This week, Toronto and Frankfurt announced major urban developments

A series of large-scale architecture and urbanism projects were unveiled for Toronto this week, including a trio of skyscrapers and an entire new smart city, while Frankfurt embarked on a Brexit building boom.

Pinnacle One Yonge in Toronto — Hariri Pontarini and Pinnacle's proposed tower trio for Toronto waterfront

In the Canadian city, Google's parent company Alphabet announced it will build a high-tech "future city" on the edge of Lake Ontario. Along with another waterfront development by Hariri Pontarini and Pinnacle, and 3XN's staggered residential high-rise, the projects are set to transform Toronto and its skyline.

Frankfurt proposal by UNStudio — Frankfurt'sBrexit building boom includes high-rises by BIG, UNStudio and more

Meanwhile, towers by architects including BIG, UNStudio and Ole Scheeren are among those being built in Frankfurt to woo banks from London, as Brexit uncertainty continues.

Three World Trade Center by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners — Richard Rogers' Three World Trade Center nears completion in New York

Skyscraper news also emerged from New York, where Zaha Hadid Architects' supertall for the Kushner family now looks unlikely to go ahead. Richard Rogers' Three World Trade Center appeared almost complete, and KPF revealed plans for Brooklyn's second-tallest tower.

520 W 28th Amenities by Zaha Hadid Architects — Zaha Hadid's amenity spaces for 520 West 28th shown in new photos

Also in city, David Adjaye unveiled a proposal for a spy museum in Midtown, photographs were released of amenity spaces in Zaha Hadid's 520 West 28th condo building in Chelsea, and WeWork opened its first gym in the Financial District.

Apple Michigan Avenue — Macbook-shaped roof tops Foster + Partners' glazed Apple Store in Chicago

Over in Chicago, Foster + Partners completed an Apple Store with a Macbook-shaped roof. A museum dedicated to fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent opened in Marrakech, and plans were unveiled for a domed aquarium on a former airport site in Oslo.

Eight designs that could help reduce global pollution

In the lead-up to Dezeen's Good Design for a Bad World series of talks at Dutch Design Week, we published roundups of projects that respond to politics, pollution, terrorism, climate change and the refugee crisis.

Parteluz Pavilion by Materia — Materia's Design Week Mexico pavilion casts shadow patterns across itself

Our coverage of Design Week Mexico – which took place a week later than planned in the country's earthquake-hit capital – included a pavilion that casts shadow patterns, a set of house-shaped sculptures that punish their occupants, and our pick of designers to watch from the region.

Urban Cabin by Mini Living — Bureau V's MINI Living Urban Cabin at A/D/O, where Dezeen hosted a panel discussion on nomadic living this week

We also hosted and live-streamed panel discussions about the impact of Wedgwood, at the V&A museum in London, and the rise of nomadic living as part of our Dezeen x MINI Living initiative, at A/D/O in New York.