The 612m Russia Tower planned for Moscow could be scaled down to just 200m on the orders of officials who want construction work restarted.

Work on the super tall skyscraper - to be the tallest in Europe - was suspended in November 2008 due to financial woes associated with the economic crisis.

But Moscow mayor Yury Luuzhkov has told investors that he wants work to restart this year - worldwide economic crisis or not.

According to the Moscow Times, a decision to speed up work on the tower but limit its size was made at a closed Moscow City Council meeting last week.

Shalva Chigirinsky, of the developer Russian Land, would not reveal who would be redesigning the project.

Foster + Partners were the original architects on the job and have refused to comment.

It will be a shame for architecture if this landmark building is scaled down, but good for the construction industry struggling to survive during the downturn.

Below is a video of the original plans.