Dezeen Magazine

King Charles III royal cypher

This week the royal cypher of King Charles III was unveiled

This week on Dezeen, King Charles III revealed his royal monogram, which will replace the cypher of Queen Elizabeth II across the UK's official buildings and post boxes.

Designed by the College of Arms, the monogram features the letters C and R to represent the initial of the monarch's first name and the Latin word for king.

Above the letters, a Tudor Crown represents the crown that was worn by regents following Henry VIII until it was lost when the monarchy was abolished in 1649.

Charles III coin
The first coins with the effigy of King Charles III were revealed

The British Royal Mint also unveiled the first coins to be minted with the effigy of the new king.

Designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings, the 50 pence coin and commemorative £5 coin depict Charles III without a crown and looking to the left, following the tradition of the British monarch facing the opposite direction to their predecessor.

View up of CapitaSpring by BIG and Carlo Ratti
BIG and Carlo Ratti Associati completed a garden-filled skyscraper

In architecture, BIG and Carlo Ratti Associati hit the headlines as they completed a garden-filled skyscraper in Singapore that features sculptural openings in its facade.

Foster + Partners also finished works on a pair of skyscrapers in China, which are linked by a suspension bridge elevated 100 metres above the ground.

Inflatable sculpture at Diesel Spring Summer 2023 show
The world's largest inflatable featured at Milan Fashion Week

Records were broken this week as Dutch design office Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck created the world's largest inflatable sculpture – depicting four bodies with entangled silver-hued limbs – for Diesel's Spring Summer 2023 show at Milan Fashion Week.

Meanwhile in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, creative studio Newsubstance unveiled one of the UK's largest public art installations ever. The 35-metre-tall sculpture, named See Monster, occupies a disused gas rig.

Render of BDP's super-skinny skyscraper in Toronto
BDP designed a super-skinny skyscraper for Toronto

New building proposals that were revealed this week include a super-skinny skyscraper, which the Canadian branch of UK architecture studio BDP is developing for Toronto.

And OMA shared visuals of a glass-and-metal dome in Chicago that will house the headquarters of research organisation Discovery Partners Institute.

Render of E-Cacia solar "tree" by Samuel Wilkinson
Our Solar Revolution series focused on a shelter that harvests solar energy

Continuing our Solar Revolution series, we explored some of the structural and technological barriers standing in the way of a solar-powered future, as well as possible solutions in the form of agrivoltaic solar farms.

We also spotlighted a number of innovative projects that harness the power of the sun, including a photovoltaic shelter by London-based designer Samuel Wilkinson and the solar sails used by NASA for deep-space exploration.

Denmark World Cup football kits
Denmark released its kits for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar

Sports were in focus in the design world as Denmark released its football kits for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, which were designed as a "protest against Qatar and its human rights record".

The International Olympic Committee also shared its modernised brand identity, set to be rolled out in time for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Facade of Very Tiny Palazzo by Fala Atelier
Projects this week included a garden apartment by Fala Atelier

Projects enjoyed by readers this week included a "very tiny palazzo" by Fala Atelier, a grassy amphitheatre by Z'scape and the Bugok Friday House by TRU Architects.

Our lookbooks this weekend focused on colourful living rooms and homes with walk-in wardrobes.