The 1980s were an era with such a distinct look, feel, and vibe that its almost too easy to pull off the 80s at a Halloween party. Keep scrolling for the iconically '80s photos. Think brightly colored tracksuits, complete with headbands, legwarmers, and all the iconic accessories. But for those of us who actually lived through the 80s, the reality wasnt always so neon-bright especially if you were stuck wearing the familys drab 70s hand-me-downs.Getty ImagesGetty Imagesloading...This street scene in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a masterclass in '80s fashion.Big Trends Meant Big MoneyBeyond the fashion trends, kids growing up in the 80s became a driving force in the economy.RELATED:Try Guessing These Awesome 80s Movies From a Single Freeze-FrameHome video game systems brought the arcade experience into living rooms, while blockbuster movies spawned a wave of must-have merchandise. It was a decade fueled by an endless cycle of buy, buy, buy.Getty ImagesGetty Imagesloading...The Images of the 80s Werent All Neon Bright and CarefreeSome news events profoundly shaped the lives of those growing up during that time, from the real-time disaster movie that was the Mount St. Helens eruption to the Challenger tragedy both unfolding on live TV and leaving lasting impressions on young, impressionable minds.Getty ImagesGetty Imagesloading...Totally 80s: The Pictures That Take You BackTake a nostalgic journey through the '80s with these iconic photoscapturing the fashion, toys, and unforgettable news events that left a lasting impact on a generation. Keep scrolling to relive the moments that defined the decade.Gallery Credit: Stephen LenzREAD MORE: The Worst 80s Movies EverGet our free mobile app80s Foods We Wish They Still MadeIf you grew up in the 1980s, you surely have fond memories of these popular (now discontinued) snacks.Filed Under: NostalgiaCategories: Galleries, Lists, Original Features

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has two new directors who are both oldSpider-Versedirectors.Sony announced today that the third film in the animatedSpider-Versetrilogy will be helmed by Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson. Persichetti was one of the directors ofInto the Spider-Verse while Thompson was a co-director ofAcross the Spider-Verse.Both also worked on the earlier films in other roles; Thompson was the Production Designer onInto the Spider-Verse, whilePersichetti was an executive producer onAcross the Spider-Verse.Sony announced the move on theSpider-VerseInstagram account.While its good to getany news of progress onBeyond the Spider-Verse, this announcement certainly makes it seem like the film is still quite a ways from being completed.Acrossand Beyond theSpider-Verse were initially announced as a two-part film that would be developed together and then released in close proximity.Instead,Across the Spider-Verse(a really great Spider-Man movie!) came out in May of 2023, and were now in late 2024 and weve only just learned thatBeyond the Spider-Versewill be directed by a new team instead of Thompson, Kemp Powers, and Joaquim Dos Santos, who directed the second film together. (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, whove produced both previousSpider-Verse movies, remain involved as writersand producers.)Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versehas not had an official release date since Sony pushed the film back from its initially planned debut in May of 2024.Of course, from a fans perspective, I would rather the movie be later and good than rushed and bad. Hopefully the final product is worth the wait.Get our free mobile appEvery Spider-Man and Spinoff Movie RankedAll of Sonys Spider-Man movies (plus their spinoffs), ranked from the worst to the best.Gallery Credit: Matt Singer

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)Mindoula Health is seeking Therapists licensed in Tennessee (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) for our Substance Use Disorder Program to remotely serve our substance exposed members. The applicant must be licensed in Tennessee, but can live anywhere in the US. Our Substance Use Disorder Program's focus is on prenatal and postpartum care and substance-exposed living populations.Our teams address substance exposed living and substance exposed pregnancy. You will work within a family-focused culture and have the benefit of learning both the clinical and business sides of the company. You will have a flexible schedule and the freedom to create groups and utilize evidence based practices you are most passionate about.As a clinician, you will work in collaborative settings to provide biopsychosocial assessments, individual and group therapy, and work with your team to coordinate care across a range of substance use disorder treatment settings. You will enjoy the flexibility and autonomy to work from home.Compensation: Potential to earn up to $75,000 a year based on your clinical hours, plus benefits.Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:Medical, Dental and Vision InsuranceSupplemental Life InsuranceShort Term and Long Term Insurance paid by Mindoula401k, with a company match3 weeks paid vacation each year, 4 mental wellness days and 11 holidaysParental Leave: 8 weeks of paid parental leavePersonal Development Program: $500 credit reimbursement per calendar yearHow you'll contribute:Assesses, plans and implements care strategies that are individualized by member and directed toward the most appropriate and least restrictive level of care.Collaborates with member, family and healthcare providers to develop an individualized plan of care.Conducts individual counseling and group therapy with adolescents and adults.Identifies and initiates referrals for social service programs including financial, psycho-social, community and state supportive services.Advocates for members and families as needed to ensure the patients needs and choices are fully represented and supported by the healthcare team.Utilizes approved clinical criteria to assess and determine appropriate level of care for members.Documents all member assessments, care plan and referrals provided.Responsible for achieving set goals; Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).Learning the StrongWell model and taking responsibility and ownership for outcome based care.Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and utilization management rounds and provides information to assist with safe transitions of care.Promotes responsible and ethical stewardship of company resources.Maintains excellent punctuality and attendance during work hours.Qualifications:LCSW, LMFT, LPC, in Tennessee.Preferred experience with substance abuse population.Background in maternal; substance abuse preferred.Experience with adults and adolescents.Familiarity with Medicare and Medicaid procedures.Remote Work Experience.Come be part of the solution!

About the Role:The Disputes Team plays a key role in managing disputes initiated by healthcare facilities (HCFs) for invoiced shifts, addressing discrepancies in charges based on contractual terms and internal records. A Billing Disputes Specialist will review and process these disputes, determining whether to accept or reject claims based on the accuracy of the invoices and supporting records provided by the HCFs.Responsibilities:Manage and resolve invoice disputes submitted by HCFs promptly and accurately.Conduct a thorough review of facility contracts to ensure they align with dispute resolutions.Make outgoing calls to HCFs and clarify details related to submitted disputes.Send emails to HCFs, Account Managers (AMs), and Billing Representatives (BRs) with the investigation outcomes on their submitted disputes.Collaborate with other Clipboard Health departments to escalate billing discrepancies when disputes require further investigation beyond the scope of a Billing Disputes Specialist.Identify the root cause of non-payment.Requirements and Skills:Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail, particularly in reviewing contracts, billing and invoice discrepancies, and dispute documentation.Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to different stakeholders.Proficiency in Salesforce, Zendesk, Google Workspace, and other data management tools.Problem-solving mindset and ability to resolve issues in a timely and efficient manner.Strong organizational skills and ability to manage tasks in a fast-paced environment.Customer-oriented approach with a focus on maintaining positive relationships with our customers while enforcing contract terms.1-2 years of experience in billing, invoicing, or dispute resolution is a plus.90-Day ReviewBy the end of your first 90 days, the following accomplishments are expected:Master the dispute-handling workflow: Achieve an excellent understanding of the dispute-handling workflow with proficiency in navigating primary tools and following proper escalation procedures.Resolve discrepancies efficiently: Confidently identify various types of billing discrepancies and follow the appropriate resolution processes, ensuring the root cause is understood before investigation to streamline the workflow.Use systems and tools well: Become proficiency in using primary tools such as Salesforce, the CBH App, and Zendesk, effectively utilizing them throughout the dispute resolution process.Document consistently with a high attention to detail: Be consistent and thorough in documenting post-resolution notes in Salesforce cases and maintaining the weekly dashboard, minimizing unnecessary follow-ups with our customers.Organize effectively and manage tasks: Keep your tasks well-organized, ensure timely follow-ups, and adhere to email cadences, all of which contribute to more efficient dispute resolutions.Collaborate openly and actively with the Disputes Team: Collaborate with the team by sharing insights, assisting others, and helping solve problems outside of your scope. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities and maintain a proactive approach to workflow changes, contributing to the teams success.Meet team targets and metrics: Meet or exceed team targets and metrics, align personal goals with daily and weekly deliverables, and proactively manage additional cases when necessary.

