Fun Rocking

11-year-old son of Azerbaijan’s President owns $44 million property in Dubai

Billionaires have always drawn the ire and wrath of critics for spoiling their children with expensive gifts. The latest billionaire doting dad to be showered with criticisms is the President of Azerbaijan who has reportedly purchased nine luxury mansions in Dubai worth millions of dollars in the name of his 11-year-old son. The lavish properties have been registered under the name of Heydar Aliyev, the son of President Aliyev, with Dubai’s Land Department. The Washington Post reported that the properties were bought in a two-week shopping spree last year for about $44 million. Besides his son, the Presidents daughters Leyla and Arzu, also appeared as the owners of Dubai properties, bringing the total value of the children’s alleged property portfolio to $75 million.

These lavish spending sprees have highlighted the recent allegations of corruption surrounding the Soviet republic. Although the nation is booming due to oil revenues up to $7 billion last year alone, most of its eight million people endure harsh poverty, and up to a million are refugees from the frozen conflict with Armenia over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The President, whose official salary in Azerbaijan is about $228,000 a year, will surely find it hard to get away with such extravagant spending. Spokesmen at the presidential administration in Baku refused to make any comments regarding the property purchasing spree of the President.

Dubai Pearl

Dubai will now also have a pearl of its own! High-profile collaboration between Singapore Sotheby’s International Realty and the makers of the 20 million sq ft Dubai Pearl will see funds up to $3.5billion pumped into the luxury project. The building will house 9,000 penthouses and an active business center for 12,000 is said to be ready in 2013. It will also include a performing arts theater to seat 2,000, six 5-star hotels namely a Bellagio, Baccarat and a MGM Grand among others. The idea of the project is to create a city inside a city kind of a modern set up.

Flying Hotel Helicopter

Since 2004, the Hotelicopter project has been underway. So for 5 years they’ve been working on modifying a Soviet-made Mil V-12 into the “world’s biggest helicopter” and at the same time, the “world’s first flying hotel. It’s an amazing piece of work, like a double-decker bus for the skies.

A soviet Mil V-12 helicopter has been modified to make it become the world’s biggest helicopter as well as the world’s first flying hotel. The experience is of course 5 star ranging from private entertainment systems to gaming and tea gardens! The specifications for this helicopter will tell you how exactly big this chopper is. It is 135 feet long and 45 feet high. It has the ability to lift a maximum load of 105 thousand kilos off the ground and can reach a maximum speed of 255 km/hour (158 miles/hour). Big is an understatement, I should have used mammoth! The inaugural flight is to take place on the 26th of June and the price is not being disclosed. So will the rich Sheikh who ordered an Airbus A380 for personal use change his mind?

It’s the ultimate in luxury air travel, with private entertainment systems and room service. Plus you get extras like spa treatments, yoga classes, gaming and a tea garden. To give you some idea of it’s size, check out the specs below.

Length: 42 m (137 ft), Height: 14m (45 ft), Maximum Takeoff Weight: 105850 kg (232,870 lb), Maximum speed: 255 km/h (137 kt) (158 miles/h), Cruising speed: 237 km/h (127 kt) (147 miles/h), Original Mi Range: 515 km (320 mi), Our augmented Mi Range – 1,030 km (640 mi).

The inaugural flight is scheduled for June 26th for an unknown price. If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

Luxury Floating Hotel in the Air

Worldwide Aeros Corporation are co-developing with WATG a flying Hotel and speculate the behemoth cruise liner complete with staterooms, restaurants, shops, etc. will be built by 2010. Testing will begin in 18 months on a smaller test version of the Lighter Than Air Vehicle. The proposed 850-foot-long luxury liner is called Aeroscraft, and although it looks like a blimp and uses some blimp technology, Aeros company spokesman Edward Pevzner is quick to point out, “It’s NOT a blimp.” The Aeroscraft uses lifting gas like an airship, but incorporates dynamic liftoff similar to an airplane and is capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter.

Long-haul airships got a bad reputation after the Hindenburg disaster, but French designer Jean-Marie Massaud seems to think that the secret to resurrecting the flying gas bags is by turning them into luxurious floating hotels. The so-called Manned Cloud, which isn’t set to take flight until 2020, will cart 40 passengers around the world at a height of 18,000 feet.

When completed, the flying ship will have 20 bedrooms, a spa, a gym, a library, a bar, and a restaurant — all crammed into a two-story hanging glass structure that provides panoramic views of the world around you. With a top speed of 105 miles-per-hour the Manned Cloud can circle the globe in 10 days, and cross the U.S. on a single tank of fuel.

