Dezeen Magazine

The Tulip by Foster + Partners

This week, The Tulip was axed and the Stirling Prize shortlist was revealed

This week on Dezeen, Foster + Partners' Tulip tower was rejected over concerns for London's skyline, and RIBA announced the shortlist for the Stirling Prize.

On Monday, it was announced that Foster + Partners' controversial plans for a supertall viewing tower in London had been cancelled by the capital's mayor Sadiq Kahn.

Proposed for a site beside the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning 30 Mary St Axe – known as the Gherkin – Kahn's spokesperson stated that the mayor believed "the design is of insufficient quality for such a prominent location".

Stirling Prize 2019: The Weston by Feilden Fowles Architects
RIBA announces Stirling Prize 2019 shortlist

This week saw six projects shortlisted for RIBA's annual Stirling Prize, which is awarded to the building judged to have made the greatest contribution to British architecture.

Among the projects is an experimental cork house, Grimshaw's London Bridge Station, and the Macallan Distillery, which is Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' seventh project to have been shortlisted for the accolade.

Henning Larsen completes Hangzhou Yuhang Opera
Henning Larsen completes iceberg-like opera house in Hangzhou

Other architecture news this week included Henning Larsen's completion of an angular opera house in Hangzhou, which features a facade that resembles cracked ice on a frozen lake.

Daniel Libeskind also unveiled his design for a Maggie's Centre in London's Hampstead, and Steven Holl released visuals of a zinc-clad concert hall for the Czech Republic.

Twitter website redesign
Twitter redesigns website for first time in seven years

In the design world, Twitter revamped its website for first time in seven years to provide users with a more streamlined experience inline with its app.

Researchers at Harvard University revealed the concept for "greenhouse shields" on Mars that could facilitate the growth of plants and terraform the planet.

Zara 100 per cent sustainable fabrics by 2025
Zara clothing to be made using 100 per cent sustainable fabrics by 2025

Sustainability was back in the spotlight as Zara announced its goal to make all of its clothing from "organic, more sustainable or recycled" materials by 2025.

This will be rolled out as part of the Spanish fashion retailer's wider sustainability initiative, which also includes a promise that its head offices will meet the "highest green building certificates".

Design schools must stamp out burn-out culture for sake of mental health say students
Architecture students "considered suicide" over long hours, say #dezeenchat participants

Dezeen reflected on the recent #dezeenchat, a social-media discussion that responded to the question "Is design education broken?".

Among participants' concerns was an overwhelming complaint about the demands placed on architecture students that are leading to burnout and mental-health issues.

Loop House by Tomohiro Hata Architect and Associates
Tomohiro Hata's Loop House faces inwards onto a central courtyard

Projects that sparked readers imaginations this week included Tomohiro Hata's Loop House that envelops a central courtyard, Richard John Andrews' self-designed garden architecture studio and AGo Architects skinny house in Indonesia.