Role Overview:The Billing Account Manager ensures the successful management of billing processes for Clipboard Healths facility partners. You will be a vital resource for facilities, resolving billing issues, maintaining accurate invoicing, and managing financial relationships.Responsibilities:Manage a portfolio of accounts, addressing billing concerns and ensuring timely invoice payments.Conduct high volumes of outbound calls to chase customers with past due account balances.Help resolve customer invoice disputes and other billing related issues.Manage customer payments and remittances.Build trust with providers and healthcare executives through strong financial acumen.Clearly articulate the billing processes and educate stakeholders on invoicing procedures.Gather and relay feedback to improve billing systems and processes.Collaborate with internal teams to execute billing-related initiatives and trials.Success Factors:Extreme Ownership: Take full responsibility for managing billing issues and solutions.Curiosity: Investigate and understand the root cause of billing problems.Scrappiness: Find innovative solutions to overcome obstacles and maintain progress.Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced, evolving market.Requirements:Experience in relationship management and billing processes preferred.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Willingness to work with US working hours.Benefits:Competitive payUnlimited PTOFully RemoteOpportunity to make a significant impact with healthcare customers

Recorded on December 17, 2024The Worst Technology Failures of 2024Speakers: Antonio Regalado, senior editor for biomedicine, and Niall Firth, executive editor.MIT Technology Review publishes an annual list of the worst technologies of the year. This year, The Worst Technology Failures of 2024 list was unveiled live by our editors. Hear fromMIT Technology Reviewexecutive editor Niall Firth and senior editor for biomedicine Antonio Regalado as they discuss each of the 8 items on this list.Related CoverageThe 8 worst technology failures of 2024The worst technology failures of 2023The worst technology of 2022

They say you learn more from failure than success. If so, this is the story for you: MIT Technology Reviews annual roll call of the biggest flops, flimflams, and fiascos in all domains of technology. Some of the foul-ups were funny, like the "woke AI which got Google in trouble after it drew Black Nazis. Some caused lawsuits, like a computer error by CrowdStrike that left thousands of Delta passengers stranded. We also reaped failures among startups that raced to expand from 2020 to 2022, a period of ultra-low interest rates. But then the economic winds shifted. Money wasnt free anymore. The result? Bankruptcy and dissolution for companies whose ambitious technological projects, from vertical farms to carbon credits, hadnt yet turned a profit and might never do so. Read on. Woke AI blunder GOOGLE GEMINI VIA X.COM/END WOKENESS People worry about bias creeping into AI. But what if you add bias on purpose? Thanks to Google, we know where that leads: Black Vikings and female popes. Googles Gemini AI image feature, launched last February, had been tuned to zealously showcase diversity, damn the history books. Ask Google for a picture of German soldiers from World War II, and it would create a Benetton ad in Wehrmacht uniforms. Critics pounced and Google beat an embarrassed retreat. It paused Geminis ability to draw people and agreed its well-intentioned effort to be inclusive had missed the mark. The free version of Gemini still wont create images of people. But paid versions will. When we asked for an image of 12 CEOs of public biotech companies, the software produced a photographic-quality image of middle-aged white men. Less than ideal. But closer to the truth. More: Is Googles Gemini chatbot woke by accident, or by design? (The Economist), Gemini image generation got it wrong. We'll do better. (Google) Boeing Starliner THE BOEING COMPANY VIA NASA Boeing, we have a problem. And its your long-delayed reusable spaceship, the Starliner, which stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Suni Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station. The June mission was meant to be a quick eight-day round trip to test Starliner before it embarked on longer missions. But, plagued by helium leaks and thruster problems, it had to come back empty. Now Butch and Suni wont return to Earth until 2025, when a craft from Boeing competitor SpaceX is scheduled to bring them home. Credit Boeing and NASA with putting safety first. But this wasnt Boeings only malfunction during 2024. The company began the year with a door blowing off one of its planes midflight, faced a worker strike, agreed to a major fine for misleading the government about the safety of its 737 Max airplane (which made our 2019 list of worst technologies), and saw its CEO step down in March. After the Starliner fiasco, Boeing fired the chief of its space and defense unit. At this critical juncture, our priority is to restore the trust of our customers and meet the high standards they expect of us to enable their critical missions around the world, Boeings new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, said in a memo. CrowdStrike outage MITTR / ENVATO The