Hailed as “the most epic chip-building effort in the world,” the facility will be built in Grimes County, Texas. Vast in ambition and size, the “vertically integrated factory” will provide over nine million square metres of manufacturing space and host manufacturing, packaging, and testing processes.

Bringing these aspects together in one location will, the press release claimed, allow rapid improvements and deployment of chips optimized for products such as Tesla’s Optimus robots and “self-driving” Cybercabs, alongside those headed for SpaceX’s data centres in space.

The facility is required because, combined, SpaceX and Tesla are projected to require in excess of one terawatt (TW) of processing capacity or “compute,” which outstrips current global supply. At the same time as announcing the move, Musk explained “this looming gulf between supply and demand is at the core of Terafab’s necessity” and expressed appreciation for his current chip suppliers, encouraging them “to expand production whenever possible.”

Advanced chips are argued to be more and more essential to today’s economy, as AI systems, satellites, secure communications, and advanced manufacturing all rely on them. Musk’s press release notes that “much of the world’s semiconductor production remains concentrated overseas, and the United States has recognized the importance of rebuilding advanced manufacturing capacity domestically. Terafab aligns with that broader national effort by expanding high-end manufacturing capacity in Texas.”

Grimes is located in southeastern Texas, a place where historically, slave ownership was high, lynchings were common, and the population declined during the 20th century, when the county remained rural and agricultural. The facility will be built in the Gibbons Creek Reservoir area, on the former site of a steam electricity station. AI-produced renderings reveal two symmetrical U-shaped buildings ending in wing-like roofs, with a service road through the middle.

The confirmation of the plans on 6 August 2026 came two months after Grimes County lawmakers agreed a full property tax abatement package and €30 million state grant to secure trillionaire Musk’s investment. That is reported to represent an estimated $55 billion (over €47.6 billion) initially,  and could reach more than twice that. Some predict the factory will employ between 1,800 and 3,000 people.

But critics say those jobs are unlikely to be filled by local hires, and the project, and its wider sector, bring major sustainability challenges. There are growing environmental concerns about how resource-intensive semi-conductor chip manufacturing is, relying on massive amounts of ultrapure water, fossil-fuel-generated energy to power tools and climate and humidity control, as well as processes that involve fluorinated greenhouse gases, like nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), which has a global warming potential 17,000 times greater than CO₂.

Terafab approximate size comparison between Giga Texas, the Pentagon, Apple Park, and the Mall of America.

There has never been a building this large. Elon Musk says it will be the most valuable building by far. pic.twitter.com/GCmpfeduJn

— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) August 6, 2026

According to a paper published at 2021’s IEEE International Symposium on High-Performance Computer Architecture, the semiconductor manufacturing sector alone is responsible for around 50 megatons of CO₂ emissions annually.

On top of that, Musk’s controversial personal brand is already making itself felt locally. Business owners in Anderson, 10 minutes from the Gibbons Creek site, expressed fear about telling news station ABC13 Houston their true feelings about the project, saying their opinions would drive customers away. Patty Schroeder, who moved in from Houston, told ABC she appreciates the location’s “peace and quiet” and “wide open spaces” and said: “change is coming.”

L’article Elon Musk to build world’s largest building in rural Texas est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Its official name is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, after the young Ottoman ruler who commissioned it, but its popular nickname comes from the dazzling blue Iznik tiles that decorate its vast interior. More than 20,000 handcrafted tiles, combined with hundreds of windows that fill the prayer hall with natural light, create the tranquil blue glow that has become synonymous with the mosque.

Standing on Istanbul’s historic peninsula opposite Hagia Sophia, the mosque occupies one of the city’s most significant locations. The surrounding area was once the political and ceremonial heart of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, home to the ancient Hippodrome and close to Topkapi Palace. Sultan Ahmed designed the mosque as the centrepiece of a much larger complex that included a theological school, charitable kitchens, shops, a hospital, and his own mausoleum.

What truly sets the Blue Mosque apart, however, are its six slender minarets.

When construction began in 1609, Sultan Ahmed I was 19 years old. The Ottoman Empire was still one of the world’s great powers, but the young ruler had not achieved the military victories that traditionally justified the construction of an imperial mosque on such a grand scale. Even before the building was completed in 1616, its ambitious design was attracting attention.

The greatest controversy was about the number of minarets. Ottoman imperial mosques typically featured up to four, but Sultan Ahmed ordered six, giving his new mosque a silhouette unlike any other in the empire.

