Foster + Partners (F+P), working in conjunction with local Heller Manus Architects (HMA), has submitted plans for two skyscrapers in San Francisco’s financial district. The mixed-use development covers approximately 185,806sq m (2,000,000sq ft). Of the two towers to be constructed, the taller, standing at 260m (853ft) high, will feature housing, offices and a hotel; whereas, the smaller building, 185m (605 ft) will be purely residential. Lord Foster of F+P commented:

A large part of Eastbourne Pier was reduced to a burned out shell yesterday (30 July) after a blazing inferno tore through the Grade II-listed structure, destroying a significant amount of the visitor attraction. More than 60 firefighters tackled the fire, which is believed to have broken out in the 144-year old pier’s arcade building. Crews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from Eastbourne, Hastings and Newhaven were also

Mocked up for his project called ‘The Art of Diving,' Bulgarian-based designer Kristian Terziev has designed a new diving centre-cum-public space to showcase diving to the world. The centre, which would be located in the Bulgarian coastal city of Tsarevo, is space to reflect on the themes of water sports whilst being in close proximity to the ocean. As a working diving centre, the project allows divers to benefit from

Plans have been submitted for a £3.5bn ($5.9bn, €4.4bn) development in east London, to include an “innovation quarter” – allowing high-profile firms to showcase and engage with consumers through a range of bespoke education and entertainment space. Master planned by architectural firm Fletcher Priest, the development also includes 3,000 new homes, as well as a new landmark bridge connecting Silvertown Quays with the new Crossrail station at Custom House. It

A 760m (2,493 ft) long pedestrian walkway leading to the historic island of Mont Saint Michel - which boasts a castle, commune and abbey - was opened to the public on 22 July. Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes, an Austria-based practice, has designed the jetty to replace the 135-year-old structure that was there before. After nine years of research and three years of construction, the finished article is finally ready to be

George Lucas’ legacy project – the US$300m (€220m, £179m) Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMNA) – has revealed that Beijing-based MAD Architects has been selected as principal designer for the project, while Chicago-based Studio Gang will work on the landscape. In addition, VOA Associates, based in Chicago, will serve as the executive architect and lead the implementation of MAD’s design. Pending approval by the Chicago Plan Commission, Lucas' 95,000sq ft

Tayto Park – one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions – has had a planning application for a €25m (£19.8m, $33.6m) expansion and world-class roller coaster approved by the local council. Meath County Council granted permission to develop a new entrance, car parking and visitor facilities as well as the roller coaster and additional new rides. The wooden roller coaster, to be designed and built by US wood-coaster specialists Gravity

Britain’s first ‘floating village’ project in east London’s Royal Docks has edged closer to fruition, after Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced Carillion Igloo Genesis had won the competition to design and build the mixed-use scheme. Carillion Igloo Genesis – a consortium of the constructor Carillion, Igloo regeneration fund and Genesis Housing Association – will work off designs from co-architects dRMM and Marlies Rhomer to realise the Mayor’s ambition of

Aberdeen City Council is looking for construction firms to carry out a £30m (US$50.9m, €37.8m) revamp of the Scottish city’s art gallery. The local authority’s approved plans include the construction of a new rooftop gallery and the extension of the gallery’s iconic war memorial. “It's great to see the next step towards expanding the Art Gallery has been taken,” said council chair Dustin Macdonald in a statement. The council has

English Heritage has published new three-part draft guidance on good practice and planning in a historic environment. The guidance – to be consulted until 5 September – covers how planners should take heritage assets into account in local plan making, decision making and the setting of a heritage asset. The document has been drawn up by English Heritage working alongside the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the British Property

The Philippine Arena in Manila – said to be world’s largest indoor arena – is now open to the public. The 50,000 seat arena, designed by London-based sports architects Populous, was commissioned by Iglesia Ni Cristo (the Church of Christ) as a gift to the local community. It has been completed in time for the Church’s Centennial Celebration on 27 July 2015. The AUD $200m (US $187m, €140m, £110m) project,

Brighton, UK's, Hippodrome looks set to enjoy a new lease of life after Brighton & Hove City Council approved plans to transform the 117-year-old structure into a cinema and restaurant complex. Alaska Development Consultants is behind the £18m plans and – having been advised by Indigo Planning – will bring the Grade-II listed, ‘at risk’ building back into use, based on designs from Russ Drage Architects. The proposals include an

Final designs have been revealed for the planned new 60,000-capacity sports stadium in Perth, Australia. The bid to design the venue was won by a team featuring architects Cox Architecture, Hassell and HKS Sports and Entertainment Group. Cox Architecture director Alastair Richardson and Hassell director Peter Lee will act as joint principal architects. The multi-purpose stadium will be the new home to Aussie rules clubs Fremantle and West Coast Eagles

