Dezeen Magazine

This week on Dezeen

Our most popular story this week has been a system of illustrated characters and animations developed to help people learn to read Chinese. Read on for more architecture and design highlights from the past seven days plus our Dezeen Music Project track of the week.

Microcosmos is a dark and ferocious drum and bass track by Kiev-based producer Histibe.

Listen to more Dezeen Music Project tracks »

Alberto Alessi portrait
Alberto Alessi tells Dezeen he thinks Italy's design manufacturing capability is at risk of disappearing

The president of design brand Alessi sparked debate among readers this week as he told Dezeen that Italy's design manufacturing capability is at risk of disappearing.

Shigeru Ban portrait
Shigeru Ban talks about how young architects are becoming disillusioned with commercial work

In another interview from Milan, 2014 Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban told us that young architects are becoming disillusioned with commercial work and instead turning to humanitarian projects.

Toyo Ito Kinnasand Milan showroom
Toyo Ito spoke to Dezeen about his design showroom for Kinnasand

We also featured an exclusive interview with Japanese architect Toyo Ito – the 2013 Pritzker Prize-winner – who spoke to us about his "site specific" architecture and his design for textile brand Kinnasand's first Milan showroom.

Istanbul Airport by Grimshaw Nordic and Haptic
Grimshaw unveils plans for the "world's largest airport terminal under one roof"

Also this week, London firm Grimshaw unveiled plans for the "world's largest airport terminal under one roof" in Istanbul.

Tela Shelving by Zaha Hadid for CITCO
Zaha Hadid's Tela shelves for CITCO

We've continued to report on products that were presented in Milan last week, including Zaha Hadid's cantilevered granite forms for CITCO shelving, Doshi Levien's Uchiwa armchair for Hay based on a traditional Japanese fan, and Max Lamb's camouflaged marble furniture installation. See all our Milan 2014 coverage.

lady gaga volantis
Lady Gaga's flying Volantis dress

In our latest Dezeen and MINI Frontiers movie, we interviewed Lady Gaga's flying dress designer who said that the project heralds the beginning of a new era for human flight.

Mini Mobile by Zutalabs
Mini Mobile printer by Zutalabs

Other technology stories included a teardrop shaped portable printer that wirelessly reproduces documents from tablets, smartphones or desktop computers, and a shape-shifting table from MIT that reacts to a human presence.

Kew House by Piercy and Company
Kew House by Piercy and Company

Popular architecture projects on Dezeen this week included a London house featuring rusted gable walls with a glazed stairwell, a house that sits within a sunken courtyard, and a stone radio broadcasting station in the Nepalese town of Jomsom.

Nepal Radio Broadcasting by ARCHIUM from South Korea
Mustang Broadcasting Community radio station by Archium

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