The decision caused widespread criticism because the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam’s holiest sanctuary, also had six minarets at the time. Many believed the new mosque appeared to place itself on the same level as the sacred site, and critics accused the young sultan of excessive ambition.

According to long-standing Ottoman tradition, the controversy was resolved when Sultan Ahmed financed the construction of a seventh minaret at the mosque in Mecca, restoring its unique status while allowing Istanbul’s new imperial mosque to retain its six distinctive towers.

Beyond the debate, the Blue Mosque represented the height of classical Ottoman architecture. Designed by Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, a pupil of the legendary architect Mimar Sinan, it blended Byzantine engineering influences with Ottoman design, taking inspiration from nearby Hagia Sophia while creating an identity all its own. Its cascading domes, spacious courtyard, and harmonious proportions have defined Istanbul’s skyline for more than four centuries.

Following an extensive six-year restoration completed in 2023, the Blue Mosque continues to welcome worshippers and visitors alike, and is open to guests from 8am to 7pm, completely free. Tourist entry pauses five times daily though, for about 90 minutes for prayers. Silence should be maintained and men must cover shoulders and knees, while women, also require a head covering (scarves are supplied if needed).

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Inside, visitors can admire intricate floral motifs, stained-glass windows, and enormous chandeliers that were once illuminated by oil lamps. Some still display ostrich eggs, traditionally believed to discourage spiders from weaving webs around the lights.

Sultan Ahmed I died in 1617 at just 27 years of age, only a year after his great mosque was completed. Although his reign was brief, the monument he left behind has endured as one of the world’s finest examples of Ottoman architecture. The mosque’s six minarets, once the subject of fierce debate, are now among Istanbul’s most recognizable landmarks and a lasting symbol of the city’s rich religious, cultural and architectural heritage.

L’article Istanbul’s Blue Mosque: the story behind the six minarets that changed the city skyline est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Located at Hudson Yards in New York City, Edge NYC is known as the highest indoor/outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. The deck offers unparalleled 360-degree views of New York City’s iconic skyline and features a glass floor, angled glass walls, and outdoor skyline steps from the 100^th to the 101^st floor of 30 Hudson Yards.

Since June 2026, seven new art installations have been introduced on-site, all of them inspired by the building itself.

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“We examined what already made Edge NYC so distinctive: its angular and triangular architecture, its use of glass and light, and its powerful vantage point to offer visitors new perspectives of New York City – both physically and mentally. From this foundation – and the visual language of triangles and prismatic energy – the strategic process enabled us to set and safeguard the experiential vision,” Olivia Reid, strategy and creative lead at experience agency Journey who oversaw the project, told architectural magazine Dezeen.

The seven installations include Pulse, using over 350 luminous spheres to give all visitors a unique visiting experience, and Skyrise, a fully immersive elevator experience. All were created by design studios Softlab and Moment Factory to engage visitors in every season and in all weather conditions, with a journey that evolves throughout the day.

One of the most impressive installations is Kaleidoscope, made by Moment Factory and said to be the largest kaleidoscope in New York City. During their visit, art enthusiasts are immersed in a continuously changing sensation of light, color, sound, and reflection.

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“The goal was to design an interior experience that acts as a mirror to the city’s dynamic nature. By treating the space as a prism that refracts New York’s radiant energy, we provide a distinct sensory engagement that complements the outdoor sky deck before visitors even step outside.; The installation was designed to function as a multifaceted prismatic space, integrating digital media with highly reflective architectural surfaces,” Moment Factory creative director Patrick Bisson said in an interview with Dezeen.

Aside from NYC’s biggest kaleidoscope, Edge now also welcomes a series of smaller versions. One of those was designed in such a way as to to connect directly with the fabric of the city. Based on the aesthetics of street photography, the installation reflects “urban textures and architectural geometry, interspersed with iconic landmarks”.

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The newest additions to Edge NYC also include the Skyline Bar & Cafe by Tao, where visitors can premium food and beverages inspired by New York City’s culinary staples, and the Peak with Priceless and Avenue Sky Lounge, managed by Tao Group Hospitality – located one level above Edge.

Tickets for Edge NYC can be bought online, with prices starting at $34 (€30) not including booking fees when booked at least 14 days in advance.

L’article New York’s largest kaleidoscope opens 350 metres above Manhattan est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Dutch architecture studio MVRDV won an international competition to design the spectacular €240 million landmark. Dubbed Rotterdam Rocks, their proposal consists of seven giant eco-friendly boulders stacked on top of each other.

