Dezeen Wire: design and architecture biennale EXD/11 Lisboa (experimentadesign) has opened in Lisbon, with exhibitions and talks on the the theme of Useless underway across the city. Dezeen is at the opening and will bring highlights over the coming days.

www.experimentadesign.pt

Dezeen Wire: planning permission has been granted for Stanton Williams‘ proposed transformation of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes. The comprehensive renovation of the existing museum and construction of a new 5800m2 extension is due to begin in October with completion scheduled for autumn 2013. More »

This week Renzo Piano completed a minimal monastery at the site of Le Corbusier’s chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut, Daniel Libeskind added an angular extension to Dresden’s Museum of Military History and UNStudio designed a cantilevered concrete observation tower. More »

Dezeen Wire: the London Olympic Velodrome by Hopkins Architects has been voted the public’s favourite building from a shortlist for this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize. The velodrome attracted 63% of the vote in a poll organised by the RIBA. The official judging and announcement of the winner will take place tomorrow. More »

Swirling clouds of drumsticks cover the ceiling of a Los Angeles noodle restaurant by Japanese architects SWeeT. More »

Dezeen Wire: design critic Nicole Swengley writes about the increasing number of designers engaging in socially responsible or philanthropic projects, including Yves Behar’s See Better to Learn Better reading glasses (see our previous story here) and Max Fraser’s Joy of Living exhibition (see the story here and an interview with Max here) - The Wall Street Journal

London Design Festival 2011: in this interview filmed at Dezeen Space, London designer Paul Cocksedge explains the ideas behind Change the Record, a project where vinyl records are moulded into amplifiers for smartphones. Watch the movie here and see our earlier story here.

Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Kieran Long describes proposals by property giants Land Securities to redevelop a large part of the area around Victoria Station in London as “promising for the future of Victoria and for the future of large-scale property development in central London in general.” – Evening Standard

Dezeen Space: Florian Schmid presents his Stitching Concrete Project at our micro-exhibition Dezeen Platform in Dezeen Space today. More »

London Design Festival 2011: Australian label Matilda presented products and furniture by 30 designers including a timber and aluminium pendant light by Kate Stokes (above) at designjunction last week. More »

The circular roof of a metro station near Copenhagen looms over sunken platforms like a spotty UFO. More »

New York architect Daniel Libeskind has driven a pointed steel and glass shard through the heart of the war museum in Dresden, which reopens on October 14 after a 22-year closure. Update 17/11/11: see a new set of photos in our later story. More »

Dezeen Wire: the Design Museum has submitted plans for the redevelopment of the former Commonwealth Institute building by architect John Pawson. The application concerns proposed alterations to the Grade II listed building’s interior, including the creation of a new central atrium, mezzanine level and basement. More »

Dezeen Wire: here’s a summary of the most interesting things to see at Beijing Design Week, which continues until 3 October. More »