In homage to the mammals, insects, birds and other wildlife of days past, Adjaye Associates has designed a spiraling Mass Extinction Memorial Observatory and education center. MEMO rises like a bee hive from the earth near Bowers Quarry on the Isle of Portland in England. The center is designed to be made from stone, and features stone carvings of 860 extinct animal species. Rising almost 100 feet into the air, the Mass Extinction Memorial Observatory will include an exhibition space, an information center, and an observatory. The project is designed for a site overlooking Bowers Quarry, which has been a source of Portland Stone since the 1700s. The spiraling structure emulates the ancient fossils of extinct gastropods that workers often find in the quarry. Images of 860 species that have become extinct since the dodo will be carved in relief on the surface of the stone facade. Inside, stone statues of the same 860 species will flank the spiraling inner floors that gradually ascend to the top of the structure in a gently sloping ramp. The center of the building will hold a "bell of biodiversity" that will morbidly be rung each time a new species becomes extinct. The exterior of the center will be made from recycled materials and local indigenous stone, emulating the sharp cliffs of the Isle of Portland.

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal says he is looking at the world's largest cities, including Shanghai, Moscow, London and New York, as possible locations to build a 1.6-kilometer - high skyscraper that would be the world's tallest building by far. The prince is inviting Dubai's biggest real estate developer Emaar Properties, chaired by Mohammed Alabbar, to team up with his investment firm Kingdom Holding on the project. Alwaleed did not say how the project would be financed if it went ahead, or when it might be completed. He said the cost had yet to be decided. But his ambition reflects the growing confidence of many Gulf companies as they expand overseas, aided by booming economies and rising asset prices in their home countries. He also added countries interested in hosting the world's tallest tower would have to offer attractive financing terms, tax breaks and other government support. Alabbar could not immediately be reached for comment. Over the past year, Emaar has committed itself to several other huge projects in Dubai and nearby countries. Industry experts have said building a 1.6 kilometer skyscraper would involve technical and design challenges, such as how to supply water economically at that height, but would not be impossible. If it is built, the 1.6 kilometer-high tower would surpass the world's current tallest skyscraper, the 828-meter Burj Khalifa in Dubai, as well as the 1 kilometer-high Kingdom Tower now being built by Kingdom Holding in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. The Kingdom Tower is expected to cost around US$ 1.2 billion and will form part of a hotel, retail and luxury residential project. The structure is expected to reach ground level by the end of this year and to be completed in 2017, said Talal Al Maiman, executive director at Kingdom Holding. About 30 percent of useable land in the overall project, which will have an area of about 5.3 million square meters, will be allocated to hotels. The remainder will be divided equally between retail and premium residential space, Al Maiman added. Kingdom Holding, which went public in 2007, has a market value of about $18.5 billion, making it one of the largest listed investment firms in the Middle East. Its assets include stakes in top Western firms such as Citigroup, News Corp and Twitter as well as luxury hotels around the world.

A huge new city for pilgrims covering an area of 1.6 million square meters with a capacity to handle 200 thousand visitors is being planned for Saudi Arabia's holy city in Madinah. The new city will be aimed at accommodating the large number of visitors who flock to the city to make Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The project will be based close to the Al Masjid Al Nabawi - the Prophet's Mosque and will include a number of hotels and furnished apartments, a railway and bus station, offices of government agencies and a 400-bed hospital. The project has been welcomed by Muslim organizations and state-owned Public Investment Fund will finance the project. Construction is expected to start during several months.

In preparation for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has hired architect Zaha Hadid to design a sprawling new soccer stadium. Hadid's studio will partner with AECOM to construct the stadium in Al Wakrah outside of Doha. Details of the design are still a bit fuzzy, but according to AECOM, the new stadium will integrate energy-efficient design strategies to cool spectators in the desert climate. The historic area of Al Wakrah is known for its rich cultural heritage, including archeological sites, Islamic architecture and historic buildings. The city sought a design that would not disrupt the legacy of the area. The stadium campus will seat 45 thousand soccer fans during games, but it can be reduced to 20 thousand using modular pieces that will repurpose seating areas for other uses. The stadium campus will infuse green space into the desert domain, creating lush forested areas for the community to enjoy. The forested perimeter will also help cool the area while producing fresh oxygen and helping to filter the air. However, it is worth noting that there are no details on what types of plants will be used, and what level of irrigation will be required in what remains a desert environment. The stadium itself will feature a perforated double skin, which is expected to filter in light and encourage cross breezes. Construction is set to begin this year. Zaha Hadid Architects has also been selected to design the new national stadium for Japan and was the firm behind the Aquatics Centre for the London 2012 Olympics, which recently had two temporary spectator stands removed from its sides.

Sochi will be the home for the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge. 440 meters long bridge in the new constructed Extreme Park on the road to the mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana will span over the gorge of Mzima River. Besides the bridge the Extreme Park will include a giant swing, two attractions named "Flying fox", restaurant, bar and parking for 300 cars. The entertainment complex is planned to be commissioned at the end of this year. Attractions like this are already successfully operating in Germany, France, China, Australia and Singapore.