Chantal Zeegers, Rotterdam’s alderwoman for Climate, Building and Housing, welcomed the project, saying it reflected the city’s commitment to becoming greener and more climate-resilient.

The project saw off competition from proposals by Heatherwick Studio, Mecanoo, Office for Political Innovation and Ecosistema Urbano. The jury, which included Zaha Hadid Foundation director Aric Chen and UNStudio founder Ben van Berkel, described MVRDV’s concept as “remarkably bold”.

The 30,000-square-metre structure comprises seven differently sized boulder-like blocks stacked on top of one another, much like giant cairns. Four form the base, with two perched above them on either side, and a larger central block crowning the structure. Three entrances provide access at ground level, while an open terrace on the second level will feature gardens and a public promenade.

The rounded façades are punctured with dozens of circular windows that make the giant stones look like meteorites that have landed in Rotterdam. Each façade will be fitted with pockets for soil, water, plants and local wildlife, completing the moss-covered stone effect.

Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV, told Dezeen that the concept grew out of “the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to create inclusive spaces for people, trees, plants, water, air and animal habitats, balancing the need for new built spaces with new landscapes to offset our ecological impact”.

While the exterior is unusual, the interior promises to be even more unexpected.

The seven ‘boulders’ are arranged around two circulation routes and a 5,000-square-metre network of immersive exhibition caves featuring art, history and imagined futures exhibitions.

“Our design integrates these human and natural spaces, playing with porosity to keep the project compact while maximising its ecological value,” added Maas.

Plans for the centre include a food court and a 250-room hotel, as well as dedicated spaces for education, business events and community gatherings.

A public walkway will wind all the way around the building to the rooftop, where ‘The Elysium’ will offer visitors views of the Maas River and the city beyond.

The competition was launched by Shift, a Rotterdam-based social enterprise that finances public projects tackling global challenges. Participants were asked to imagine a “new world wonder” that would double as their “embassy,” while also encouraging people to care more about the climate crisis.

Shift founder Don Ritzen said the building is intended to encourage people to think about the role they can play in shaping the future through “wonder, curiosity, and imagination”.

“Our goal is to empower every visitor to take ownership in building a brighter future,” said Ritzen. “We want to show that everyone can live a better, more sustainable life by making small, incremental changes to their daily habits.”

The building is set to be constructed in the upcoming Waterkant district on the south bank of the Maas. This new sustainable neighbourhood is planned to include 3,500 eco-homes, schools, cultural spaces, a train station and offices.

Rotterdam Rocks is expected to become a major cultural destination, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the district each year. No opening date has yet been announced.

L’article The Flintstones meet the future in Rotterdam’s newest landmark est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Designed by Studio Fuksas, one of Italy’s most prominent architectural practices, and designed to act like a periscope for the city, the complex was built between 2010 and 2012 in the Georgian capital’s central Rike Park. Its two steel-and-glass tubes were intended to house a 566-seat music theatre and an exhibition hall.

Commissioned in 2011 under then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, it was part of a sweeping urban-renewal drive that brought in international architects to remake Tbilisi’s skyline and project the image of a Western-facing capital in the years after the 2003 Rose Revolution. The project was, however, abandoned when Saakashvili’s United National Movement lost the 2012 parliamentary election to the Georgian Dream coalition.

After several unsuccessful auctions, the Rike complex was eventually bought by a property developer in 2022 for approximately ₾10 million (€3.2 million), having reportedly already cost the public purse ₾75 million (€25 million). It changed hands again in 2025 when it was sold to its current owner, Makro Constructions. The tragic accidental death of a teenager that same year on the abandoned site drew fresh public attention and pushed the demolition on the agenda.

Makro Constructions has now received permission from Tbilisi’s municipal architecture department to demolish the building by 25 December 2026.

Resembling the tentacles of a metallic octopus reaching toward the river, or perhaps the gigantic, mirrored antennae of a snail, the building gave this part of Tbilisi an unmistakable silhouette. Known internationally as the “Rike Tubes” or, less charitably by the locals, as the “Rike Jugs,” reception was divided from the start. Some saw them as a rare foothold for Tbilisi in international avant-garde architecture, while officials never hid their distaste.

Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze, who told Inter Press News the building was private property that was “absolutely non-functional”. He said the structure had fallen into disrepair, calling it “a garbage dump, in a very bad condition”.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was blunter, declaring in May 2025: “I am not an architect, but I think this ugliness is unworthy of our beautiful capital.”

