hooiberg (the haystack) in Amsterdam. In 1869 Heineken switched to the use of bottom-fermenting yeast. |Ticket 🎟 price|: from 18€ buy here The Heineken Brewery Tour takes you through the company’s history in a fun and interactive way. As you walk through the impressive old building you’ll be able to see the gigantic copper tanks that were used to brew the original Heineken beer, the company’s old advertisements, and even draft your own beer in the Heineken Museum bar. 4.Van Gogh Museum Vincent van Gogh: was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings. |Ticket 🎟 price|: skip the line - ticket from 19€ buy here 2020 Travelling Essentials Amazon's Choice Most famous piece: "The Starry Night" 3. Rijksmuseum Infoℹ️ You will need an average of 4 to 5 hours to get a good feel of the museum's finest collection of art and history. The building of the Rijksmuseum was designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885. The museum was renovated for cost € 375 million in 2003. |Ticket 🎟 price|: skip the line - ticket from 20€ buy here 2. Red Light District This area in the oldest part of Amsterdam is known for the red neon windows that display barely-dressed prostitutes advertising their services; it's all perfectly acceptable as long as it stays inside this designated area of the city. Prostitution in Amsterdam is nearly as old as the city itself. As early as the 15th century and possibly earlier, the first prostitutes arrived to earn a living in the harbour of Amsterdam. The Red Light District is still located in the oldest part of the city. The women initially plied their trade in the streets. 1. Dam Square History: The Dam derives its name from its original function: a dam on the Amstel River, hence also the name of the city. Built-in approximately 1270, the dam formed the first connection between the settlements on the sides of the river. Dam Square lies in the historical centre of Amsterdam, approximately 750 meters south of the main transportation hub, Centraal Station. It is roughly rectangular in shape, stretching about 200 meters from west to east and about 100 meters from north to south. Perfect to have a coffee ☕️ and enjoy the amazing atmosphere of Amsterdam. Source: Tours&Tickets Read more: 5 Structures you can't miss when visiting Madrid, Spain Planning a trip to Cologne? This is everything you need to know about Cologne Cathedral What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world?

Facts 📚📐: Madrid is the capital and the largest municipality of Spain Elevation: 667 m (2,188 ft) Area (Capacity of city): 604.3 km^2 ( 233.3 sq mi) Population(2018): 3,223,334 people (ranked 3rd in EU) Website: www.madrid.es 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 Torres Blancas Torres Blancas is a must-visit building for Architectural lovers. Designed by famous Spanish architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza is said to be an example of " Spanish Organicism" . The structure serves as an apartment complex at a height of 71m. Construction started in 1964 and finished five years later in 1969. The reinforced concrete design was considered an innovation at the time for using cylindrical shaped cast-in concrete instead of the typical rectilinear qualities of cast-in place concrete. It is still considered one of the landmarks of Europe's modern architecture. Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor was once the centre of the old town of Madrid. The Plaza is for the people of Madrid and tourists to shop, walk around, eat, and enjoy the outdoors. First built (1580–1619) during the Habsburg period of Philip III's reign. TripAdvisor suggests a visit duration of 1-2 hours. The Plaza measures 129 m x 94 m (423 ft x 308 ft). 237 balconies are present. In 1561 King Phillip II assigned classical architect Juan de Herrera to renovate and modernise the area of the Plaza. Construction began in 1617 and finished 2 years later in 1619. The Plaza Mayor has gone through 3 fires during 1631 - 1790 requiring major reconstructions and redesigns. Today, the Plaza Mayor's architecture is credited to Juan de Villanueva. 2020 Travelling Essentials Amazon's Choice Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Construction schedule: October 1944 – December 1947 Expanded years: 1953, 1992, 1994, 2011 Field size: 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) Construction cost: €1,732,943 Capacity: 81,044 ( record attendance 129,690) Stadium owned: Real Madrid FC You can buy a ticket here. Tickets price vary on the game you want to watch. Game tickets are sold in the range of 30€ - 70€. Torre Espacio FACTS🧾 Height: 230 m (750 ft) Floor count: 57 Type: Office space Architect: Pei Cobb Freed Structural engineer: MC2 Estudio de Ingenieria Main contractor: OHL Construction time: 4 years (2004-2008) Page: http://www.torrespacio.com/ Concept 🚀 The structure evolves from a square, at its base, to a slightly curved diamond formed by the intersection of two-quarter circles in his crown. The floor plan area starts with a 42x42m at the square base and progress to 59x30m at the top of the skyscraper. The materials used were high quality reinforced concrete that was in-situ poured into the curved shape of the structure. Palacio de Cristal del Retiro The Palacio de Cristal del Retiro is a conservatory (greenhouse) in the heart of Madrid's Buen Retiro Park. Build-in 1887 by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, it is made of an iron frame incorporated with glass panels of various shapes. The famous conservatory has the shape of a Greek cross and stands in a height of 22m (72 feet). Opening hours are 10a.m - 10p.m everyday. Tickets price Adult (age 18 - 99) EUR €45.00 each Child (age 7 - 17) EUR €45.00 each Buy a ticket here