motto of the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike is We stop breaches. And its true: No one can breach your computer if you cant turn it on. Thats exactly what happened to many people on July 19, when thousands of Windows computers at airlines, TV stations, and hospitals started displaying the blue screen of death. The cause wasnt hackers or ransomware. Instead, those computers were stuck in a boot loop because of a bad update shipped by CrowdStrike itself. CEO George Kurtz jumped on X to say the issue had been identified as a defect in a single computer file. So who is liable? CrowdStrike customer Delta Airlines, which canceled 7,000 flights, is suing for $500 million. It alleges that the security firm caused a global catastrophe when it took uncertified and untested shortcuts. CrowdStrike countersued. It says Deltas management is to blame for its troubles and that the airline is due little more than a refund. More: Crowdstrike is working with customers(George Kurtz), How to fix a Windows PC affected by the global outage (MIT Technology Review), Delta Sues CrowdStrike Over July Operations Meltdown (WSJ) Vertical farms MITTR / ENVATO Grow lettuce in buildings using robots, hydroponics, and LED lights. Thats what Bowery, a vertical farming startup, raised over $700 million to do. But in November, Bowery went bust, making it the biggest startup failure of the year, according to the business analytics firm CB Insights. Bowery claimed that vertical farms were 100 times more productive per square foot than traditional farms, since racks of plants could be stacked 40 feet high. In reality, the companys lettuce was more expensive, and when a stubborn plant infection spread through its East Coast facilities, Bowery had trouble delivering the green stuff at any price. More: How a leaf-eating pathogen, failed deals brought down Bowery Farming (Pitchbook), Vertical farming "unicorn" Bowery to shut down (Axios) Exploding pagers MITTR / ADOBE STOCK They beeped, and then they blew up. Across Lebanon, fingers and faces were shredded in what was called Israels surprise opening blow in an all-out war to try to cripple Hezbollah. The deadly attack was diabolically clever. Israel set up shell companies that sold thousands of pagers packed with explosives to the Islamic faction, which was already worried that its phones were being spied on. A coup for Israels spies. But was it a war crime? A 1996 treaty prohibits intentionally manufacturing apparently harmless objects designed to explode. The New York Times says nine-year-old Fatima Abdullah died when her fathers booby-trapped beeper chimed and she raced to take it to him. More: Israel conducted Lebanon pager attack (Axios), A 9-Year-Old Girl Killed in Pager Attack Is Mourned in Lebanon (New York Times), Did Israel break international law? (Middle East Eye) 23andMe MITTR / ADOBE STOCK The company that pioneered direct-to-consumer gene testing is sinking fast. Its stock price is going toward zero, and a plan to create valuable drugs is kaput after that team got pink slips this November. 23andMe always had a celebrity aura, bathing in good press. Now, though, the press is all bad. Its a troubled company in the grip of a controlling founder, Anne Wojcicki, after its independent directors resigned en masse this September. Customers are starting to worry about whats going to happen to their DNA data if 23andMe goes under. 23andMe says it created the worlds largest crowdsourced platform for genetic research. Thats true. It just never figured out how to turn a profit. More: 23andMes fall from $6 billion to nearly $0 (Wall Street Journal), How todelete your 23andMe data (MIT Technology Review), 23andMe Financial Report, November 2024 (23andMe) AI slop AUTHOR UNKNOWN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Slop is the scraps and leftovers that pigs eat. AI slop is what you and I are increasingly consuming online now that people are flooding the internet with computer-generated text and pictures. AI slop is dubious, says the New York Times, and dadaist, according to Wired. Its frequently weird, like Shrimp Jesus (dont ask if you dont know), or deceptive, like the picture of a shivering girl in a rowboat, supposedly showing the US governments poor response to Hurricane Helene. AI slop is often entertaining. AI slop is usually a waste of your time. AI slop is not fact-checked. AI slop exists mostly to get clicks. AI slop is that blue-check account on X posting 10-part threads on how great AI isthreads that were written by AI. Most of all, AI slop is very, very common. This year, researchers claimed that about half the long posts on LinkedIn and Medium were partly AI-generated. More: First came Spam. Now, With A.I., Weve got Slop (New York Times), AI Slop Is Flooding Medium (Wired) Voluntary carbon markets MITTR / ENVATO Your business creates emissions that contribute to global warming. So why not pay to have some trees planted or buy a more efficient cookstove for someone in Central America? Then you could reach net-zero emissions and help save the planet. Neat idea, but good intentions aren't enough. This year the carbon marketplace Nori shut down, and so did Running Tide, a firm trying to sink carbon into the ocean. The problem is the voluntary carbon market is voluntary, Running Tides CEO wrote in a farewell post, citing a lack of demand. While companies like to blame low demand, it's not the only issue. Sketchy technology, questionable credits, and make-believe offsets have created a credibility problem in carbon markets. In October, US prosecutors charged two men in a $100 million scheme involving the sale of nonexistent emissions savings. More: The growing signs of trouble for global carbon markets (MIT Technology Review), Running Tides ill-fated adventure in ocean carbon removal (Canary Media), Ex-carbon offsetting boss charged in New York with multimillion-dollar fraud (The Guardian)