No replacement project has been announced, though a government decree has left room for a hotel on the site. The mayor said he was waiting for a new project to be presented to city hall, adding that given the site’s importance, any future development would need to suit its surroundings.

In a statement issued to Dezeen, Studio Fuksas said it had spent the past year trying, unsuccessfully, to reach Tbilisi officials and the building’s owners with proposals to preserve and repurpose it. The firm argues that demolition would consume further public money; the building was originally funded by the city, rather than capitalise on the investment already made.

“Tbilisi still has the opportunity to transform an unfinished project into a symbol of regeneration, innovation, and international openness. Let this opportunity not be wasted”, they urged in their statement.

It wouldn’t be the first Georgian landmark to end up half-ruin, half-metaphor: our earlier look at Tskaltubo, the country’s abandoned Soviet spa town, traced a similar arc from utopian ambition to political abandonment to slow decay.

Some see the Rike demolition as one more visible symbol of Georgia’s post-Rose Revolution turn toward Europe, torn down under a government widely seen as steering the country back toward Moscow. Others point out that a vacant building on prime parkland in the city centre was always going to come down eventually, politics aside.

L’article Tbilisi’s futuristic Fuksas concert hall set for demolition after never opening est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The ambitious project, which combines the renovation of the existing building with the construction of a 260-metre tower, has been entrusted to Swiss architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron. The firm is known for landmarks such as London’s Tate Modern, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium, and for its approach of adapting existing structures rather than erasing them.

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“Rather than altering its identity, the project seeks to strengthen its relationship with the city and its public realm”, as the studio put it.

The building is centrally situated, sitting on Tirana’s main ceremonial axis, close to Mother Teresa Square, the University of Tirana, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other major state institutions.

The architects plan to preserve the identity of the original Palace of Congresses, designed by Albanian architect Klement Kolaneci and completed in 1986 during the final years of the country’s communist regime. The intervention on the historic building will remain deliberately restrained, focusing mainly on opening it up to the surrounding city and improving its connection with public space.

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A new “Palace Garden” will replace the building’s more formal surroundings, creating a more accessible urban gathering place. The new green space is expected to host public events and become a popular meeting point for residents and visitors.

Behind the existing structure, the new tower will rise above the capital, housing offices and a hotel. The building has been designed as a sculptural landmark and is described by Herzog & de Meuron as being “shaped by vernacular logic”. It boasts an angular, faceted form with a mesh-like façade and truncated upper floors, contrasting with the horizontal lines of the old congress hall below.

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The two structures will be connected through a new stylobate – the large, raised base at the foot of the tower built above the existing building – designed to link the historic palace with the new vertical extension while creating additional shared spaces.

The renovation will also include the Palace’s main wood-lined concert hall, which will accommodate around 2,100 people, alongside upgrades aimed at adapting the venue to contemporary cultural and public uses.

The project is the latest example of Albania’s rapidly evolving identity. Over the past decade, the Albanian capital has attracted international architects and experimented with bold urban projects, while also confronting the legacy of decades of isolation under Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship.

Rather than demolishing its difficult past, Albania has increasingly chosen to transform it. The former residence of dictator Enver Hoxha has become an art and cultural space, while the country’s infamous bunkers, once symbols of paranoia and isolation, have found new lives as museums, cafés and tourist attractions.

With the Palace of Congresses project, Tirana continues this balancing act between memory and reinvention, turning another relic of its past into part of its future.

L’article Tirana to modernize communist-era Palace of Congresses and build 260-meter skyscraper est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

But aside from being holiday relics, buildings genuinely affect how city residents feel, according to a 2025 study of more than 2,000 respondents. Seventy-five percent said buildings had at least some impact on their wellbeing, and 49% admitted to smiling when they walked past “interesting buildings”.

While the study did not establish a direct correlation between building height and smile size, it was enough to prompt Radical Storage, a global luggage storage network operating in over 500 cities worldwide, to conduct further research and develop an index of the world’s top skylines.

From Shenzhen to New York via Dubai, its new ranking might help travellers decide where to go next, or which skyline to frame next.

The ranking weighs five categories: total skyscrapers over 150 metres (30%), the average height of a city’s ten tallest buildings (25%), nighttime skyline visibility (25%), skyline density (15%) and award-winning skyscrapers (5%). Radical Storage scored the top 100 cities listed by the Skyscraper Center, which ranks urban areas according to their number of buildings over 150 metres, before narrowing the field down to a top ten.

“Together, these weighted factors assess the height, visibility, and design of each skyline to reveal those that offer the most memorable urban experience,” the Radical Storage team explained.