Climate change is the greatest threat New York City faces today. In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, flooding 17% of the city’s land, and killing 44 lives. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) have approved a team lead by Arcadis, a Netherlands-based design and engineering firm, to develop the Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan. By the 2050s, 37 % of buildings in Lower Manhattan will be at risk from storm surge. Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories. The master plan is building off of a $10 billion proposal unveiled by Mayor Bill de Blasio in March that positioned the effort as part of a multi-pronged plan to prevent storm surge and rising sea level from inundating Manhattan. The Seaport and Financial District pose an especially daunting challenge, NYCEDC officials say, because of the area’s low-lying topography—it’s just eight feet ( 2.44 m ) above sea level—and the web of crucial transportation and sewage infrastructure below, which makes digging down unfeasible. That framework will present locals with a handful of options for expanding the shoreline of those neighbourhoods as much as 500 feet into the waterway with the goal of zeroing in on a single concept to defend the area against climate change. The team was assembled to encourage out-of-the-box thinking that officials hope will lead to an innovative approach. Source: CURBED Read more: 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world? Concrete variable radius arch dam explained

China built more skyscrapers than the rest of the world combined, an Indian architect won the Pritzker Prize for the first time and a housing complex for the elderly was named "World Building of the Year." Visit Structures Insider Home page for more 5. Norra Tornen, Stockholm, Sweden FACTS📐🏛 Location: Vasastaden, Stockholm, Sweden Architect: Reinier de Graaf , from OMA Year of completion: The eastern tower opened in 2018 and the west tower will open in 2020. Dimensions: East: 125 metres (410 ft) West: 110 metres (360 ft) Capacity: 300 residential units 4. Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China FACTS📐🏛 Location: Lize Financial Business District in Beijing. 🇨🇳 Architect: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher. Year of completion: The construction of the building began in 2015 and is set to be completed in 2019. Dimensions: 207 m (679 ft) tall with 46 floors. 3. Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre, Wuxi, China FACTS📐🏛 Location: Jiangsu Province 🇨🇳 Architect: StevenChilton Architects Year of completion: due to open in 2019 Dimensions: 2000 seat capacity. 2. 30 Hudson Yards, New York FACTS📐🏛 Location: West Side area of Manhattan, New York 🇺🇸 Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox (architect & master planner) Year of completion: 2012-2019 Dimensions: height: 387 m / 1,269ft with a 101 floor count. 1. Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing, China FACTS📐✈️ Location: border of Beijing and Langfang 🇨🇳 Architect: The airport's master plan was designed by NACO and the terminal building was designed by British architects Zaha Hadid Architects. Year of completion: Opened25 September 2019 (opening ceremony), 26 September 2019 (first commercial flight) Dimensions: facilities area 700,000 m^2 Cost: $11 billion 💵 source: CNN Read more: 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world? Concrete variable radius arch dam explained

