The project submitted by the architectural firms TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten and Barcode Architects won first place in the competition to develop Stadtforum—a new administrative center for the city of Dresden. This project was presented as part of the revitalization of the area around the historic Ferdinandplatz square in central Dresden.
The new building, spanning approximately 35,000 m², will consolidate administrative services that were previously scattered throughout the city into an easily accessible central location. Located opposite the historic town hall and facing extensive green areas and transport hubs to the east, the building marks the boundary of Dresden's historic center.
Furthermore, it serves as a pilot project for future urban development on a site that has been unused since 1945. The building's volume layout follows the trajectory of the surrounding streets in a straight line extending northeast, forming a new polygonal square to the south.
The facade is horizontally divided into a plinth, the main body, and the roof, each serving a specific function. Vertical modulation is present on all floors, creating vertically proportioned openings characteristic of the region, arranged in an asymmetrical pattern. On the northwest side, the volume narrows, forming a pointed projection.
Large cutouts in the facades act as 'windows to the city' on each of the three sides of the building. The main entrance on the south side, at Ferdinandplatz, is marked by an opening with a glass envelope and double ceiling height. A panoramic window on the first floor of the north facade offers a view of the historic town hall directly opposite. An internal park with trees features an opening from the second to the fourth floor, connecting to the green areas in the southern part of the city center.
The entire facade impresses with its plasticity: the play of shadows on the light beige Dietfurt limestone is particularly pronounced on the plinth and main body. The graphically uniform coloring of the material was chosen as a reference to the sandstones of the facades of main buildings in the district. The city's coat of arms is depicted in relief on the stone surrounds and window panels on both the first floor and the main body. These elements emphasize the rhythmic diversity of the facade, indicate the public function of the building, and echo Dresden's tradition of richly ornamented facades in public buildings.
Above the natural stone section, where the cladding surfaces are arranged diagonally, the fifth and sixth floors feature a metal facade structure with orthogonal orientation. Here, glass panels alternate with opaque closures framed by aluminum profiles with a bronze-brown coating. Visibility into the interior spaces is only possible from a direct frontal view; from a more oblique viewing angle or while moving through the urban environment, these upper floors merge into a continuous roof plane that is precisely level with the prominent silhouette of the historic town hall located in front of the building.
The entertainment world is undergoing significant changes: major stars who once dominated television shows are giving way to content creators. The show 'Lock Up' is a prime example of this, where all the success rests on the shoulders of influencers. It is these digital creators who provide the show with its main content and ratings, while well-known figures from the TV world end up playing secondary roles.
Influencer Shreya Kalara caused a sensation in 'Lock Up', being extremely active from day one. Her constant provision of content, as well as conflicts with Akankha Choudhary, generated huge public interest and led to a surge in ratings. Shreya plays aggressively, disregarding others' opinions, although her performance sometimes crosses the line of decency. Nevertheless, her strong performance attracted the attention of Farhan Khan and Ritesh Deshmukh.
On the other hand, YouTuber Varun Yadav, known as 'Laila', became the best performer in 'Lock Up 2'. His witty remarks and fun style entertain the fans. Laila's flirting with Pamela from Dubai and Akankha Chamola adds freshness to the show. Yogesh also created a lot of buzz, although he unfortunately left 'Lock Up'. Overall, it is the content creators who provided the show with the highest number of ratings and material.
In contrast, major television stars proved ineffective in 'Lock Up'. They demonstrated both a lack of desire to participate and disinterest in promoting the show. The synergy between Shivangi Joshi and Diraj Dhumal, who previously captured millions of hearts on TV, proved unsuccessful from the start. Diraj often looked confused, not understanding the essence of the game, while Shivangi remained passive, only crying at times.
Popular actor Harshad Chopra also showed no competitive spirit. He limited himself to the role of Shivangi's caring companion in the show. Shreya Kalara called Shivangi, Harshad, and Diraj Dhumal 'tourists', believing that these three stars came to the show just to relax. The audience's opinion aligns with Shreya's.
Even top TV star Ram Kapoor was initially quite cold regarding his participation in the game, often showing a desire to go home. Farhan Khan tried to liven up Ram Kapoor's personality in the show, repeatedly convincing him, but he ignored all attempts. Although he became slightly more active in recent days.
However, this is not the first instance where social media influencers have outperformed experienced TV stars. In 'Big Boss', we have repeatedly seen content creators Elvis Yadav, Abhishek Malhan, and Manish Rani become the brightest participants of their seasons, setting records due to their gameplay and fan support.
One reason for this phenomenon is that TV actors are often shy about revealing themselves on camera, constantly worrying about their image. Unlike them, influencers are freer and bolder because they understand that they need to create content to gain popularity. While TV stars are already famous, they try to protect their image, so they avoid deep self-disclosure in reality shows, which leads to their lagging behind.