The Aeros Corporation is one of the world’s leading lighter-than-air (LTA) airship manufacturers. WATG (Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo) are a design consultant for the hospitality, leisure and entertainment industries. According to the designers, the ship will run on some sort of gas, rather than gasoline or diesel, making it a fully-green cruise-ship of the skies.

No price has been announced, but its sure to be a little steep for most. But look on the bright side, at least you’ll have the next 12 years to save up for a ticket!

Burj – ul – Arab Tennis court

The worlds highest tennis court hovering 1000 feet above the ocean at the luxury hotel Jumeirah in Dubai. The helipad of the hotel was converted temporarily to tennis court just to make a world record.

City At Sea – Plans For The World’s Largest Ship – Freedom

City At Sea – Plans For The Worlds Largest Ship

“Freedom will be large enough to bring on more than 50,000 residents, 15,000 employees, 20,000 day guests and still have four times as much roaming-around square footage per person as the most modern cruise liners,” Nixon says during POPULAR MECHANICS’ visit to see how his ambitious plan is progressing. Taller than the highest buildings in most American cities and topped with a runway that can handle jets, Freedom may someday be the globe-trotting address for 17,000 homes and 4000 businesses.

Freedom Ship

This ship design, including the most comprehensive in the world, consisting of luxury apartments, shopping centers, discos, bars & pubs, city parks, swimming pools, several sports fields, airports, cinemas and entertainment venues and other public facilities on this ship area of 160,000 m².

The Plan of Freedom Ship

Budget to create this large super ship revolved 6 billion U.S. $ and has now ballooned to 11 billion U.S. $. Still there’s no news when this ship will be launched.

City At Sea – Plans For The Worlds Largest Ship

Once under way, life aboard Freedom will be more like living in a bustling city than being on a vacation cruise. Because of its size, the ship will have its own railway system. Courtyards set about its decks will create interior park and recreation areas. Nixon has calculated that the resident population can support its own local economy, which means that residents will, in many cases, also be operating businesses at sea, in malls throughout the length of the ship.

As might be expected, this plan for a ship capable of carrying as many as 115,000 people  The reason is not simply a matter of Freedom’s proposed 4320-ft. length, which is nearly five times that of the currently largest cruise ship, Carnival Cruise Line’s 900-ft. Destiny, but the enormity of its mass. When naval architects compare ships, they speak in terms of tonnage rather than length. The Destiny displaces 100,000 tons of water. The largest vessel afloat, the supertanker Jahre Viking, displaces 564,739 tons. Freedom will displace 2.7 million tons.

Nixon says that while there are many factors that determine a beam’s maximum length, a steel beam can reasonably be expected to span a distance 15 times its height. “A ship with an effective depth of 80 ft. of hull [measured from keel to main deck] can theoretically span a maximum of 1200 ft.,” Nixon says. “On Freedom, the effective beam runs 350 ft., from the bottom of the ship to the aircraft runway.” The result is a 4320-ft.-long floating beam that draws 37 ft. of water as it rides atop waves, rather than plowing through them.

“We’re not doing anything new,” Nixon says. “We’ve taken technologies used in one area and applied them here.” Indeed, Nixon says that during World War II the Navy used floating docks longer than Freedom. More recently, Kvaerner, the Norwegian ship and oil platform builder, proposed that the U.S. Department of Defense build a 5249-ft. floating airfield capable of supporting 10,000 troops. Called SeaBase , it would use Kvaerner’s patented linking system to join three giant semi-submersible drilling rigs into a landing field.

Freedom promises to be as different from today’s oceangoing vessels as the Queen Elizabeth II is from the Mayflower. Starting with the keel, Freedom doesn’t have one. This backbone is missing because Freedom is constructed of 520 airtight steel cells. Each will measure 80 ft. tall. Depending upon its location, each will be 50 to 100 ft. wide and 50 to 120 ft. long. Assembled ashore on rails, they will be bolted together to form base units, each about 300 by 400 ft. These will then be floated out to sea and joined to form the completed base.

About 10 months after the start of construction on the first airtight cell, three base units will have been assembled at sea. At this point, the tempo of construction will increase. Meanwhile, on shore, four assembly lines will be dedicated to building airtight cells. At sea, work will begin on the 25-story superstructure. By the 17-month mark, the last base unit will be bolted in place and the 25th level completed.

