Movie: in this exclusive interview Australian architect Richard Francis-Jones explains the importance of local materials at Auckland Art Gallery, which was crowned World Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival in Singapore earlier this month. More about "We wanted to make a building that is embedded in New Zealand culture"
News: designer and entrepreneur Gwendolyn Floyd has launched an e-commerce platform that allows female artisans from developing countries to overcome "economic discrimination" and sell jewellery using just a mobile phone (+ movies). More about New website helps African craftswomen become entrepreneurs
This boutique interior by Brazilian architect Guilherme de Vasconcelos features a red faceted wall that references the angular qualities of polished gems (+ slideshow). More about Las Chicas boutique by Guilherme de Vasconcelos
A combined car park and terrace covers the roof of this hillside house in Los Angeles by Californian studio Anonymous Architects (+ slideshow). More about Car Park House by Anonymous Architects
Product news: furniture brand Duffy London has surrounded this bar with swinging seats instead of stools. More about Swing Bar by Duffy London
Precast concrete lintels with oozing courses of grout create a distinct facade on this house near Brussels by Belgian studio And'rol (+ slideshow). More about Wall House by And'rol
News: London mayor Boris Johnson has declared that the city's design schools will welcome Chinese students "with open arms", following concerns that visa restrictions are putting off overseas talent. More about Mayor urges Chinese students to study design in London
Product news: graphic design studio Raw Color has collaborated with Dutch furniture company Arco to reissue Arnold Merckx's Balance table (+ movie). More about Balance table by Raw Color for Arco
Dezeen promotion: tables with surfaces balanced on angled supports by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka will be on display at US design brand Luminaire's showroom during Design Miami in December. More about Elements Collection by Tokujin Yoshioka at Luminaire Lab
Product news: industrial designer Yves Behar has added a pocket-sized version to Jawbone's range of Jambox wireless speakers (+ slideshow). More about Mini Jambox by Jawbone
Japanese architect Tadao Ando has added an auditorium with a curving concrete interior to the Palazzo Grassi - a contemporary arts centre inside an eighteenth-century palace in Venice (+ slideshow). More about The Teatrino of Palazzo Grassi by Tadao Ando
News: industrial designer Tom Dixon has handed over the MOST design show he founded in Milan two years ago to former employee Will Sorrell, who plans to expand the brand to Istanbul and New York in 2014. More about MOST design show goes global as Tom Dixon steps back
An OMA-designed housing complex comprising 31 apartment blocks stacked diagonally across one another is nearing completion in Singapore (+ slideshow). More about The Interlace by OMA and Ole Scheeren nears completion
Designer and TV presenter Naomi Cleaver included a map of flight paths over Heathrow and a stuffed deer in the shared facilities at this student housing development in Shoreditch, east London (+ slideshow). More about iQ Shoreditch by Naomi Cleaver
This house near Mexico City by local office MMX Studio comprises an assortment of exposed concrete buildings arranged around small gardens and courtyards (+ slideshow). More about Cap House by MMX Studio
Graphic designer Cristina Vanko has been writing out all the SMS messages she sends by hand with a calligraphy pen. More about Modern Day Snail Mail by Cristina Vanko
Product news: London architect Zaha Hadid has designed a curvaceous wine bottle for Austrian winemaker Leo Hillinger. More about Wine bottle by Zaha Hadid for Leo Hillinger
News: London firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has won a competition to design the new Scotland Yard headquarters for the London Metropolitan Police. More about AHMM to design London police headquarters
Gabion walls, concrete staircases and huge rocks frame the spaces of this public park in Zaragoza by Spanish architects Héctor Fernández Elorza and Manuel Fernández Ramírez (+ slideshow). More about Venecia Park by Héctor Fernández Elorza and Manuel Fernández Ramírez
Spanish firm YLAB Arquitectos has completed a faceted house on the outskirts of Barcelona that appears to have been stretched down a hill. More about Vallvidrera House by YLAB Arquitectos