The folded concrete walls of this lakeside visitor centre in China's Anhui Province were designed by architects Archiplein to mimic the uneven surfaces of the surrounding mountains (+ slideshow). More about Tianzhoushan Tea House by Archiplein
Dutch Design Week 2013: Amsterdam designer Pieke Bergmans developed a technique similar to glass blowing to create these plastic lighting installations (+ slideshow). More about VAPOR blown-plastic lighting collection by Pieke Bergmans
Opinion: in his latest Opinion column, Sam Jacob argues that objects tell us more about ourselves than literature or imagery and sets out his manifesto for "a culture of design informed by archeology and anthropology". More about "The history of human culture is written not in text but in objects"
Vertical yellow and grey stripes decorate the exterior of this family house in Mexico by León firm tactic-a (+ slideshow). More about Huit House by tactic-a
Dezeen Mail issue 176 includes a phone made from modular Lego-like parts and all the latest news, jobs, competitions and reader comments from Dezeen.
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Our second story today featuring products presented like model kits is Italian designer Fabio Novembre's window installation for Tommy Hilfiger at La Rinascente department stores. More about I Have a Lifestyle model-kit window installation by Fabio Novembre for Tommy Hilfiger
This furniture collection by designer Silva Lovasová is based on tiny toy products that have been 3D-scanned and enlarged to full scale. More about 1:1 scaled-up dolls' house furniture by Silva Lovasová
Industrial design firm Dyson has unveiled a cordless vacuum cleaner for hard floors that sucks up dirt and wipes the surface at the same time. More about Dyson Hard two-in-one vacuum cleaner by Dyson
Utrecht studio Today Designers has created a book of nautical tales that smells like the sea because it's printed with squid ink. More about Naar Inkt Vissen book printed with squid ink by Today Designers
Brains Unlimited is the name of this recently completed trio of buildings, which provides a neuroscience research facility for Maastricht University in the Netherlands (+ slideshow). More about Brains Unlimited neuroscience facility by Wiegerinck
These spoons shaped for eating specific snacks by Dutch designer Ineke Hans have to be popped out of a plastic frame before use. More about Special Spoons by Ineke Hans come like a model kit
Dezeen promotion: Thai tile brand COTTO has launched its latest range of faux marble and straited tiles first unveiled at the Cersaie ceramics show in Bologna, Italy, in September. More about COTTO unveils 2014 tile collection