Two years after the start of construction, 4000 of Freedom’s planned 21,000 units will be ready for Well, not exactly. Freedom won’t have the sort of boilers you find on traditional ships. She will be propelled by 3700-hp motorized units protruding through 100 of her watertight cells. About half of these will be shrouded propeller units. The balance will rotate 360 degrees, like those used on tugboats. At about $1 million each, these are among the world’s most expensive marine power plants. Using GPS, Freedom’s captain could simply sketch the ship’s route on a touch-screen and the $6 billion ship would find its own way.

Dome home, Pensacola Beach, Florida

The Indestructible dome

This fabulous Monolithic dome home in Pensacola Beach, Florida has successfully survived more than one hurricane. In 2004, the owners and an NBC News crew had permission to stay in this dome during Hurricane Dennis. An overwhelming 97% responded favorably.

The Dome House : Australian Building by McBride Charles Ryan

The Dome House, Hawthorn

Principal Architects: Rob McBride, Debbie-Lyn Ryan Project team: Jamie McCutcheon, Lisa Cummings, Fang Cheah, Adam Pustola, Drew Williamson, Matt Borg .

This project is a home in Hawthorn designed to accommodate at the various stages of its life, a family, a single person, and a single person with large visiting family. The design concept of this home was to take a perfect shape, the copper sphere, and to remove parts. By selectively removing parts of the sphere, there is the sense internally of being in and surrounded by garden. The spherical shell also provides beautiful internal spaces on the first floor.

The person is a middle-aged single woman, an artist with a large family and circle of friends who often stay over. The place is Hawthorn a middle-class suburb, leafy and picturesque. Our first site visit gave us a strong sense of what this building might become – the large oak tree, the adjacent Victorian Mansion and the site’s location, a hill-top which terminated an easement of tennis courts that swept into the valley below. We sensed an object that could respond to these specific and unusual spatial conditions.

We became obsessed with the idea of a garden through the centre of the house. The plan evolved into one with a central living area, ancillary rooms were carefully slung either side providing a graceful union between private and communal in family-life. These ideas were not profound nor without precedent, and could have on their own resulted in a thousand different houses. The dome was an office favourite. And a good rough fit of the setback and programmatic displacement.

But the idea of the dome as an incomplete puzzle came about after experiments with hollowing and cutting the object. The accidental superimposition of dome and rectilinear plan resulted in a great variety of new domestic interior spaces. Externally we wanted to subtract just enough to hold the original form. We had hope that the revelation of the object after subtraction would be greater and more intriguing than if it were whole. We thought of the puzzle components as 3D pixels. We could scale up and down, bringing some areas into sharper focus. We questioned each compositional moment by negotiating accident & design, abstraction & representation.

The building which evolved had the extreme heroicism of the revolutionary modernist dome house and yet it could also be read as a ruin of the same. Those little things that surround houses, the letterbox, seats, sheds, fence, and lights were subsumed as fragments in the system. They become markers and semi-enclosures of outdoor spaces, both courtyards and forecourt. Internal spaces were divided and colour-coded between two categories – ‘the exterior’ (main living area) and ‘within the dome’ (bleached white).

We hoped the consistency of the aesthetic order we were imposing would free us from the onerous task of designing each element from first principles. It however soon became its own form of imprisonment; everything called for our attention and screamed opportunity – we saw new little buildings everywhere. We then understood the blindingly obvious – that the Cartesian grid is one of endless opportunity.

Rainwater is collected from the copper clad roof by concealed gutters and is stored in rainwater tanks installed under the south desk. The dome house also utilizes solar hot water, a drip garden watering system and double glazing to maximize energy efficiency. These simple sustainable elements have been integrated into the home so as to have minimal aesthetic impact.

Hotels in Calabria – Italy

Italy offers so many unique and interesting experiences; it can be difficult to narrow them all down for one vacation. Perhaps the best way to approach Italy is to plan to follow several different itineraries and focus on a few unique places. You might decide to combine a visit to Sicily with a driving trip that takes you from Rome to Milan. Another option is explore southern Italy and hit Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the remote area around Apulia. A unique option would be to head inland and explore the mountain towns and lake regions of Italy.