Plans have been unveiled for a £70m residential scheme in Coventry, with the site also potentially becoming host to a gym, restaurant, coffee shop, florist and a convenience store. Developers the Barberry Group have revealed their concept behind the long-awaited CV1 Bishop Gate scheme, which will see a Royal Mail sorting office demolished to make way for just over 400 luxury apartments. The project is going to be the first

London's Imperial War Museum (IWM) has marked the centenary of World War One with the reopening of its museum following the completion of the first phase of a larger £40m (US$68.3m, €50.5m) revamp of the entire facility. Opening to the public tomorrow (19 July), the first phase of the IWM's refurbishment was made possible with £6.5m (US$11.1m, €8.2m) in funding form the Heritage Lottery Fund (HFL) and £5m (US$8.5m, €6.3m)

London’s five-star Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel by Hyatt is the latest to embrace the growing trend of teaming hospitality offerings with the world of art, following the launch of its Room With A View project. The trend to combine hotels and art has also seen London offering The Beaumont Hotel – due to open later this year – work with award-winning artist Sir Anthony Gormley to create an iconic room

De Matos Ryan – a London based architectural firm – has been granted planning permission to go ahead with a £4.1m revamp of The York Theatre Royal, UK, while nearby Newcastle's Theatre Royal is also getting a makeover, albeit behind the scenes. After a large fundraising effort, the York project is now set to move forward with an onsite start date of March 2015 and a provisional completion date of

Rome’s long-awaited €250m, (US$340m, £198m) Cinecittà World theme park – designed by multiple-Oscar-winning production designer designer Dante Ferretti – will finally open its doors to the public on 24 July after a decade of delays. Conceived as Italy’s take on Universal Studios, Cinecittà World comprises 20 attractions, including roller coasters, dark rides and a flight simulator. Incorporating elements of science fiction, Bollywood, spaghetti westerns and many other themes from more

Leinster Rugby and The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) will undertake a €20m redevelopment of the RDS Arena in Dublin, increasing the venue’s capacity from 18,500 to 25,000. Following the work the stadium – which hosts all Leinster’s Pro12 and Heineken Cup home games – is expected to be included in Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The venue is also home to the RDS’ annual Dublin Horse

Despite Germany’s attempt at crushing Brazil’s spirits in the 2014 Fifa World Cup, the nation's love of football has not been completely kicked to the wayside as plans have been unveiled for the world’s first Football Entertainment Centre to be built in Rio De Janeiro, allowing Brazil’s football legacy and love affair with the beautiful game, to continue. To be constructed in the form of a giant football which will

Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners’ have completed their £135m (US$231m, €170m) extension to the British Museum, London. As one of the most popular visitor attractions in the world, the British Museum is a defining institution and its new World Conservation and Exhibition Centre has been a long time coming. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) won the contract for the extension in 2009 from a shortlist of top architectural practices,

Archiview, a Dutch architectural practice, has created a planetarium-come-cinema in Groningen, the Netherlands, with plans to open a further 20 across Europe in the near future. Called “Infoversum” and now open to the public, the structure is effectively a 3D theatre aimed at promoting science and knowledge. Films are projected on to the ceiling of the planetarium showing educational footage and visitors can experience a multi-dimensional view of the universe

The Mall of the World – a giant indoor ‘city’ under construction in Dubai – will have its own version of Oxford Street and Broadway, as well as galleons, waterfalls, a theme park, wellness district and a host of other leisure activities and attractions. The ‘city’, which has a giant retractable dome, is Dubai’s vision for a climate-controlled leisure district, including luxury hotels with more than 20,000 bedrooms, shops, entertainment

Washington's National Building Museum in the US has revealed its latest exhibition – a complex wooden maze designed by Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) which fills the large West Court of the museum’s Great Hall Taking inspiration from ancient labyrinths to european 17th-18th century hedge mazes, BIG has created a modern day riddle with the all important “great reveal” in the centre. At approximately 18ft (5.5m) high and

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP), Wakefield, UK, has taken home a £100,000 prize from The Art Fund after being announced the UK Museum of the Year by Art Fund – the national fundraising charity for art. YSP beat several other top museums to the prize, with the shortlist including; Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft in East Sussex, Hayward Gallery in London, The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, Sainsbury Centre for

The trend for new theme parks in China has continued with the announcement of the US$1.6bn (€1.2bn, £934m) Poseidon Ocean Kingdom in Harbin, Heilongjiang. Scheduled to open in July 2016, the park – backed and funded by the Malaysia-based KWZone Group – will be themed around stories of the Greek sea god Poseidon and will cover 1sq km (0.4sq m). Taylor Jeffs of US-based GGE, which is designing the visual

The historic former headquarters of the University of Durham in the UK could be converted into a luxury spa hotel under multi-million pound plans recently revealed by businessman Shaun Crawley. Crawley has purchased Old Shire Hall in the north of England with a view to create a 70-bedroom boutique hotel and spa, which he says will “rival the best in the area.” Plans are to transform the Grade II-listed Victorian