This week we reported that Neom has already cost "more than $50 billion"

This week on Dezeen, we reported that Saudi Arabia had already spent $50 billion “building the basic infrastructure” of the Neom mega project.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum conference in Davos, the project’s deputy CEO Rayan Fayez gave an update of progress on the project, which includes the planned The Line city.

“It’s important to highlight where we are today,” he said. “More than $50 billion has been spent so far building the basic infrastructure.”

We also turned our attention to developments happening in Albania, where we investigated why so many unusual skyscrapers are being built in Tirana?

As part of the trend, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura unveiled a silo-like skyscraper in the city, which was informed by its La Fábrica headquarters.

In the USA, president Donald Trump signed an executive order that would end the federal use of paper straws and encourage consumers to switch back to plastic.

Following the announcement, we rounded up ten plastic alternatives, including a type of clingfilm made from potato peels and edible packaging made from seaweed.

We also looked back to last week’s Stockholm Design Week, with the Dezeen team picking our favourite products from the event in the Swedish capital.

Among the 12 standout launches we selected were a demountable sofa, a “future classic” lamp and furniture made from the pruned branches of historic 300-year-old Linden trees (pictured).

In Italy, Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 curator Carlo Ratti announced details of the upcoming event, saying that “there’s going to be a lot of science”.

It was also announced that Qatar will create a permanent pavilion within the Giardini della Biennale – the first new national pavilion in the gardens for 30 years.

Popular projects on Dezeen this week include an “introspective” extension in Denmark clad in charred pine, Nimtim Architects’ Hemp House extension and a concert hall and rehearsal space by SANAA at MIT.

Our latest lookbooks contained kitchens with shiny polished concrete floors and metallic retail spaces.

This week on Dezeen

This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don’t miss anything. 

The post This week we reported that Neom has already cost “more than $50 billion” appeared first on Dezeen.