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. If you drove by one of the 2,990 data centers in the United States, youd probably think little more than Huh, thats a boring-looking building. You might not even notice it at all. However, these facilities underpin our entire digital world, and they are responsible for tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. New research shows just how much those emissions have skyrocketed during the AI boom. Since 2018, carbon emissions from data centers in the US have tripled, according to new research led by a team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. That puts data centers slightly below domestic commercial airlines as a source of this pollution. That leaves a big problem for the worlds leading AI companies, which are caught between pressure to meet their own sustainability goals and the relentless competition in AI thats leading them to build bigger models requiring tons of energy. The trend toward ever more energy-intensive new AI models, including video generators like OpenAIs Sora, will only send those numbers higher. A growing coalition of companies is looking toward nuclear energy as a way to power artificial intelligence. Meta announced on December 3 it was looking for nuclear partners, and Microsoft is working to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant by 2028. Amazon signed nuclear agreements in October. However, nuclear plants take ages to come online. And though public support has increased in recent years, and president-elect Donald Trump has signaled support, only a slight majority of Americans say they favor more nuclear plants to generate electricity. Though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pitched the White House in September on an unprecedented effort to build more data centers, the AI industry is looking far beyond the United States. Countries in Southeast Asia, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, are all courting AI companies, hoping to be their new data center hubs. In the meantime, AI companies will continue to use up power from their current sources, which are far from renewable. Since so many data centers are located in coal-producing regions, like Virginia, the carbon intensity of the energy they use is 48% higher than the national average. The researchers found that 95% of data centers in the US are built in places with sources of electricity that are dirtier than the national average. Read more about the new research here. Deeper Learning We saw a demo of the new AI system powering Andurils vision for war Were living through the first drone wars, but AI is poised to change the future of warfare even more drastically. I saw that firsthand during a visit to a test site in Southern California run by Anduril, the maker of AI-powered drones, autonomous submarines, and missiles. Anduril has built a way for the military to command much of its hardwarefrom drones to radars to unmanned fighter jetsfrom a single computer screen. Why it matters: Anduril, other companies in defense tech, and growing numbers of people within the Pentagon itself are increasingly adopting a new worldview: A future great power conflictmilitary jargon for a global war involving multiple countrieswill not be won by the entity with the most advanced drones or firepower, or even the cheapest firepower. It will be won by whoever can sort through and share information the fastest. The Pentagon is betting lots of energy and money that AIdespite its flaws and riskswill be what puts the US and its allies ahead in that fight. Read more here. Bits and Bytes Bluesky has an impersonator problem The platforms rise has brought with it a surge of crypto scammers, as my colleague Melissa Heikkil experienced firsthand. (MIT Technology Review) Techs elite make large donations to Trump ahead of his inauguration Leaders in Big Tech, who have been lambasted by Donald Trump, have made sizable donations to his inauguration committee. (The Washington Post) Inside the premiere of the first commercially streaming AI-generated movies The films, according to writer Jason Koebler, showed the telltale flaws of AI-generated video: dead eyes, vacant expressions, unnatural movements, and a reliance on voice-overs, since dialogue doesnt work well. The company behind the films is confident viewers will stomach them anyway. (404 Media) Meta asked Californias attorney general to stop OpenAI from becoming for-profit Meta now joins Elon Musk in alleging that OpenAI has improperly enjoyed the benefits of nonprofit status while developing its technology. (Wall Street Journal) How Silicon Valley is disrupting democracy Two books explore the price weve paid for handing over unprecedented power to Big Techand explain why its imperative we start taking it back. (MIT Technology Review)