The musical talents of the Kemradj family will be a central event at the upcoming Red Mango Arts Festival, which will take place from July 22 to 27 at the Sassridge College in Durban.
This second iteration of the festival is the brainchild of renowned South African actor and director Rajesh Gopi. It promises a dynamic blend of theatrical performances, musical concerts, and spoken word acts, while celebrating South Africa's rich heritage and fostering youth development.
On July 23rd at 7:30 PM, Vishin, along with brothers Vaahir and Vihaan Kemradj, will perform with the program 'Sufis, Mystics and Qawali.' This presentation is viewed not merely as a family event but as a deeper connection to their cultural roots.
Vaahir, aged 18 and recognized for his roles in the films Kandasamys, shared how music has influenced his life. He noted that he has been involved in music since the age of seven. Performing as a singer, he stated: 'It is not just entertainment, but a profound experience.'
His mother, Vireka Kemradj, introduced him to the harmonium at the age of three, and his father continued to develop his musical abilities. Although Vaahir was initially more inclined towards drama and acting, his passion for music led him to embrace his family's musical legacy.
He recounted performing for the first time at age seven, singing a bhajan written by his mother—Satya Sai—which he performed in various Satya Sai temples. Vaahir added that he cannot recall a time when he wasn't a musician and singer, and that he has been performing since seven years old, although he still considers himself a novice professional.
Vaahir mentioned listening to many musical styles, but his favorite remains Shastriya Sangeet. He explained that Shastriya Sangeet encompasses two streams: Hindustani classical and Carnatic music. Hindustani classical is distinguished by covering everything from light music to heavy classical, and it is highly spiritual, requiring great concentration and repeated systematic practice (riyaz).
In Vaahir's opinion, Sufi music represents an 'abstract thought' that transcends a mere genre. He emphasized that a true connection with music demands a deep understanding of the text's meaning; otherwise, one risks missing the opportunity for a passionate performance. He also noted the humility that music teaches him: 'The more you think you know, the less you actually comprehend.'
He performs alongside his younger brother Vihaan, a 13-year-old singer who also plays guitar and dholak. Vihaan started singing at four years old and became one of the youngest dholak performers in the country at nine. Vaahir's father, Vishin, is a renowned South African musician.
Vishin, founder of Taal Music, has performed with famous African jazz musicians such as Lou Daminy, Madala Kunene, and Mabuso, as well as Indian artists including Sunidhi Chauhan, Kumar Sanu, and Sukhwinder Singh. He plays tabla and harmonium.
The event also features other activities, including a comedy night with Jayloshni Naidu and friends on July 24th at 8:00 PM, and the Global Ballie monologue by Kurt Egelhof, scheduled for July 25th at 5:30 PM. The festival will also offer food, outdoor relaxation areas, books for sale, exhibitions, and displays. Further information can be found on the website webtickets.co.za.
This overview of historical events that occurred on July 21 presents various moments related to destructions, scientific discoveries, and significant milestones in world history.
In 356 BCE, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was burned down. Of the original seven wonders, only the Great Pyramids of Giza remain today, unlike the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Temple of Artemis, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
In 365 BCE, a powerful earthquake off the coast of Crete raised the island and triggered tsunamis along the coasts of Libya and Egypt. Thousands of people died as a result of this disaster, and in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, the destruction was so massive that the event has been called the 'day of terror' for centuries.
In 1816, Baron Paul Julius von Reuters, founder of the Reuters news agency, was born in Germany under the name Israel Ber Yosephat. In 1853, Central Park was created in New York after over 300 hectares of land were allocated on Manhattan Island.
In 1901, Cape Town registered three cases of bubonic plague. In 2025, an investigation into the alleged assassination of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli in Grootville in 1967 concluded that he was killed by the police.
In 1973, Israeli agents mistakenly killed a Moroccan waiter, believing him to be involved in the Munich Olympic Games attacks. In 1978, the world's strongest dog, an 80 kg German Shepherd, demonstrated the ability to pull 2909 kg over a distance of 27 meters.
The world record for the lowest temperature, recorded at -89.2°C, was set in Vostok, Antarctica, in 1983. In 1999, gold medalist Sergio Mosouaneng admitted to cheating, allowing his brother to run part of the Komrades Marathon for him.
In 2005, four suicide bombers attacked London's public transport system two weeks after the July 7th attacks; however, none of the four bombs detonated. In 2021, China unveiled the world's fastest train, capable of reaching speeds of 600 km/h, in the city of Qingdao.
In 2023, a two-thousand-year-old stone slab used for grinding spices was discovered in Southern Vietnam. This find is the earliest evidence of the appearance of curry in Southeast Asia and still retains the scent of nutmeg.
In 2025, 28 countries, including the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the Israeli war in Gaza, noting that civilian suffering has reached 'new depths.'
