Shanghai Expo Ren Building

The REN Building is a proposal for a hotel, sports and conference center for the World Expo in Shanghai .. The building is conceived as two buildings merging into one.

 

 

The first building, emerging from the water, is devoted to the activities of the body, And houses the sports and water culture center.

 

The second building emerging from land, is devoted to the spirit and enlightenment,And houses the conference center and meeting facilities. The two buildings meet in a 1000 room hotel, a building for living and form the Chinese character for 'People', Becoming a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China .

 

Together, the two buildings become a tower and an arch at once.

 

The arch defines a square for gatherings and activities, exactly on the main axis of the expo site overlooking the HuangPu River . The square is sheltered from the rain but allows sunlight through, from the east in the morning and from the west in the evening.

Large curved plazas border the pool and conference buildings, creating a continuous recreational public space along the river. Round openings and skylights bring light to the auditoriums and pools and gradually become denser as they rise from the river, Eventually becoming windows and terraces for the hotel rooms.

The project questions whether architecture can embody the schizophrenic political identity of the People's Republic of China at once: Tao, Mao and Capitalism.

A modernist slab is cleaved in two, forming the Chinese character for 'People'. The principle of Yin Yang and the five elements of Feng Shui are embedded in the architecture, Creating a link between the ancient wisdom and the contemporary euphoria of Chinese culture.

The REN building could be the Eiffel Tower of Shanghai, a landmark symbolising the people-oriented pursuit of the Shanghai Expo. The building becomes the Chinese sign for 'The People', and a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China.

 
 

On a wing and a prayer: The extraordinary hanging monasteries that cling to the sides of cliffs 

When you're trying to connect with your god, it helps to find some peace and quiet, if you can.

But that was, indeed, no such problem for the architects of these impossibly built monasteries.

Constructed at dizzying heights on the sides of mountains, they ensured only the most devoted - and vertigo-free - followers would join them for prayer.

Gripping: This gravity-defying hanging monastery clings to the side of Mt Huashan in China and is only accessible via steep and dangerous paths

Closer to their god: The Taktshang Tiger's Nest monastery clings to a cliff 2,300ft above the Paro Valley floor in Bhutan at such a height it looks down on the clouds

Complete isolation: According to legend, the Tiger's Nest takes its name from the 'second Buddha', Precious Guru Padmasambhava, who travelled to the site on a tiger

Between a rock and a hard place: The Holy Trinity is part of the Meteora - which translates as 'suspended in the air' - complex of monasteries in Greece, one of the largest collections of such buildings in the country

Many were only accessible by steep and secret paths in order to provide the most seclusion as they sought uninterrupted spiritual awakening.

By far the most precarious is a monastery that dangles seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics on the side of Mt Huashan in China.

Located around 75 miles east from Xi'an City of Shaanxi Province, Mt Huashan is known as 'The number one precipitous mountain under Heaven'. It is one of the five sacred mountains in China.

It is home to several influential Taoist temples where emperors of past dynasties made pilgrimages, making Mt Huashan the holy land of Taoism.

Vertigo-inducing: The Sumela monastery in Turkey was created 386AD apparently after two priests discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain

Prayers at 3,900ft: Visitors survey the incredible buildings of the Sumela monastery which was built, on southern shore of the Black Sea, during the reign of Emporer Theodosius I

Don't look down! The monasteries of Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas (left) and Agia Roussanou (right) in Greece, which form part of the Meteora complex of precariously placed buildings

Head for heights: French mountain climber Catherine Destivelle during her ascension of the Rocher Saint Esprit, in the Meteora, with the Monastery of Roussanou located on a parallel summit (right)

Path to enlightenment: A stunning scene showing the Monastery of Roussanou in what must one of the most serene places in the world

Balancing act: The monastery of Roussanou at the base of a stone tower in Meteora, Greece in a picture taken in 1985

Nerve-wracking: A man is hoisted 250ft in a net, the only way to access the Monastery of St Barlaam (right), which also forms part of the Meteora complex in Greece

In Bhutan, the Taktshang Tiger's Nest monastery clings to a cliff 2,300ft above the Paro Valley floor.

According to legend, it takes its name from the 'second Buddha', Precious Guru Padmasambhava, who travelled to the site on a tiger.

Some visitors have reportedly fallen to their death on the way up after apparently losing their footing.

But the desire to build in such vertigo-inducing places isn't just confined to Asia. Turkey has its own, the monastery of Sumela, perched at an altitude of 3,900ft.

