In this movie filmed by Dezeen at the Qubique 2011 design fair in Berlin last month, designer Jerszy Seymour talks about his series of chairs where components are joined with blobs of wax. More about Interview: Jerszy Seymour at Qubique 2011
Dezeen Wire: design critic Justin McGuirk says that a kitchen concept by Dutch electrical company Philips that uses decomposition to generate methane gas for cooking is an example of how we may "have to get more comfortable with bacteria and with putrefaction's role in our ecosystem" – The Guardian
McGuirk claims the Microbial kitchen concept's "steampunk" aesthetic offers "an alternative vision to the clinical kitchen," and also mentions the trend for low-tech kitchen appliances, such as designer Christoph Thetard's pedal-powered devices, which he says represent a reaction to the impending energy crisis.
Last year Dezeen published a report on Food and Design, including examples of low-tech gadgets for preserving and preparing ingredients and concepts for growing food in the kitchen.
More about Bacteria and pedal power could be the future of kitchens – The Guardian
Imagine if every discarded disposable cup grew into a beautiful plant. More about Chai Pi Ke Puht cups by Sian Pascale
Our Christmas shop, The Temporium, opens next week and we're excited to announce more participants – including British brands Established & Sons and Another Country, and Spanish textile designer Cristian Zuzunaga... as well as chocolate moustaches by Diego Ramos for Chocolat Factory (above).
We'll also have flying Christmas cards, USB stick necklaces, diamond-shaped lights and much more... More about Even more designers and brands at The Temporium
Dezeen Wire: the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Design Council have expressed support for a new housing strategy announced by the UK government that aims to deliver high quality homes rather than a higher volume of poor standard properties. More about RIBA and Design Council back government strategy for quality homes
The raised corner of this house in Hiroshima by Japanese architects Suppose Design Office allows light to creep into the interior. More about House in Saka by Suppose Design Office
Dutch studio Daphna Laurens's latest collection of furniture includes this floor lamp that leans against the wall as if it is peeking through to the other side. More about Cirkel by Daphna Laurens
Paris architects Béal & Blanckaert have completed a Corten-clad library in the grounds of a monastery in northern France (photos by Julien Lanoo). More about Médiathèque Corbie by Béal & Blanckaert
Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Rowan Moore says that a housing development built by the UK architecture show presenter Kevin McCloud's company Hab is a positive attempt at reversing the trend for "unimaginative, overpriced, undersized" properties in the UK – The Guardian
Moore describes the scheme in Swindon, England, as "imaginative and well-designed," whilst cautioning that it will take time to determine whether McCloud's goals of creating a community and "making people happy" have been achieved. He adds that the houses themselves are "very plain-looking" and far removed from the aspirational properties that feature on McCloud's show, Grand Designs.
More about TV presenter's housing scheme is "a much better application of celebrity philanthropy than most"
The third completed house in Alain de Botton’s Living Architecture series has a faceted black upper storey that sits on top of the glass-walled ground floor like a big hat. More about Dune House by Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects and Mole Architects
Dezeen Wire: supporters of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei have been posting photos of themselves naked on a website as a protest against the Beijing police's decision to question his assistant, who had taken nude pictures of the artist and four women – The Telegraph
Ai was detained for 81 days earlier this year by the Chinese government on charges of tax evasion, during which time he was also asked about the photographs that he says have no deeper political meaning.
More about Ai Weiwei supporters post nude photos online in protest against police
As part of Peroni Nastro Azzurro's series of talks on Italian design at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs will chair a discussion with Milan designer Fabio Novembre on 29 November. More about Peroni Collaborazioni Talks: Fabio Novembre
Dezeen in Israel: artist and designer Ehud Oren presents furniture disguised as buildings in an exhibition at the Braverman Gallery in Tel Aviv. More about Photosynthesis by Ehud Oren
Dezeen in Israel: we've noticed a big increase in interesting design coming out of Israel in recent years, so last week we visited Tel Aviv to see recent projects from both established local designers and recent graduates of schools in this up-coming design nation. We'll publish our pick of the best projects over the next few days, but in the meantime we've grouped together all our stories about furniture and products designed in Israel. See all the stories »
You can also watch Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs and Tel Aviv-born designer Shay Alkalay discussing the rise of design in Israel in a movie we filmed in Cologne earlier this year. Watch the movie »
More about Special feature: designed in Israel
As part of our series of Dezeen Talks filmed at the Inside awards in Barcelona, Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs talks to James Russell and Hannah Plumb of JamesPlumb about their interior for outfitters Hostem, which won the retail category. More about Inside Awards: Hostem by JamesPlumb
Fast-food giant McDonald's have commissioned designer Patrick Norguet to redesign their restaurant interiors across France. More about McDonald's by Patrick Norguet
The architect of this Portuguese residence describes it as a grey house with a black backpack (photos by Fernando Guerra). More about Frei Sebastião House by António Fernandez
Workshops clad in timber batons sit atop this children’s centre outside Paris by French architects SOA. More about Gavroche centre for children by SOA Architectes
A brightly striped facade of colour-coated windows, mirrors and coloured panels encases this nursery in north Paris (photos by Julien Lanoo). More about Crèche Binet by Béal & Blanckaert
On 17 November 2006 Dezeen published its first ever story about the Design Museum dropping the Designer of the Year award. More about Five years ago...