Architecture student Tyler Short has developed an alternative to the traditional window shade - mechanical louvres that move in three dimensions to adapt to sunlight at different times of the day (+ movie). More about Kinetic louvres move in three dimensions to screen sunlight from any angle
This wooden home in Helsinki by Finnish architect Tuomas Siitonen has a roof that dips in the middle to allow views across it and a kinked plan that wraps around a secluded garden (+ slideshow). More about Timber-clad House M-M by Tuomas Siitonen wraps around a sheltered garden
Cedar shingles typical to New England houses have gradually faded from warm beige to a soft greyish brown on the walls of this residence in Maine by Los Angeles office Bruce Norelius Studio (+ slideshow). More about Maine residence by Bruce Norelius Studio reveals its age with a fading cedar facade
News: the UK's Royal Mint has unveiled a revised £1 coin with 12 sides, which it hopes will make the currency harder to forge. More about UK's Royal Mint reveals 12-sided £1 coin
Dutch firm Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten covered the facade of this school in Rotterdam with black and white tiles arranged in patterns that reference typical Dutch interior decoration (+ slideshow). More about Rotterdam school decorated with tiles based on traditional Dutch patterns
More than 50 artists, designers and makers were enlisted to help design the eclectic interior of this hotel in Canberra, overseen by Fender Katsalidis Architects and Suppose Design Office (+ slideshow). More about Fender Katsalidis Architects and Suppose Design Office collaborate on eclectic Canberra hotel
News: Apple's reclusive head designer Jonathan Ive says the technological age in still in its infancy in his first in-depth interview in almost 20 years. More about "We are at the beginning of a remarkable time" says Apple's Jonathan Ive
News: Google has unveiled an operating system designed specifically for wearable devices called Android Wear, plus details of the first smartwatches to incorporate the technology. More about Google unveils Android Wear operating system for smartwatches
News: researchers in America have developed a friction-based miniature generator that could enable mobile devices to be charged by typing or stroking the screen. More about Future smartphones could be charged by stroking them
News: miracle material graphene has been used to develop infrared sensors, which could be inserted into contact lenses and allow the wearer to see in the dark. More about Graphene sensors could create night-vision contact lenses
News: construction is now underway on a 222-metre skyscraper by New York studios HWKN and Handel Architects that is set to become the tallest building in the state of New Jersey. More about Work starts on New Jersey's tallest building by HWKN and Handel Architects
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: architect and designer Daniel Widrig explains how he uses technology borrowed from the special effects business to design everything from jewellery to skyscrapers. More about Software advances are "blurring boundaries between design disciplines"
Dezeen promotion: international brands will be launching new products at this year's May Design Series event, taking place in London from 18 to 20 May. More about Preview of products to launch at May Design Series
News: architects including Tadao Ando, Rem Koolhaas, Kengo Kuma, Thom Mayne and Elizabeth Diller have launched an urgent appeal to Russian president Vladimir Putin to halt demolition of Moscow's iconic Shukhov Radio Tower. More about Tadao Ando, Rem Koolhaas and Kengo Kuma join fight to save Moscow's Shukhov Tower
Venice Architecture Biennale 2014: director of Zaha Hadid Architects Patrik Schumacher has taken to Facebook to launch an attack on political correctness in architecture and a perceived trend for prioritising art over form-making. More about "Architecture is not art" says Patrik Schumacher in Venice Architecture Biennale rant
News: architecture firm OMA is working on designs for a 167-metre skyscraper on Folsom Street in San Francisco. More about OMA plans San Francisco skyscraper
A seven-storey block of flats by Guérin & Pedroza Architects is the latest addition to a project transforming the site of a nineteenth century fort outside Paris into a new residential district (+ slideshow). More about Franco-Prussian war site hosts block of flats by Guérin & Pedroza Architects
A wooden pod resembling the woven structure of a bird's nest can be used for meetings at this sales office for a property development in Mumbai by local firm Planet 3 Studios (+ slideshow). More about Giant timber nest provides meeting room at Baya Park offices by Planet 3 Studios
The base of this table by Japanese designer Kazunaga Sakashita was inspired by trestles found in factories and on construction sites. More about Uma by Kazunaga Sakashita updates archetypal trestle table
This social housing block in Slovakia by Bratislava studio Nice Architects features a series of protruding balconies that angle towards sunlight whilst blocking out the noise of car traffic below (+ slideshow). More about Angular balconies stretch towards sunlight at North Star Apartments by Nice Architects