This week, the world’s tallest residential skyscraper topped out and MIT created the blackest black

This week on Dezeen, we reported on the world’s blackest black material engineered by MIT, and the record-breaking Central Park Tower topped out in New York.

MIT researchers have accidentally engineered the blackest black material while experimenting with ways to grow carbon nanotubes (CNT) on aluminium.

The material can absorb 99.995 percent of visible light, and is said to be “10 times blacker than anything that’s ever been reported” including Vantablack for which Anish Kapoor has exclusive rights.

Another record was broken this week as Central Park Tower topped out in New York at 472.4 metres, becoming the world’s tallest residential skyscraper.

Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, the supertall glass-steel skyscraper has stolen the title from Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue that rises 426 metres.

Elsewhere in New York, Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto revealed visuals of a 10-storey co-living complex for an historic Brooklyn site, which will be his first project in the city.

BIG also announced plans to build the Wildflower Film Studio – an angular building in Queens dubbed as a hub for film and television that is being developed with a team including actor and producer Robert De Niro.

Other architecture news this week included the completion of Zaha Hadid Architects’ giant starfish-shaped airport in Beijing, which is one of the largest airports in the world.

Foster + Partners’ latest Apple Store opened in central Tokyo, which is fronted by seven large windows with cast aluminium frames designed to evoke glass display cabinets.

The studio also reopened its “iconic” glass Apple Fifth Avenue after a renovation that added a spiral staircase, skylights and public plaza.

Sustainable design remained in the spotlight as Dezeen reported on the UK government’s call for experts to help it develop standards for bioplastics and biodegradable plastics, in a bid to end its use of “vague and misleading” terminology.

We also rounded up six brands leading the way in sustainable fashion that are addressing the consumer habits that fuel the fast fashion industry.

Gucci came under fire after it kickstarted its Spring Summer 2020 show with models in straitjackets, with one model protesting the “insensitive” decision by the fashion house.

The design world also paid tribute to Dutch typographer and graphic designer Wim Crouwell after he passed away in his hometown of Amsterdam at the age of 90.

Dezeen launched its recruitment service, which matches candidates to job vacancies in architecture, interiors and design.

Named Dezeen Recruit, it forms an extension of Dezeen Jobs, our highly popular jobs board and world’s most visited architecture and design jobs site.

Projects enjoyed by readers this week included a cafe and shop for Dandelion Chocolate in a century-old house in Kyoto, a timber housing estate in an Alpine town and a London house extension with a zigzag zinc roof.

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