News: a 24 metre tall viewing tower that looks like a helter skelter and a student housing development in Oxford have been included in a shortlist for the ugliest building completed in the UK in the last 12 months. Update 29/08/13: the winner has been announced as 465 Caledonian Road by Stephen George & Partners. More about Carbuncle Cup 2013 shortlist revealed
News: construction has begun on a new federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles designed by US firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM). More about Work starts on SOM's Los Angeles Federal Courthouse
News: New Zealand firm Martin Aircraft Company has been given permission by the country's Civil Aviation Authority to conduct manned test flights on what it claims is the world's first practical jetpack. More about Test flights approved for world's first practical jetpack
News: architects including Alvaro Siza, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Kengo Kuma will create installations inside London's Royal Academy of Arts for an upcoming architecture exhibition. More about Alvaro Siza and Kengo Kuma to feature in major exhibition at London's RA
News: Kengo Kuma's latest proposals for a new outpost of the V&A museum in Dundee, Scotland, have been granted planning permission, following a redesign to reduce costs (+ slideshow). More about Green light for Kengo Kuma's redesigned V&A at Dundee
News: architecture studios OMA and BIG are among the ten collaborative design teams selected for an initiative to revitalise parts of the USA devastated by Hurricane Sandy. More about OMA and BIG to rebuild Sandy-affected communities
News: a Chinese businessman who built a house covered by an artificial mountain on top of a 26-storey apartment block in Beijing has been told to remove it or face having it demolished. More about Man ordered to remove fake mountain villa on top of Chinese tower
News: entrepreneur Elon Musk has revealed designs for a supersonic Hyperloop transport system to link Los Angeles and San Francisco in just 30 minutes (+ slideshow). More about Billionaire reveals Hyperloop supersonic transport system
News: the builders behind this two-tower 47-storey skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain, have forgotten to include a working lift. Update 20/08/13: the developer has told Dezeen that media reports were incorrect and the tower does include elevators. More about Benidorm skyscraper built without an elevator
News: German sports car manufacturer Porsche has turned to its 5 million fans on Facebook to crowd source designs for a unique 911 car. More about Porsche unveils crowd-sourced 911 car designed by Facebook fans
News: only one city has submitted a bid for World Design Capital 2016 - meaning Taipei is likely to be awarded the title. More about Taipei city submits the only bid for World Design Capital 2016
News: computer and electronics retailer Microsoft has become the first US retailer to sell MakerBot's desktop 3D printers on the shop floor for customers to take home on the same day. More about Microsoft to sell MakerBot 3D printers in American stores
News: a map that illustrates global forest densities using wood textures has won a competition to reinvent the tessellated world map designed 70 years ago by American architect and visionary designer R. Buckminster Fuller (+ slideshow). More about Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion world map redesigned
News: the Cardboard Cathedral designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban opens to the public today in Christchurch, New Zealand. More about Shigeru Ban completes Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch
News: Swedish furniture retailer IKEA has added an augmented reality function to its 2014 catalogue, allowing customers to see what products will look like in their homes. More about IKEA launches augmented reality catalogue
News: a heritage group in Beijing has written an open letter to the Royal Institute of British Architects saying it is "disappointed and offended" that Zaha Hadid's Galaxy Soho complex has been given an RIBA International Award. More about Chinese heritage group "offended" by Zaha Hadid's RIBA Award for Galaxy Soho
News: printing and packaging retailer The UPS Store has launched an in-store 3D printing service in six shops across the USA. More about The UPS Store becomes first major US retailer to offer 3D printing service
News: designer Janne Kyttanen has created a range of 3D-printed shoes for women that can be made at home overnight to be worn the next day. More about Cubify launches free-to-download shoes you can "print overnight"
News: the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam has acquired Solid C2 by Patrick Jouin, the first item of furniture to be 3D-printed in one piece. More about Stedelijk Museum acquires first 3D-printed chair
News: the topping-out ceremony for the Gensler-designed Shanghai Tower, the world's second-tallest building, takes place in Shanghai tomorrow (Saturday). More about World's second-tallest building tops out in Shanghai