Neom is really happening! Says NEOM’s ‘Year in Review 2022’ video- & more

1) Neom is really happening! Says NEOM’s ‘Year in Review 2022’ video

Neom has released a year-end wrap-up video showing construction works done so far! “We want to show the world that NEOM is really happening!” said a release on their official website. A statement from NEOM also claims that this is the first in a series of videos on the Saudi Giga project.

2) Paytm launches apartment payments

Payment and financial services company Paytm has on-boarded over 2,800 apartment societies in major cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru to enable apartment utility payment on Paytm! Payments include maintenance, prepaid meters, garbage collection, and more!

3) Yayoi Kusama polka-dots and life-like animatronics take over Louis Vuitton stores

路易·威登 has transformed its stores around the world for the launch of its capsule collection with Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Louis Vuitton's Champs-élysées store has an inflatable replica of Kusuma peering over the polka-dotted building!?

4) Orient Express making plans to launch the ‘world’s largest sailing ship’

The 220-meter-long Orient Express Silenseas sailing yacht unveiled by hotel company Accor is set to be the world’s largest sailing ship. Designed by architect Maxime d’Angeac and studio Stirling Design International , the ship will set sail in 2026.

5) A small Caribbean Island is on sale at the price of a Mumbai flat

Iguana Island in Central America has three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with additional accommodations for staff. The entire island is on sale for ? 3.86 crores, the price of a decent flat in Mumbai! The 5-acre island is equipped with all necessary amenities, and being sold by its private owner.

6) Lionel Messi immortalized as Land Art, on an Argentinian cornfield

A corn field in Argentina was planted using an algorithm such that once grown, the corn crop would show the face of the national hero! The corn farm owner planted the unusual combination as a celebration of the nation’s win at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 .

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7) You can get $27k for having “the most beautiful garden” in Dubai

Dubai Municipality has launched the ‘Most Beautiful Green Front Yard’ competition to promote gardening culture! Residents are getting the opportunity to win $27,200 by designing the best front yard. Registrations will close on 28Th February and winners will be chosen in April 2023.

8) Gigafactory goes into Administration in UK due to a lack of Equity Investments to keep it going

￡3.8bn gigafactory in Northumberland has gone into administration after it failed to secure enough equity investment to continue. The factory was being built by ISG for Recharge Industries . Work at the site has been paused since August as financial troubles persisted.

9) India: Real estate industry demands infrastructure status

Industry experts are suggesting that Budget 2023 focus on putting more money in homebuyers’ hands, to ease real estate market. Longer-term funding solutions should be made available for developers of large real estate projects by giving them ‘infrastructure’ status.?

10) Online platform helps designers source 100+ plastic alternatives for sustainable projects

An online platform by environmental organisation, A Plastic Planet helps architects and designer choose from over 100 plastic alternatives for well-informed sustainable projects! Named PlasticFree.com , the subscription-based solution gives comprehensive information for 100+ plastic alternatives.

11) Caterpillar apartment completed in Detroit signals evolving neighborhood

Local architecture studio Undecorated has designed a semi-cylindrical apartment building inside a Quonset hut punctured with dormer windows! The pre-fabricated arched metal structure fits 8 apartments. These structures are cheap and easy to build, first popularized during second world war.

12) China to build world’s largest offshore wind farm as renewable energy gains momentum

China is building the world’s largest commercial offshore wind farm in the world, off the shore of Hainan. This indicates a rise in renewable energy in the country according to experts. A 1GW capacity offshore wind farm is being built by state-owned POWERCHINA .

13) MahaRERA to start surprise visits to sites to force out financial wrongdoings

Starting February, investigators from Maharashtra Real Estate regulatory authority will visit real estate sites that they suspect have declared higher construction costs than actually incurred. The investigators will initially visit 45-50 such projects.

14) World’s largest dams threatened by trapped sediment

According to a new study by The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) , over 50,000 dams worldwide will lose over a quarter of their capacity due to trapped sediment by 2050. These dams have already lost 13% to 19% of their original capacity, today.

15) AL_A to construct world’s first magnetized fusion power plant in UK

AL_A has been granted permission to construct the world’s first fusion power plant in Oxford, UK. The Culham Campus facility will house a 125-foot-tall cylindrical fusion hall wrapped in a translucent facade.

16) Maharashtra to finish mapping rural areas with drones by March-end

Drones are changing the way extensive mapping and land survey projects are undertaken! Maharashtra was allotted 25 drones last year for mapping rural residential areas. The state is completing this task by March this year. The scans will help accurately define property lines.??

17) World’s first 3D printed mosque to open in Dubai in 2025

Dubai will soon be home to the world’s first fully functional 3d printed mosque- The Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities revealed on Friday! The 2,000 Sq. meter building will house 600 worshippers.

18) Denmark moves forward with controversial man-made storm barrier at Copenhagen

Copenhagen is to start work on one of Denmark’s most ambitious and controversial infrastructure projects. The 50-year project includes construction of a man-made peninsula that will shield the city from rising sea levels!

19) Civil, construction and energy sectors in US to show growth in 2023 despite chances of recession

Highways and bridge construction is expected to jump 20% in the coming year, while water infrastructure projects jump 14% according to Dodge Construction Network . Spending on EV infrastructure will also boost transportation infrastructure.

20) First 73 prefabricated villas successfully delivered to Saudi’s Red Sea Project

First batch of 73 prefabricated villas for Sheybarah Island Resort at the mega Red Sea Project has been delivered. The villas were fabricated off-site in UAE by Mammoet and transported to site via sea! Sheybarah Resort is designed to be LEED Platinum, off-grid, zero energy, zero water development!

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