This week, Dezeen interviewed Adrian Smith, the architect who was consulted during the development of summer blockbuster Skyscraper, and fashion designer Stella McCartney.

Skyscraper, which was released this week, revolves around an imaginary 240-storey skyscraper in Hong Kong that catches on fire.

The movie's director wanted the skyscraper to be realistic as possible so enlisted Chicago-based architect Adrian Smith, who designed the world's tallest building the 828-metre-tall Burj Khalifa while at SOM, to consult on the project.

Speaking to Dezeen British fashion designer Stella McCartney explained how she believes a movement towards sustainable materials is necessary, and described how her environmental mission influenced the design of her latest store on Old Bond Street, London.

Director of the Glasgow School of Art, Tom Inns, announced that the Mackintosh Building will be rebuilt as a fully working art school, ending weeks of speculation over what will happen to fire-damaged building.

Architect Jeanne Gang spoke out about the gender pay gap, which she has recently closed at her firm Studio Gang – the architect is calling on other architecture and design offices to do the same.

Foster + Partners unveiled plans to turn a 1970s building in Madrid into offices, which will feature a diamond-patterned exterior and a rooftop terrace.

All Design revealed plans for a shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya, that will feature a monorail with "jellybean" carriages and a "piano staircase", which will be the late Will Alsop's first project built in Africa.

In technology news, researchers from China's Academy of Sciences claimed to have developed a stealth laser weapon, the ZKZM-500 assault rifle, capable of burning targets nearly a kilometre away.

Elon Musk dismissed claims that his tiny submarine, which was delivered to Thailand to aid the rescue the boys trapped in an underwater cave, was "not practical" for the mission.  

Popular projects on Dezeen this week included a simple and austere Sacromonte Chapel in Uruguay, a Berlin restaurant inspired by David Hockney's painting A Bigger Splash and John Galliano's couture collection designed for neo-digital natives.