New York designer Karim Rashid has unveiled a smartphone charging device that neatly stores a metre-long cable in a loop around its outside (+ slideshow). More about Karim Rashid's Bump smartphone charger "eliminates the knotty tangle of power cords"
Architecture firm SOM has completed a major new headquarters for Japan Tobacco International in Geneva, Switzerland, featuring an innovative facade of glass triangles and a huge central courtyard (+ slideshow). More about SOM builds new Geneva headquarters for Japan Tobacco International
A sinuous enclosure that doubles as seating and a shelter inspired by the yin-yang symbol are among the cat houses by Los Angeles architects that were created to benefit an animal welfare organisation (+ slideshow). More about LA architects create imaginative cat houses for charity auction
A group of engineers and scientists has come up with a way to remotely control insects, which they believe could provide an "improved alternative to remote-controlled drones". More about Remote-controlled flying cyborg beetles could replace drones
Visitors can take a plunge into a cold lake after warming up in this floating wooden sauna by Seattle firm goCstudio – the latest example of the trend for buoyant architecture (+ slideshow). More about WA Sauna by goCstudio floats on Seattle's Lake Union
Milan 2016: rounded trays extend from the sides of these bathroom fixtures by German designer Sebastian Herkner for Italian brand Ex.t. More about Sebastian Herkner designs Plateau range of oval-shaped bathroom products
Reebok has announced the release of the boot-like sneakers worn by Sigourney Weaver in 1986 sci-fi film Aliens. More about Reebok to launch Sigourney Weaver's Alien Stomper trainers
The craze for harbour baths in Denmark continues, with CF Møller set to build a trio of floating classrooms to provide "aqua learning" and water sports training for the new Copenhagen International School. More about CF Møller plans Copenhagen harbour baths that will double as school classrooms
Dezeen promotion: French furniture brand Roche Bobois has produced a movie featuring its Mah Jong sofa, which has been reinterpreted by a group of artists for a charity auction (+ movie). More about Roche Bobois' Mah Jong sofa shown in new movie and reinterpreted for charity auction
Threefold Architects has combined a Victorian workshop and an old shop unit in east London to create a home and gallery for an art curator (+ slideshow). More about Threefold Architects transforms workshop and shop to create combined gallery and home
Milan 2016: Dutch furniture brand Lensvelt is producing a collection of "boring" office furniture intended to "restore the balance between work and play" in the workplace (+ movie). More about Lensvelt designs collection of intentionally boring office furniture
Most Loved: in the next movie in our exclusive video series, London designer Tord Boontje explains how the decorative paper lampshade he designed in 2004 challenged the dominance of Minimalist design. More about Tord Boontje wanted to make the home "softer and more humane" with 2004 Midsummer Light
Slides and climbing frames connect brightly coloured playrooms in this kindergarten and play space by Crossboundaries, set within a formerly derelict building in Zhengzhou, China (+ slideshow). More about Crossboundaries converts derelict building into kindergarten and play centre
Pressed plants and colourful petals are frozen within these glass plates by German designer Meike Harde. More about Meike Harde's Evergreen Platters contain pressed flowers
Canadian studio Cargo Architecture used a restrained materials palette for this woodland vacation cottage in Quebec, which has a swing seat and a wood store built into its facade. More about Cargo Architecture completes Scandinavian-inspired holiday home in Quebec
New images of architect Jeanne Gang's Vista Tower in Chicago have been released to entice buyers to purchase luxury condominiums within the supertall skyscraper (+ slideshow). More about Studio Gang's supertall Chicago tower will include .1 million penthouse
Bay Area illustrator Peter Berkowitz has constructed a tiny wooden bedroom for himself in a friend's living room to avoid paying San Francisco's "absurdly high" rents. More about Peter Berkowitz builds sleeping pod in friend's apartment to escape San Francisco rents
Belarussian designer Constantin Bolimond has created a modular sex gadget made up of elements that differ in shape, texture and colour, and provide a variety of vibration, rotation and temperature settings (+ slideshow). More about Inme stackable sex toy offers customisable sensations
Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron has completed a new gallery to house the permanent collection of the Frank Gehry-designed Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. More about Herzog & de Meuron adds new gallery building to Vitra Design Museum
Opinion: temporary architecture is having a "moment" in Europe, and it has some serious lessons to offer architects that are still obsessed with permanence, says Aaron Betsky. More about "Let's hear it for temporary architecture"