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Submitted by WA ContentsSelgascano and FRPO win competition for Rozafa Tower featuring a cracked colorful facadeAlbania Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 13:59 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Spanish architecture practices Selgascano and FRPO have won an international competition for Rozafa Tower in Shkodr, Albania. The 39,000-square-metre tower features a cracked colorful facade oriented in three sides.With its lush surroundings and rich history, Shkodra, one of Albania's oldest and most culturally diverse cities, provides a distinctive setting. Its rich and varied history is reflected in its architecture.East viewThree programmatic blocks make up the tower's height: the first three stories are dedicated to commercial space, the next 20 floors are dedicated to residential space, and the final seven floors are used by the hotel.The city has a distinctive architectural context that includes neoclassical buildings, Ottoman and Venetian influences, and historic Roman and Illyrian defenses. In order to create an addition that enhances the urban landscape, respects the historical legacy, and advances Shkodra's modern growth, Selgascano and FRPO have always considered the new tower to be a part of this diversity.Given the tower's advantageous location, there is a chance to design an architectural landmark that will enhance the metropolitan skyline and encourage tourism and economic growth in the area. The tower's goal is undoubtedly to become a monument in the field of modern architecture, but the most crucial aspect of our work is to preserve the city's human scale. One of the most important aspects of the building's architecture is its size.South viewEven though it is a tower, careful consideration has been taken to make sure that the structure is viewed on a human scale and in harmony with its surroundsthat is, for the short-distance surroundings that the average person would encounter while walking around. The tower will be successful if the people believe it is a part of them, if they embrace it, and if it eventually becomes a part of this city.With the Albanian Alps to the northeast, the Rozafa Castle and the Drin and Buna rivers to the south, and the Skhodra Lake to the northwest, the tower's three main faces are oriented toward the most important views of the surrounding terrain in the area.The tower was designed with the intention of maximizing the breathtaking views of the surroundings. Depending on its orientation and viewsLakeview, Mountainview, or Rivervieweach lobe of the structure thus takes on a distinct personality. It is up to the residents to decide which is best for them.Facade detailIn order to visibly reduce its volume and produce a number of dynamic facades that react to the surrounding vistas, the tower's form is purposefully vibrating. By preventing the impression of a monolithic mass that might conflict with the natural and historical surroundings, this fragmentation also makes it possible for a more seamless integration with the urban scale. In addition to giving the structure a lighter appearance, the geometry's fracture permits more natural light to enter and provides views from other perspectives."This design decision addresses the need to make the building lighter and less imposing, maintaining a visual and symbolic connection with the key elements of Shkodra's landscape, but also making the building completely different depending on the moment of the day, transforming it in a timing machine," said Selgascano."The design of the tower is inspired by contemporary architectural trends, but the project also takes into consideration the invariants of architecture, such as sunlight and shadow.""The substantially triangular geometry of the plan denies the north orientation: the three facades are oriented to the east, south and west, which ensures sunlight all around the tower," the office added.Deep facades, which take advantage of the shadow to shelter the building from solar radiation in the summer and rain in the winter, are necessary due to Shkodra's warm Mediterranean environment, which is also extremely rainy. The proposal suggests a perimeter cushion of outdoor spaces on all floors rather than using the conventional curtain-wall method.Access viewThese terraces preserve the inside glass facade while increasing the use of residences and hotel rooms. Every terrace has a railing and a sizable parasol around the outside, which expands the amount of shade that can be cast inside and creates a sense of security that makes the terraces cozier. This ensures the building's optimal energy performance and the lovely views of the surroundings.The importance of colorsIn order to generate a sense of lightness and to stylize the building's mass, the tower's volume was built using a series of planes and horizontal lines in various color tones. The new skyscraper appears natural and appealing because all of the planes are coated in wood of various textures.To complete the chromatism of the facades, yellow, orange, and light green paint are applied to the parasols, railings, and slab edges.This palette of hues has been chosen to complement