Rich heritage: The ruins of the Sigiriya, or Lion's Rock, in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, which was used as a monastery from around the 5th Century BC

Magnificent: Visitors ascend the stairway to the ancient structure, which contains caves prepared by devotees of the Buddhist Sangha

Steeped in history: The legs and paws of a lion still remain either side of the entrance to the fortress, but the head fell down years ago

Idyllic: The rock, pictured here at dawn, upon which the temple and monastery were built is a 'magma plug'

Easy does it: A visitor navigates the stone stairs leading up to the temple and fortress of Sigiriya, but this path is by no means the most perilous compared to those approaching other monasteries

Beautiful: Sigiriya is framed by symmetrical water gardens which extend to the foot of the rock. It is one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka

It was created in 386AD during the reign of Emporer Theodosius I apparently after two priests discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain.

As with most of these great buildings, they aren't the easiest to access. In Greece, the Roussanou Monastery could only be accessed by baskets lifted by pulleys, until roads, steps and bridges were contructed in the 1920s.

It is one of six active monasteries in the Meteora complex, one the largest and most important developments of its kind, only behind Mount Athos.

The monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pinnacles near the Pinios.

Panoramic: The monastery of St Stephen, part of the Meteora complex in Greece, was built in the middle of 16th and decorated in or around 1545

A cut above: Rather than clinging to it, this temple was carved into the rock in the region of Cappadocia in Turkey. Frescoes can be seen around the entrance

Another stunning piece of architecture, which also places a rock at the heart of its construction, is Sigiriya, or Lion's Rock, in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka.

Built on a 'magma plug', the sacred city contains the ruins of the original temple, which dates back to 500AD.

The legs and paws of a lion still remain either side of the entrance, but the head fell down years ago. It is one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

Up on high: The Holy Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapausas in Meteora, Greece, which was built in the 16th Century and decorated by the Cretan painter Theophanis Strelitzas in 1527

 
 