China emerges as the big winner, taking six of the ten spots, with Shenzhen claiming first place.

Bordering Hong Kong, Shenzhen and its 679 buildings over 150 metres have built their reputation on speed. The city’s skyline grew so quickly that the term “Shenzhen speed” was coined in the 1980s during the construction of the Guomao Building, when workers reportedly completed one floor every three days. The former fishing town has since transformed into a global technology hub, and the Ping An Finance Centre now stands at 599 metres.

The other Chinese cities in the top ten are Hong Kong (3^rd), Wuhan (yes, that Wuhan) in 5^th place, Guangzhou (6^th), Shanghai (7^th) and Chongqing (joint 9^th).

Probably not what you would expect, when skylines usually bring to mind cities like Dubai, which lands a healthy second place thanks to its 32 supertall towers, including the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 829.8 metres. New York takes fourth place, with the most award-winning skyscrapers of any city on the list, 20 in total, headlined by the Empire State Building, star of everything from King Kong to Elf.

Hong Kong’s dense skyline has played a starring role in Godzilla vs. Kong and The Dark Knight, where Batman famously leaps from the Two International Finance Centre. Shanghai’s Bank of China Tower had its own Hollywood moment in Mission: Impossible III, while Tokyo, tied for ninth with Chongqing, has been a backdrop for Godzilla films since the very first one.

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Ultimately, however, a great skyline is not just about how high or densely a city can build, but how it stays in people’s minds and affects those living beneath it day after day. After all, cities that reach the highest into the clouds are not necessarily those topping global happiness rankings, and the true measure of a place probably goes far beyond its towers.

L’article Shenzhen tops ranking of the world’s best skylines in 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Trump Organization has teamed up with architecture studio Gensler and Biograpi Living, Archi Group, The Sapir Organization, Blox Group, and Finvest Georgia to develop a new Trump Tower project in Tbilisi, Georgia. It will be the first Trump-branded project in the region, including a business centre, a hotel, luxury housing, retail shopping, dining, and a range of entertainment options.

“The Trump name is synonymous with some of the most luxurious real estate developments in the world, and Trump Tower Tbilisi stands as a continuation of that legacy. We are proud to bring this globally recognised standard of excellence to Georgia and are especially pleased to collaborate with such respected and professional developers on this project,” said Eric Trump, EVP of The Trump Organization.

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In the first image, Gensler has revealed a general overview of the site. The development, which will be located next to Tbilisi’s Central Park on an area spanning over 600,000 square metres, will count six towers. One of those will be a 70-storey Trump skyscraper with a rooftop garden, set to become Georgia’s tallest building. Additional details about the development, including architecture, design, and sales information, should be announced in the coming months, as per the Trump Organization.

“Georgia has long been a nation shaped by a rich historical legacy and bold ambition. With Trump Tower Tbilisi, we are bringing that ambition to life in its most iconic form – creating a landmark that will transform the skyline and elevate Georgia’s presence on the global stage. Together with the Trump Organization, Archi is proud to play a key role in shaping its future as a premier destination for global investment and luxury living,” stated Ilia Tsulaia, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Archi Group.

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Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, counts approximately 1 million residents at the moment of writing, representing about a third of the country’s total population. Over the past few years, the city has been attracting new inhabitants, making it a popular bet for property developers. According to the press release, the Trump Tower Tbilisi “signals the city’s emergence as a key business hub and gateway to international business in Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as its growing profile among global buyers of luxury properties.”

“Collaborating with the Trump Organization is a distinct honour for our group. This landmark development reflects robust international confidence and creates enduring value for the market. We are proud to participate in such a defining milestone in Georgia’s economic evolution,” commented Lasha Kvachadze, Co-founder of Blox Group.

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The Trump Organization, owned by U.S. President Donald Trump and run by his son Eric Trump, already has an international portfolio. Residential towers can be found throughout the U.S., India, and Uruguay, while new projects are being developed in Romania, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia. Plans for the Trump International Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, however, were cancelled in February 2026.

L’article New Trump Tower planned for Georgia with design by Gensler est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Kruunuvuorensilta bridge not only stands as Finland’s longest at 1,191 metres across, but also marks a new record for the country’s tallest at 135 metres, beating the highest residential building by one metre. It connects the waterfront residential neighbourhood with the island of Korkeasaari, the district of Laajasalo, and central Helsinki.