If you wish to bask beneath the romance of a Tuscan sun, look no further than Locanda dell’Amorosa, which was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Most Romantic” hotel. The hotel is located in what once was a small village, which has been converted into a hotel, restaurant, extensive wine cellar and wine-making facilities. You can wander the grounds, take a dip in the pool or sip a glass of wine from one of the well-appointed common areas and share your daily adventures with other guests. The guest rooms are simple, yet elegant with a few antiques and lovely views. The hotel’s restaurant boasts an amazing setting, perfect for a romantic Italian dinner.

Sweden Ice Hotel

The Original Ice Hotel is located in Jukkasjarvi, a small village at 200 kilometers north of Arctic Circle in Sweden. Only the alliance between the nature’s beauty along with the human touch makes creating a wonder possible. And this is what has happened with this hotel. Long back when the place used be a vacant land covered with snow, a small brook called the Torne used to flow through its bosom echoing the silence of the land. This river is the life source and backbone of the Ice Hotel. For the hotel has been created with the ice and snow from this river.

An ice hotel is a temporary hotel made up of snow, sculpted blocks of ice, and some steel framing. They are promoted by their sponsors and have special features for travelers who are interested in novelties and unusual environments, and thus are in the class of destination hotels. Their lobbies are often filled with ice sculptures, and food and beverages are specially chosen for the circumstances.

10 000 tons of crystal clear ice from the ‘ice manufacturing plant’, the Torne River, and 30 000 tons of pure snow generously supplied by Mother Nature are needed to build the Ice Hotel every year. The hotel sleeps over 100 guests, and every bedroom is unique.

Covering more than 30,000 square feet, the Ice Hotel includes an Ice Chapel, the hotel itself, an ice art exhibition hall, a cinema and last but not least, the world famous ‘Absolut Ice Bar’.

At the Ice Hotel, you can find every bit of luxury, fun and entertainment. It offers two types of unique accommodations – cold and warm. To enjoy Ice Hotel at its best, it is suggested that you stay at least for one night at the cold accommodation and then shift to the usual warm accommodation. The hotel has all types of luxurious facilities with eye feasting interior decoration and wonderful natural beauty all around.

At the Ice Hotel you can spend your evenings at the absolute ice bar with cool music playing in background. You can also simply walk around at the art and design exhibition center and let yourself be mesmerized with the fleeting beauty of the ice sculptures. And if you are a regular churchgoer, you do not have to miss the Sunday service for you will find the Ice Church which holds regular mass at such an unusual ambience. You can also plan your wedding at the ice chapel to spend the most beautiful day of your life in the most exquisite way.

However, if you want thrill and excitement, then this hotel will not disappoint you. You can taste the ecstasy of adventure at Ice Hotel on spot. You can even go for safaris and special excursions which include the famous arctic trail snowmobile safaris. To celebrate in the excitement of speed, you can participate or watch the ice-driving event. Do not forget to pamper your taste buds at the restaurants here for the Ice hotel is known for both exotic and homestead cuisine. You can also spend some enchanting moments at the wilderness camp.

Hydropolis Underwater Hotel

Hydropolis is the world’s first underwater luxury hotel still under construction. It is located 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, just off Jumeira beach in Dubai. Its transparent constructions will allow guests to see the aquatic life. It will consist of three aspects; the land station, the connecting tunnel and 220 suits. The visitors will be welcomed at the land station. The tunnel will be used to transfer people by train to the main area of the hotel. This unique architecture will occupy an area of 260 hectare.  There will be a variety of facilities like a cosmetic surgical clinic, a marine biological research laboratory and conference requirements. It will also have a huge aquarium. This project is supposed to be completed in the year 2009. Have a look at this luxury hotel which will be an attraction in Dubai. You can experience your stay underwater after its launch. This hotel aims to create awareness about the sea and the marine life. Shopping, dining, partying, travelling and staying in Dubai are majestic experiences. Live life king size while holidaying in Dubai. Have you ever though of spending holidays under water? Try it out at Dubai.

The £300m, 220-suite hotel was due to open by the end of 2006 but has experienced delays and is now scheduled to open in 2009. It will incorporate a host of innovations that will take it far beyond the original blueprint for an underwater complex worthy of Jules Verne.

There are only a few locations in the world where such a grandiose dream could be realised. A high proportion of today’s architectural marvels are materialising like fanciful mirages from the desert sands. We have come to expect extravagant enterprises to be mounted in the Middle East, and especially in Dubai. “This venture could only be born here in Dubai,” says Hauser. “It [has] a very open-minded, international community – and that’s what makes it so special.”

