The Judges Awards

07.5 Rio de Janeiro

The Brazilian party capital is putting on its serious face as it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Public money has been poured into the Porto Maravilha redevelopment, which will boast Santiago Calatrava's Museum of Tomorrow, while elsewhere Christian de Portzamparc's Cidade da Música concert hall and Diller Scofidio + Renfro's Museum of Image and Sound are under construction. Former no-go areas Centro and Lapa now feature music venues and art galleries, and Botafogo has emerged as another nightlife hub. In the favelas, policing and new infrastructure are making an impact. All this in one of the most beautiful cities on earth.

New architecture: Cidade da Musica by Christian de Portzamparc

In progress: Museum of Image and Sound, by Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Porto Maravilha waterfront project, including a museum designed by Santiago Calatrava

Hotels: Oscar Niemeyer's Hotel Nacional is being renovated for 2014, while the Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista is financing a reborn Hotel Glória for 2011

Retail: In hip Leblon and Ipanema, independent fashion designers such as Gilda Midani have set up ateliers in private apartment blocks

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