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City mayor Daniel Sazonov said: “Kruunuvuorensilta bridge is the new, unique and exciting landmark for Helsinki. A sight that will draw visitors from near and far. The new bridge reshapes how we look at Helsinki. It attaches the areas of Kruunuvuorenranta and Laajasalo in a completely new way to the larger central city area. The bridge reflects our commitment to sustainable solutions and embraces Helsinki’s unique maritime setting.”

Started in 2021 and coming in at a cost of around €326 million, according to official figures, the bridge now cuts the distance between neighbouring city districts by nearly six kilometres, and by 2030, it is predicted to be serving around 23,000 tram trips and 3,750 cycling trips per day. Work on a light rail system is ongoing.

@markhactar #helsinki #finland #suomi #kruunusilta #urban ♬ Eshgam (Love) – Khrystalist

Helsinki is implementing a long-term vision to prioritise public transport, walking and cycling in urban mobility. The majority of journeys in Helsinki are made using sustainable modes: around 41% on foot, 25% by public transport and 11% by bike, while only about 20% are made by car.

With a design life of 200 years, Kruunuvuorensilta aims to boost tram and active mobility for future generations. The bridge’s sustainability credentials can also be seen in a carbon footprint of approximately 129,000 tCO₂e, of which 76% originates from construction and 24% from operation and maintenance over a 50-year period. Emissions have been reduced through the use of low-emission materials and renewable energy sources.

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The structure also features weather-proofing approaches suited to Helsinki’s cold, coastal location, with stay cables that the wind keeps in constant, slight motion, preventing ice formation. Combined with a special coating, it means the bridges can shiver away flakes of ice as they form. Like the best of Finnish design, in a country known for the happiness of its citizens, it combines practicality with a sense of fun and joy, with different colours of LED lighting up at different times of day.

For fans of Finnish architecture, one of the oldest indoor swimming pools in the Nordics re-opened in the capital earlier this year, combining Classicism and Art Deco and offering not just a place to do laps, but a heritage taste of Finland’s sauna culture.

L’article Helsinki inaugurates world’s longest pedestrian bridge capable of shivering away its own ice est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A mock-up submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) by Harrison Design shows the “Arc de Trump” rising to 250 feet (76 metres) – a nod to the US’s 250^th anniversary – and being topped by a 60-foot (18-metre) golden, winged Lady Liberty. She is flanked by two 24-foot (7-metre) eagles and guarded by four lions. The inscriptions “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be carved across opposite sides of the monument.

If approved, the monument, which Trump intends to resemble its French counterpart, would tower over both the US Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. However, its scale has drawn strong opposition, including a lawsuit from a group of Vietnam War veterans, who argue that it would obstruct long-established sightlines and “block historically significant reciprocal views”. This sight-line axis was originally designed to represent the post-Civil War reconciliation of North and South.

The Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled to review the latest plans on 16 April. The panel is responsible for approving major federal design projects in the capital and has come under scrutiny after Trump dismissed all six previous commissioners last year and replaced them with appointees who are perceived to be more aligned with his administration.

The Trump administration has described the arch as “one of the most iconic landmarks, not only in Washington, DC, but throughout the world”.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said that the proposed location near the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, would serve as a “visual reminder of the noble sacrifices made by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history, enabling us to enjoy our freedoms today”.

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— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 10, 2026

This idea echoes Trump’s remarks last year that “every time somebody rides over that beautiful bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, they say that something should be there”.

On social media, Trump described the project as “the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World”, adding that it would be “a wonderful addition to the Washington DC area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come”.

Online reactions have been equally sharp. Some users have dismissed the project outright, calling it “sickening”, while others have criticised the timing, pointing to the financial and human costs of ongoing conflicts, including tensions with Iran, as well as broader concerns over inflation and public spending.

Americans can't afford groceries, rent, medication, childcare, clothing…. trump wants to waste money on a gawdy tribute to himself.

— JEANNIE (@WorldPeace33334) April 10, 2026

Costs have not yet been disclosed and are “still being calculated”. Early funding plans include $2 million from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), plus up to $13 million in matching contributions – a far cry from Trump’s earlier assertion that the project would be entirely privately funded and that any leftover White House ballroom funds would be redirected to the arch.

The arch forms only one part of a broader set of monumental ambitions. A controversial White House ballroom, which was approved by federal bodies before being halted by a judge following legal challenges, remains in limbo. Trump has also revived plans for a National Garden of American Heroes – another large-scale project aimed at reshaping the capital’s commemorative landscape.

L’article Trump unveils ‘Arc de Trump’ plan in Washington DC amid backlash est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.