The land on which Hydropolis is being built belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. It was his last free beach property on this stretch of coast. The project is a fantastic one, yet Sheikh Mohammed’s success record with comparable schemes instils confidence that science fiction can become fact. With his support, several companies have been formed to kick-start this phenomenal project, and around 150 firms are currently involved.

“There have been many visions of colonising the sea – Jules Verne, Jean Gusto and several Japanese architects – but no one has ever managed to realise this dream,” says Hauser. “That was the most challenging factor, and that’s what makes it so fascinating. Despite being a dream of mankind for centuries, nobody has ever been able to make living underwater possible.”

MARINE ARCHITECTURE

This structure promises to be a conceptual as well as a physical landmark. While human beings accept the existence of water, we have only a superficial appreciation of its significance. “We waste it, go swimming in it and generally take it for granted,” says Hauser. “Humans could actually live self-sufficiently underwater, generating energy, nurturing food supplies and so on. This is why we are starting a foundation to demonstrate something of the importance of water in our lives.

“My general plan was to create a living space in the sea. My initial proposal was a deep-sea project, which looked very different. I had to adjust to the local reality of the natural surroundings and change to a shallow-water construction.

“We want to create the first ever faculty for marine architecture because I believe that the future lies in the sea, including the future of city planning. I am certain that one day a whole city will be built in the sea. Our aim is to lay the first mosaic by colonising the sea.”

Hauser plans to incorporate many different elements associated with the sea. The cosmetics will be ocean-based, the cinemas will screen films that focus on aquatic themes and a children’s seaworld will educate as well as entertain.

He views his creation as a place where those who do not dive – or do not even swim – can experience the tranquillity and inspiration of the underwater world. “We are expecting around 3,000 visitors a day in addition to the hotel guests. The aim is to inspire people to develop a new awareness of the sea.”

As well as emphasising the positive aspects of water, Hauser also believes we are systematically destroying marine life, and thus wishes to draw attention to various dangers and problems, such as the loss of algae and the destruction of the coral reefs.

FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT

Dreams, however fabulous, remain unfulfilled without the cash to support the commitment. “The hardest part of the process was finding sponsorship to the tune of €550m,” admits Hauser. “That’s what brought me to Dubai. Still, it was a battle which took two-and-a-half years and proved tougher than developing the project itself. No bank would pay such an amount. It’s a risky investment, as there are no pilots. We had to convince investors that it is safe and will bring returns on investment.”

With official blessing, the Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA) established a framework to handle grants and authorisations. Once the financial backing was guaranteed, the sonar analysis of the seabed complete and 7,000 anchors in place, construction began in summer 2005.

“We are sure that this hotel will set a precedent,” says Hauser. “Crescent-Hydropolis is now planning a chain of underwater hotels, and nine countries have shown interest. Some will be the realisation of my initial deep-sea design.” Hauser has even chosen to make his permanent home in Dubai. “And that won’t change after the project [is finished], regardless of where our next project will be. The infrastructure is exceptionally good here – and it seldom rains!”

Cool Hotels

• Death Star Hotel

This structure is being built in Baku, Azerbaijan (an ex-Soviet country between Russian and Iran). Now I’m a firm believer in honesty being the best policy, so why they’re trying to construct this under the guise that it’s to be the “Full Moon” Hotel is a mystery to me. Just come out and say it already, Azerbaijan. This is not a 521-foot-tall hotel with 382 rooms on over 35 floors. This is the end of life on earth as we know it. That thing is going to blow up the damn planet. I, for one, am scared.

• Hotel Slovenia

Slovenia is a beautiful country in the heart of Europe, offering many interesting tourist attractions and each year, more tourists are visiting this country. If you are planning on visiting Slovenia in the near future, you can check some of the best hotels in Slovenia. Every week we will present more and more hotels you can choose to stay at, so that prior to your arrival, you will already know something more about your accommodation possibilities.

Slovenia attractions attracts many tourists that can explore the variety of this small but versatile country. Slovenia attractions are worth to be experienced, because the visitor can really enjoy the beauty of nature and reach culture heritage. One should definitely visit Ljubljana, Bled, Maribor, or experience the beauty of Slovenian seaside, cave of Postojna and much more. One can stay in pleasant hotels where can relax after sightseeing. Hotels are known of its quality service and pleasant staff. There is a long list of hotels that enables you to find the hotel Slovenia that you really like. One can visit original hotel Slovenia that offers comfortable services that will satisfy your needs. Original hotel Slovenia is a right choice when you plan to visit Slovenia attractions.