SI STRUCTURE OF THE MONTH The Pula Arena (Italian: Arena di Pola) is the name of the amphitheatre located in Pula, Croatia. 🇭🇷 Architectural style: Roman amphitheatre The Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved. Founded: 27 BC – 68 AD For more stories visit Structure's Insider Archives Structural aspects 🕋 The Pula Arena is unique, as it has often been claimed that this amphitheatre is the “only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved” The exterior wall is constructed in limestone. The part facing the sea consists of three stories, while the other part has only two stories since the amphitheatre was built on a slope. The maximum height of the exterior wall is 29.40 m (96.5 ft). The first two floors have every 72 arches, while the top floor consists of 64 rectangular openings. The axes of the elliptical amphitheatre are 132.45 and 105.10 m (434.5 and 344.8 ft) long, and the walls stand 32.45 m (106.5 ft) high. It could accommodate 23,000 spectators in the cavea, which had forty steps divided into two meniani. The seats rest directly on the sloping ground; The field for the games, the proper arena, measured 67.95 by 41.65 m (222.9 by 136.6 ft). The arena had a total of 15 gates. A series of underground passageways were built underneath the arena along the main axis from which animals and fighters could be released; stores and shops were located under the raked seating. The amphitheatre was part of the circuit of the gladiators. Today uses Today, it is the venue for many different events – Pula Film Festival, various concerts, opera, ballet, sports competitions… since its capacity is about 5000 spectators. Every week during the summer months, the Arena hosts gladiator fights as part of the historical and entertainment spectacle “Spectacvla Antiqva”. Here is The Ultimate Guide Everyone Visiting Croatia Should Have 👌 BUY at Amazon only for 8.84£ WHAT PEOPLE SAY

General Information ℹ️ Location: Bran, Romania 🇷🇴 Location Elevation: 2,500 feet (760 m) Architectural style: Medieval Residency of queen Maria of Romania in 1920 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 Construction 👷🏻‍♂️ The castle is built on a 60 m cliff as a result of privilege from November 19, 1377, the Hungarian king Louis I of Anjou. Once the point has been reinforced by fulfilling. Bran Castle Construction began sometime in 1378. Builders have somehow managed to combine wood with stone brought from Magura Bran. Castle had a protective effect, but also commercial. In the south were two walls built of stone and brick. At that time the fortress was made from the exterior walls of the fortified tower, the circular tower and the tower gate. The building has an imposing shape and is situated on a cliff in a key position strategically. BUY A TOUR TICKET HERE A bit about the Author 🖋 (Bram Stoker) Abraham "Bram" Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving, and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned. Dracula is an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so he may find new blood and spread the undead curse, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing. BUY THE BOOK AT AMAZON: here

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is one of the most feared drug lords of the past 100 years. El Chapo is estimated to have a net worth of $14 billion. Known for his intelligent engineered tunnel system he goes by the name of "The Prince of Tunnels". Guzmán escaped from authorities twice, on January 2001 and on July 2015. On July 17, 2019, he was sentenced to "life plus 30 years" in prison and within days, had started to serve his term at the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, Colorado. 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 Prison Capture On the 9th of June, 1993, El Chapo was arrested in Guatemala after a massive manhunt to catch him and other drug traffic associates of him. Following his arrest, on the 22nd of November 1995, he was transferred to the maximum-security prison located in State of Mexico known as ''La Palma''. El Chapo was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Guzmán enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, he had most of the people working in the prison under his payroll, ordered the meals he wanted from a menu, continued his illicit activities through cellphone, enjoyed sporadic visits from prostitutes, among other benefits. Prison Break On 19 January 2001, his electronically secured cell was opened and Guzmán was reportedly escorted by a prison guard outside of Puente Grande while hidden in a laundry cart. The security cameras of the prison were disabled on his way out, and Guzmán became a free man. On 11 July 2015, however, Guzmán escaped from prison again through a tunnel inside his prison cell but was caught six months after his escape and extradited to the U.S. Tunnelling The El Chapo tunnelling system was crucial for the narcotrafficking of the Sinaloa Cartel. Fluorescent lights hung from a ceiling-mounted PVC pipe, which also brought fresh air into the passageway. Metal tracks had been bolted to the ground, allowing an ad-hoc vehicle—a railcar rigged to the frame of a small motorcycle to be driven from one end of the tunnel to the other. The grey stone walls, about thirty inches ( 0.76 m) apart, were scored with jagged marks made by electric spades; Guzmán’s shoulders probably brushed the walls as he passed. Follow us on Facebook @structuresinsider Read more: 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world? Concrete variable radius arch dam explained