Rounded shingles create wooden scales across the walls of this small house in Hackney that architect Laura Dewe Mathews has built for herself (+ slideshow). More about Gingerbread House by Laura Dewe Mathews
News: the world's first mobile research facility, designed by British firm Hugh Broughton Architects, has officially opened on the floating Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica. More about World's first mobile research centre opens in Antarctica
News: Rem Koolhaas' OMA has won a competition to design a financial office tower in Shenzhen, China, the firm's second building in the city after the soon-to-complete Shenzhen Stock Exchange. More about OMA wins competition for second Shenzhen skyscraper
News: Swiss architect Peter Zumthor rejected architecture as form-making in his Royal Gold Medal lecture at the RIBA in London yesterday, explaining that he believes that light, materials and atmosphere are the most important aspects of architecture. More about "Architecture is not about form" - Peter Zumthor
Stockholm 2013: these porcelain and wood pendant lamps were created by Stockholm-based Note Design Studio for Italian design brand Ex.t. More about Fuse by Note Design Studio for Ex.t
This family house in Switzerland by Chinese architects EXH Design has a corner missing from its roof to allow space for a triangular roof terrace (+ slideshow). More about Private House Bellmund by EXH Design
German studio Fabi Architekten has stacked a black building on top of a white building to create this house in the Bavarian countryside (+ slideshow). More about Black on White by Fabi Architekten
Stockholm 2013: Swedish lighting brand Wästberg has unveiled an installation of 30 lamps created from a modular set of parts by Japanese designers Nendo. More about Nendo. Illuminated for Wästberg
News: architect and designer Michael Graves has been appointed by US president Barack Obama to a key administration post and says he will "provide national leadership on accessible design". More about Barack Obama appoints Michael Graves to advise on accessible design
The next intake of architecture students at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia will be accommodated in modular student housing with stark concrete interiors (+ slideshow). More about Student Housing in St. Cugat by H Arquitectes and dataAE
Competition: Dezeen and publisher Taschen have teamed up to give away three copies of a book containing 50 remarkable treehouses. More about Competition: three copies of Tree Houses to be won
Product news: British industrial design brand Dyson has launched a combined tap and hand dryer so hands can be both washed and dried without leaving the sink. More about Dyson Airblade Tap by Dyson
This wooden folly cantilevers across a garden lake to create a meditation room and children's play den for a family living in Hampshire, England (+ slideshow). More about The Forest Pond House by TDO
Stockholm 2013: Swedish-French design duo Färg & Blanche will present a chair that can be dressed up in an assortment of garments at Stockholm Design Week, which gets underway today (+ slideshow). More about F-A-B chairs by Färg & Blanche
Chinese studio Archi-Union has converted an office block in Shanghai into an art gallery with a concrete staircase twisting through its middle (+ slideshow). More about Jade Museum by Archi-Union
An entrance concealed behind a ceramic mural leads down into a sunken living room and courtyard at this house in São Paulo by Brazilian architects Terra e Tuma. More about Maracanã House by Terra e Tuma
Danish brand Normann Copenhagen has launched a table-top mirror with a dish in the base to hold small items, created by Spanish designer Javier Moreno. More about Flip mirror by Javier Moreno Studio for Normann Copenhagen
Stockholm 2013: Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs will moderate a talk about the future of designers and commerce at the Form Us With Love market tomorrow evening as part of Stockholm Design Week. More about Dezeen talk at Form Us With Love market
News: American rapper-turned-property developer Vanilla Ice has designed a collection of chandeliers and wall lamps in collaboration with New Jersey-based company Capitol Lighting. More about Vanilla Ice designs lighting collection
Seed-dispersing robots and file-sharing drones are among proposals to fuse technology and the natural world by Liam Young of Tomorrow's Thoughts Today, presented at our Designed in Hackney Day last summer (+ movie). More about "There is no nature any more" – Liam Young of Tomorrow's Thoughts Today