the city's climate and atmosphere, the surrounding scenery, and the sky.Each block is separated from the one directly above by a level of facilities. This method avoids concentrating gear on the roofs and shortens the ventilation ducts. Each program has its own elevators and vertical communications. Ducts and service rooms on every floor are part of the central core.Terrace viewThree vertical crevicesOn the ground floor, the tower's three entranceshotel, residential, and commercialare arranged neatly and distinctively. Three vertical cracks in the volume (to the north, southeast, and southwest) are created by the floor plan's lobed geometry, and they make the ideal locations for the entrances.In keeping with the present Rozafa Hotel entrance and drop-off location, the hotel's access is located beneath the northern crevice. The commercial access is situated in front of the intersection of Kol Idromeno Street and Bulevard Sknderbeu, near the base of the southeast crevice.The apartments' private residential entry is located in the most remote region of the entire urban boundary, across Vilson Street, next to the garage ramp, through the lower portion of the southwest crevice."The residential areas of the tower are designed to offer comfort, and exceptional views in all directions. The apartments vary in size and layout, adapting to different needs and lifestyles. Each residential unit is oriented to maximize natural light and panoramic views, creating living spaces connected to the environment," the studio explained."The perimeter terraces are protected by usable railings and parasols to expand the interior uses and give each home a special place to enjoy the views, the sun and the breeze. Floors, walls and ceilings are covered with wood of different shades and textures, giving the interior an exceptional warmth.""The exterior skin is completely glazed to maximize views and natural light, but at the same time is protected from the exterior by cast shadows," the office added.Rooftop poolTower top Hotel: an oasis with panoramic viewsThe hotel, which offers luxurious rooms, suites, and amenities, occupies the highest level of the tower. At the highest levels of the tower, where a number of verdant gardens provide a comprehensive view of outside areas, the hotel's floors are spaced to create a rich and varied spatial experience.There are several different types of rooms and suites with varying views and orientations spread across the hotel's levels. Terraces, balconies, and steps connect the hotel's services to the outdoor areas.With their swimming pools and lounging spots, the tower's rooftop terraces provide a one-of-a-kind experience while taking in the breathtaking panoramic views.This area is intended to serve as an urban sanctuary where residents and hotel visitors can relax and have fun. The bottom floor provides access to meeting spaces, dining options, bars, and a sophisticated lobby. A two-story block joins the tower to the existing Rozafa hotel, making it easier for visitors to enter and providing a seamless, unified area.Interior viewA commercial socle for urban lifeCommercial use is planned for the tower's bottom level, which will house stores, cafes, and other retail establishments. This business district blends harmoniously with the city, offering locals and tourists a vibrant gathering place. In contrast to the remainder of the tower, this section's facade uses a sequence of translucent glazed broken surfaces that animate urban life and create a visual interplay between the inside and external. One of the project's main components is its connection to the current Rozafa hotel.Both buildings are connected by a two-story block, which facilitates a constant flow of people and services. In addition to benefiting hotel visitors, this integration enhances the area's tourism offerings by offering a more comprehensive and alluring experience.AccessSensibilitytiredly referred to as "sustainability" these daysis a guiding concept in the tower's design. The building could employ a number of strategies to lessen its environmental impact, such as: using recyclable and locally sourced materials to reduce its carbon footprint; using renewable energy systems, like heat pumps and geothermal, to meet its energy needs; using energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and water management technologies; and creating green spaces and landscaped terraces that enhance air quality and offer recreational areas.SitePlan schemeSolar diagramDiagramsAxonometric schemeGround level planCommercial level planHotel upper level planTypical housing floor panTypical housing floor panHotel pool floor planHotel Rooftop terraceHotel Rooftop roomsSectionModelSelgascano also won the first prize in an international competition to design an exhibition hall in Beijing, China. In addition, the firm and Diego Cano designed a house wrapped by recycled aluminum colourful tubes in Los Angeles hills in the United States.Project factsProject name:Rozafa TowerArchitects:Pablo Oriol, Fernando Rodrguez, Jos Selgas, Luca CanoFRPO:Adrin Snchez, Loreto MazariegosSelgascano:Paolo Tringali, Ins OlavarrietaLocation:Shkodr, AlbaniaConsultants:Mecanismo (engineering)Model:Gilberto Ruiz LopesArea: 39,000m2Date: July 2024All images Drawfield.All drawings Selgascano, FRPO.> via Selgascano