News: the cost to build a new outpost of the V&A museum in Dundee, Scotland, has almost doubled to the sum of £80 million – a figure that architect Kengo Kuma has claimed is "surprisingly high" (+ movie). More about Kengo Kuma "surprised" after V&A Dundee costs rise to £80 million
Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa has created a new version of his simple smartphone for telecommunications company KDDI. More about Naoto Fukasawa designs streamlined Infobar A03 smartphone for KDDI
A tapered column of cast concrete supports the underside of a dark oak staircase inside one of the residences that occupies this converted London garage by Patalab Architecture (+ slideshow). More about Single concrete leg props a staircase inside converted Primrose Hill garage by Patalab
Harp strings fixed across the facade turn this hotel chapel on a lakeside site in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, into a huge musical instrument when the wind blows (+ slideshow). More about Lakeside hotel by Ryuichi Ashizawa adjoins a wedding chapel with a musical facade
Stockholm 2015: Stockholm-based Note Design Studio has created a series of lamps wrapped in pastel-coloured textiles for Swedish brand Zero (+ slideshow). More about Note Design Studio encases Elements lights in soft-hued fabric shades
Behind the Georgian facade of a historic London property, architecture office Cullinan Studio has overhauled living spaces to create an oak-framed family room that opens out to the garden (+ movie). More about Cullinan Studio transforms Hampstead house with glazed garden room
Fashion designer Rick Owens has updated his collection of shoes for Adidas, adding three new models including a knee-high boot (+ slideshow). More about Rick Owens extends footwear range for Adidas
News: London mayor Boris Johnson has approved plans to create Europe's longest segregated cycle lane through the city centre. More about London mayor backs new cycle superhighway
Maison&Objet 2015: Japanese studio Nendo has surrounded a lounge area with a cascade of 2,000 chocolate-coloured pipes for an installation at this year's Maison&Objet trade fair (+ slideshow). More about Nendo creates chocolatey waves for Maison&Objet installation
Dezeen is launching in North America! We are opening an office in New York and have hired an editorial and sales team to help us grow our audience and business in the USA. The team will be temporarily based in the new Moooi Brand Store at 36 East 31st Street, New York, NY 10016.
We'll be going live with enhanced editorial content covering cutting-edge architecture and design the USA from May and we will be hosting a launch event in New York during NYCxDesign.
More about Dezeen is coming to New York!
News: construction is now under way on a public square underneath Richard Seifert's iconic Centre Point tower in London, as part of a major redevelopment by Rick Mather Architects and Conran & Partners (+ movie). More about Work starts on public plaza beneath Richard Seifert's Centre Point
Comments update: inequality in architecture was back on the agenda this week, as readers responded to Dezeen columnist Alexandra Lange, who argued that sexism and prejudice were still a deep-rooted problem within the industry. More about "Giving a prize to a woman purely because she is female is insulting"
Japanese studios Rhythmdesign and Case-Real came up with the design for this nursery school in Kumamoto after being given a brief to create "not a small school, but a big house" (+ slideshow). More about Hakemiya Nursery School is designed to remind children of their homes
Shoppers are encouraged to get hot under the collar while perusing the erotic products on offer at this Munich sex shop, with a curvaceous interior by New York designer Karim Rashid (+ slideshow). More about Karim Rashid's sex shop interior "satisfies primal desire"
News: Zaha Hadid has settled her case against the New York Review of Books and critic Martin Filler, and has donated the settlement money to an undisclosed charity that "protects and champions labour rights". More about Zaha Hadid settles book review lawsuit and donates money to labour rights charity
Children would swing beneath a giant colourful hot-air balloon in this proposal for a sculpture park in Queens by Australian architect Jesse Lockhart-Krause. More about Balloon Swing proposed for New York park
This house by Suppose Design Office slopes down beyond the boundary wall of a reservoir in Fukuoka, south-west Japan, to allow residents to be as close as possible to the water (+ slideshow). More about Suppose Design Office's House in Hibaru stretches down to the edge of a reservoir
Maison&Objet 2015: quadrants of this circular cabinet by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola swing open to reveal the contents stored inside. More about Patricia Urquiola's Luna cabinet conceals items behind pivoting doors
A square wall with a bell in one corner fronts this chapel for a spiritual retreat in Virginia by Dynerman Architects, concealing the building's true gabled form behind (+ slideshow). More about University chapel by Dynerman Architects hides its true form behind a square wall
Following the popularity of two recently published chapels, we've collected together 11 stunning structures designed as places for reflection, prayer and worship (+ slideshow). More about 11 of the most heavenly chapels on Dezeen