A staircase spirals like a helter skelter around the curving internal walls of this minimal white house in Tokyo by local office Atelier Norisada Maeda (+ slideshow). More about Atelier Norisada Maeda's Orange house features a curvy interior and a glass floor
This house in Oxford, England, by Waind Gohil Architects mirrors the style and shape of older terraced houses on its street, but features a pared-back design to distinguish it as a contemporary addition (+ slideshow). More about Waind Gohil Architects puts a contemporary spin on Oxford's gabled houses
Photo essay: German-Hungarian artist Katharina Roters has produced a series of photographs documenting the ornamental patterns added to standardised dwellings in Hungary as an expression of individuality (+ slideshow). More about Hungarian Cubes: the houses of post-war communism photographed by Katharina Roters
Internal lighting glows through the perforated brick wall of this Melbourne home by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, which was designed as an abstraction of a typical Victorian-era residence (+ slideshow). More about Harold Street Residence by Jackson Clements Burrows disguises its size with a twisted roof
Prague studio OV-A has added an extra storey and a cast concrete interior to a community centre in the medieval heart of Czech town Slavonice (+ slideshow). More about OV-A adds concrete interior to Slavonice community centre
Perforated metal shutters give this Buenos Aires apartment building by Esteban-Tannenbaum Architects an ever-changing facade (+ slideshow). More about Perforated shutters fold back to reveal apartments at Sucre 4444 by Esteban-Tannenbaum
Exposed concrete surfaces are paired with brass details at this children's footwear boutique and small apartment in Belgium by Antwerp studio ONO Architectuur (+ slideshow). More about ONO Architectuur uses concrete and brass in De Ruyte children's shoe shop
A timber-clad box punctuated by narrow windows rests on top of a stone wall to form this extension to a municipal facility near Montpellier, France, by local architect Chrystelle Sanaa (+ slideshow). More about Chrystelle Sanaa's Municipal Technical Centre is clad in thin strips of cedar
After 15 years of incremental work, architect Niall McLaughlin has restored and extended a London house with a subterranean gallery (+ slideshow). More about Niall McLaughlin extends Duncan Terrace house with translucent passageway and gallery
A gridded timber frame extends around the exterior of this office for a cladding company by Austrian studio Heri & Salli, providing space to test facades, as well as to hang sun-screens or grow plants (+ slideshow). More about Timber frame surrounding Heri & Salli's Office Off transforms the building into a climbing frame
Boxy steel-clad volumes cantilever in different directions to provide alternating views from inside this office building in Roeselare, Belgium, by Ghent studio CAAN Architecten. More about Three stacked volumes comprise Hectaar office building by CAAN Architecten
News: architecture firm RMJM has won a competition to design a landmark tower for Doumen, China, with plans for a 93-metre-high structure covered in scales (+ slideshow). More about Fish-inspired skyscraper by RMJM wins Chinese tower contest
UK architecture firm 5th Studio has added a shingle-clad extension to a house in a listed former inn that is raised above the flood level of the River Cam in Cambridgeshire (+ slideshow). More about Wildfowl Cottage extension by 5th Studio is clad with shingles and raised over a flood plain
Budapest studio Gereben Marián mixed cement with local earth and rock to create the rugged walls of this series of buildings, which accommodate visitors to a vineyard in the Eger wine region of Hungary (+ slideshow). More about Earthy cabins hide amongst the vineyards at the Almagyar Wine Terrace in Hungary
London office Studio Octopi has revised its proposal for a floating swimming pool in the River Thames, to become a pontoon of three freshwater pools in a new location beside Temple underground station. More about Studio Octopi's Thames Bath concept evolves into floating freshwater pools
Canadian studio Chevalier Morales Architectes has reinterpreted the traditional Swiss chalet to create a top-heavy timber house in the mountain landscape of eastern Quebec (+ slideshow). More about Canadian lodge by Chevalier Morales references Alpine chalets
Rammed earth walls built using soil from the desert site are wrapped in a protective weathered steel shell at this courtyard house near Phoenix by local firm Wendell Burnette Architects (+ slideshow). More about Desert Courtyard House by Wendell Burnette features rammed earth walls
This wooden community centre in the earthquake-affected Japanese town of Yamada, by Dutch studio Van Der Architects, features a semi-opaque glass wall and an artificial grass playground (+ slideshow). More about Timber community centre by Van Der Architects built in earthquake-hit Japanese town
Narrow strips of steel give an undulating facade to this renovated commercial block in Tokyo by Japanese firm Amano Design Office (+ slideshow). More about Amano Design Office wraps Tokyo office block with steel ribbons
As a Danish architect unveils plans for a snowflake-shaped floating hotel, Dezeen selects 13 of the most ridiculous, outrageous and unusual hotel designs we've ever published – including a flying whale, a person-sized bird's nest and a room that allows guests to sleep with the fishes (+ slideshow). More about 13 crazy hotel designs