The huge skeleton of a blue whale is now the centrepiece of the entrance hall at London's Natural History Museum – but unlike the dinosaur cast there before, it is suspended from the ceiling, freeing up space below for an information desk that doubles as a bar. More about Whale skeleton suspended over information kiosk and bar in revamped Natural History Museum foyer
Italian architect Stefano Boeri has unveiled plans for his first "vertical forest" in the Netherlands: a stepped tower covered in 10,000 plants and trees in the city of Utrecht. More about Stefano Boeri unveils latest tree-clad tower project for Utrecht
Dezeen promotion: There are just two weeks left to submit an entry to Dezeen and Samsung's competition to design an innovative stand for the brand's new QLED TV. More about Last chance to enter Dezeen and Samsung's €30,000 competition to rethink the TV stand
Instagram users are capturing the sinuous facades of Zaha Hadid Architects' first building in New York City as it moves towards completion in Chelsea. More about Zaha Hadid's 520 West 28th condo building in New York nears completion
"Monster cities" in Asia including Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta are racing ahead of western counterparts in terms of architectural vision and urban design quality, according to architect Winy Maas of MVRDV. More about Asian cities overtaking "impossible" London and "terrible" New York in urban design, says Winy Maas
A single-room hotel, a public greenhouse and a set of polling booths are just some of the unusual functions assigned to a set of train carriages designed by Danish studio AART for an old industrial area of Aarhus. More about AART designs pop-up train carriages to rejuvenate an old railway in Aarhus
Open-source furniture brand Opendesk has collaborated with designers in London and Chicago to create new two pieces of furniture that can be assembled without glue, screws or hinges. More about Opendesk launches shelf and desk that can both be assembled tool-free
Our job of the day from Dezeen Jobs is for an architect to join John McAslan + Partners at its London-based studio, which is developing new designs for Britain's largest mosque in south London. More ›
More about Job of the day: architect at John McAslan + Partners
A pair of interlocking volumes clad in pale brick and fronted by large, frameless windows extend the rear of this Victorian house in west London, which has been overhauled by McLaren Excell. More about McLaren Excell adds contrasting pale brick extension to black-painted Victorian house
A group of scientists from California have developed a series of organic electronic components that will harmlessly dissolve into their environment after use. More about Stanford scientists unveil ultra-thin electronics that can dissolve into the body
Brooklyn brand Slash Objects has launched a line of home accessories that combines materials such as brass, marble and rubber in crisp geometric forms. More about Slash Objects unites contrasting materials for new homeware range
French office Studio mAAb has transformed a single-storey apartment in the city of Rennes into a duplex by incorporating a pair of wooden volumes and a mezzanine walkway into the former attic space. More about Studio mAAb slots plywood wedges into roof space of renovated Rennes apartment
Richard Pender was involved in every stage of this self-build project to create a sustainable and accessible house for his parents in rural Northumberland, which involved fabricating the wooden frame on site in a disused barn. More about Richard Pender and Dan Kerr combine local materials at self-built Shawm house
The tassels and straps of spanking tools and fetish wear inspired this mirror and valet stand, designed by ECAL graduate Savvas Laz. More about Bondage details feature on Boudoir Fétiche furniture by ECAL graduate Savvas Laz
The newest Dezeen Pinterest board is filled with eye-catching playgrounds from around the world, including Jaime Hayón's huge animal-shaped play equipment, Assemble's brutalist playground and architectural play equipment that encourages kids to crawl, jump and fly. Follow Dezeen on Pinterest ›
More about Our new playgrounds Pinterest board invites you to unlock your inner child
An off-centre pitched roof tops this house in Los Angeles' Venice Beach, which was designed by local studio Electric Bowery to include outdoor kitchen, living and dining areas. More about Venice Beach house by Electric Bowery features askew pitched roof and outdoor lounge
Architecture firm Snøhetta has used microscopic studies of Copenhagen's foods and beer to develop the colour and material palette of this restaurant, which has taken over the space previously occupied by famed eatery Noma in the Danish capital. More about Snøhetta overhauls former Noma space for new casual Copenhagen restaurant
The homogenous red-brick facades and decorative tiled relief of this house tacked onto the end of a south-London terrace by 31/44 Architects reference details found on its older neighbours. More about 31/44 Architects adds contemporary red-brick house to traditional London terrace
Designer Moisés Hernández has created a set of simple, monochrome tableware for the most highly rated restaurant in Mexico. More about Moisés Hernández designs monochrome tableware for Mexico's best restaurant Pujol
An angled tower wrapped in red concrete panels and glazing contains the entrance to this second world war museum, which is mostly housed beneath the surface of a public plaza in the Polish city of Gdansk. More about Tilted red tower marks entrance to Polish war museum by Kwadrat