Most Expensive Hotel Rooms in The World

10. The Penthouse Suite, The Martinez Hotel, Cannes Nightly Rate: $18,000       Have you ever dreamed of spending a relaxing night at a luxury hotel? Or maybe planning a romantic evening or a honeymoon where you want to impress your beloved? What would you want included? A gorgeous view? A large comfy bed? A Jacuzzi? A personal butler?Did you know that prices at the best hotel suites have gone up 10% this year? Are you ready to drop about $30,000 for one night? Would you be willg to spend that kind of money on a hotel room? And by the way, none of the nightly room rates includes tax so be prepared to add another 10 – 17% to your bill at checkout.Here are the 10 most expensive hotel rooms in the world from the last year. This is the biggest, most expensive, and the only terraced penthouse suite on the Cote d'Azur. Both of the two suites has a Jacuzzi, plasma screen televisions, DVD library, kitchen, open bar, private butler on call 24/7 (ditto for a limousine), and an option to join both suites into one big apartment. The luxury has no limit here – the design is kept in the Art Deco style, with streamlined furniture, silk curtains and teak parquet floors. The wraparound terrace is 2,000 square feet with the views of the Lerins Islands as well as the entire Bay of Cannes and can comfortably hold 100 people. One Saudi sheik liked the suite so much he wanted to rent it for five years. The hotel said no. What else can you say? Tres magnifique!            9. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton Moscow   Nightly Rate: $18,200   The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ritz-Carlton Suite will give you the most beautiful views of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Christ the Savior Cathedral. The furnishings are in a Classic Russian Imperial style. The 2,500 square-foot suite comes with a spacious living room, dining area, library, office room and boardroom, grand piano, and heated floor.   You will get to enjoy five meals a day and their very own KGB-approved autonomous energy supply system and secure telecommunications array.           8. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai   Nightly Rate: $19,000   The two-story, 8,400-square- foot suite features views over the Arabian sea, marble flooring, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom, dining area, and a private cinema and elevator between the split-level rooms.   The marble bath comes fully stocked with full-sized products from Hermes. Guests are met by a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (or, for a bit extra, by a helicopter). A personal butler stands 24/7 at the ready to fulfill every wish. The Royal Suite is the last word in luxury with a marble and gold staircase, leopard print tufted carpets and Versace linens.   What you can also enjoy is a submarine ride to an underwater restaurant complete with shark-infested aquarium.               7. Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt, Vendôme, Paris   Nightly Rate: $20,000   This pricey suite is located on the 5th floor and takes 200-sq.-meters. A 60-sq.-meter balcony is overlooking the Rue de la Paix, with an outstanding view of the Vendôme column. The Imperial Suite has high ceilings, a dining room, kitchenette, bar, and a mansard roof. It also includes in-suite spa with whirlpool bath, steam room shower and a built-in massage table. Also included are high-speed Internet access and a computer with flat screen monitor, multi-line telephones, and a separate work area to help you enjoy the work process.             6. The Bridge Suite, The Atlantis, Bahamas   Nightly Rate: $22,000   The Bridge Suite is located on top of a bridge that connects the two Royal Towers buildings, so it overlooks the entire resort and marina. An 800 square foot balcony and 12-foot high ceilings throughout with full length windows allow you to enjoy a 360 view of the water, lagoons and pools in Paradise Island. We can make a guess that most of the price is paid for the location of the suite. Forbes reports the suite has hosted guests including Oprah, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Bill Gates.   The suite has 10 rooms that are decorated in black, red and gold (including a 22-karat gold chandelier in the dining room). The living room is a 1,250-square- foot room with grand piano and twin entertainment centers. The master bedroom has a sitting area, his-and-hers closets so large that you can park your car there, and hand-painted linens. The kitchen also has its own entrance, so a permanent staff of seven, including a butler and a cook can access the rooms without bothering you.         5. Presidential Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo   Nightly Rate: $25,000   The suite is located on the 53rd floor above Tokyo with spectacular views that include the Imperial Palace outer gardens and Roppongi Hills.   In the suite's 3300 sq ft you get pure luxury with a stunning four poster bed in the master bedroom, personal concierge, connected living room/dining room, an oversized marble bathroom with Sony BRAVIA 20 inch flat screen television, and access to indoor pool and fitness studio.             4. Villa La Capula Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome Nightly Rate: $29,000 The suite is located on the fifth and sixth floor underneath the cupola of the hotel which was made famous by Fellini's movies. It covers 6,099 square feet and has an additional 1,808 square feet of balconies and terraces. While it only has two bedrooms, five more can be joined to it. The entire suite was just remodeled in 1998 for a cost of around $7 million. So now you will have all things Roman and excessive – a cupola, a Pompeii-style Jacuzzi pool, frescoes (the painted horizons on the frescoes were designed to match perfectly with the real Roman one), stained glass windows, and almost 2,000 feet of balcony space including a sun deck overlooking the Via Veneto district.The downstairs also has a private kitchen, and the dining room features an antique Murano glass chandelier, a private wine cabinet with over 150 wines to choose from and a study/library covered in hand-carved wood. And what really makes this suite over the top is a private cinema with Dolby surround sound.Now that's living la dolce vita.           3. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York   Nightly Rate: $34,000   The $50 million Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons in NY was designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei, Peter Marino and hotel owner Ty Warner.   The nine-room suite has walls inlaid with mother of pearl, gold and platinum-woven fabrics. The suite is located on the 52nd floor of New York's tallest hotel with floor-to-ceiling bay windows offering a breathtaking 360 degree view of the City. If that is not relaxing enough you can enjoy a waterfall in the Zen Room, play the grand piano in the library or soak in a tub overlooking Central Park. Full spa treatments, a personal trainer and a 24/7 butler are all included, and if you still find a will to leave, you can choose to be chauffeured in a Rolls Royce or Maybach, and you're always guaranteed a table at the hotel's renowned L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant.           2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas   Nightly Rate: $40,000   If anyone knows how to vacation in Las Vegas, that will be Hugh Hefner. Even though he is known as a homebody he has spent a few nights away from the mansion at the Sky Villa. The suite itself was built to model the original playboy mansion; it also incorporates elements derived from a vintage Playboy magazine article about the ultimate bachelor pad. The suite cost roughly $10 million to build but the high-rollers can rent it for a small $40,000 a night. Everything screams S-E-X-Y at the Sky Villa. The two-story 9,000 square foot Villa includes a glass elevator, a rotating bed set beneath a mirrored ceiling, and a glass wall Jacuzzi that extends out over the hotel and offers amazing Strip views, around-the-clock butler service, massage and spa rooms, work-out room and poker table, fireplace, three bedrooms, and pop-up plasma TVs.Sorry, Bunnies not included.   1. Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva   Nightly Rate: $53,000   The Imperial Suite, which is actually an entire top floor of the hotel, is reached via a private elevator and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms with mosaic marble floor, a cocktail lounge and a terrace with a dramatic view through the bulletproof windows over the city, Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc — all of which overlook Lake Geneva. The suite is decorated in a contemporary style, with marble and hardwood floors. The living room has a billiards table, a library and a cocktail lounge with a view of the water fountain, and can accommodate 40 people. The dining room seats 26 people around an oval mahogany table.   The hotel's staff reassures guests that the security in the Imperial Suite is among the best in the world, ideal for celebrities or traveling heads of state who visit the United Nations headquarters next door at the Palais Wilson.