Plans are underway to create the world's biggest building in Moscow, a gigantic monstrosity dubbed Crystal Island that'll dominate the skyline. The $4 billion "city in a building" will cover a whopping 2.5 million square meters of floor space and feature all sorts of smaller buildings in its interior. There'll be hotels, apartments, museums, cinemas, and more, with enough space to house 30,000 residents. In fact, it'll have 3000 hotel rooms, 900 serviced apartments, offices and shops, and an international school for 500 pupils.

It'll feature spectacular views from its 1,500-foot-high peak, to be sure. It's not just a design that'll never be made, either; plans are underway to get this thing under construction within 5 years. Fortunately, eco-friendly energy usage is at the heart of the design, utilizing on-site renewable and low-carbon energy generation. Perhaps this will actually make me want to visit Moscow. We'll see.

Times Online, via BornRich