News: the architect behind the competition-winning design for a new parliament in Baghdad has spoken out against "fashionable icon building" amid rumours that the Iraqi authorities are in discussions with Zaha Hadid, whose own design was placed third. More about Iraqi Parliament architect attacks "failure" of iconic buildings
News: the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced 28 winners of this year's Institute Honor Awards, including projects by OMA, BIG and Kohn Pedersen Fox. More about 2013 AIA Institute Honor Awards winners announced
News: American college student Tyler McNaney has invented a desktop machine that makes the raw materials for 3D printing by grinding up waste plastic from bottles, wrappers and even Lego bricks. More about Desktop recycling plant makes plastic for 3D printing
News: the Design Museum in London has announced the projects nominated for the Designs of the Year 2013, including the Olympic Cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick, The Shard by Renzo Piano (above) and the Little Printer by BERG. More about Designs of the Year 2013 shortlist announced
News: developers are building a private city on the outskirts of Guatemala City as a safe haven from the crime-ridden capital. More about Developers building crime-free private city outside Guatemalan capital
News: in 2012 the total number of skyscrapers constructed around the world failed to increase for the first time in six years, says the annual report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, revealing the continued impact of the global financial crisis that started in 2007. More about Skyscraper construction stalled in 2012
News: British architect John Pawson has designed 26 high-end apartments for a new leisure complex at Miami Beach. More about John Pawson designs apartments for Miami Beach
News: the American architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable, who won the first Pulitzer Prize for criticism, has died aged 91. More about Ada Louise Huxtable 1921-2013
News: Swiss architect Peter Zumthor is now inviting guests to rent a holiday home he built for his family in the mountain hamlet of Leis in Vals (+ slideshow). More about Zumthor lets his holiday home to guests
News: graphic design studio Barnbrook has defaced a classic David Bowie album and upturned a 1970s photograph of the musician to create the covers of his new album and single. More about Barnbrook designs David Bowie album and single covers
Venice Architecture Biennale 2014: architect Rem Koolhaas has today been confirmed as the director of the next Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014 and wants to use the opportunity to readdress the "fundamental elements of architecture". More about Rem Koolhaas confirmed as director of Venice Architecture Biennale 2014
News: a fork for dieters that vibrates when you eat too much or too fast is one of the most talked-about launches at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. More about Vibrating "smart fork" for weight loss launches at CES
News: a project to bring cheap and easy-to-build mine detonators to Afghan minefields has just nine days left to raise the final £14,000 of its £100,000 goal on crowdfunding website Kickstarter. More about Wind-powered mine detonator on Kickstarter
News: 3D technology company Inition has developed an augmented-reality iPad app that allows architects to look inside static architectural models, visualise how their building will look at night and track how wind flows around their design proposals (+ movie). More about Inition develops "augmented 3D printing" for architects
News: Here are the latest images of architect Jean Nouvel's Philharmonie de Paris, set to become the world's most expensive concert hall after surviving the French government's recent cull of major cultural projects (+ slideshow). More about Jean Nouvel's Paris concert hall spared the axe
News: Scientists at a Spanish university are developing a new type of concrete that captures rainwater to create living walls of moss and fungi. More about Researchers develop "biological concrete" for moss-covered walls
News: well-designed classrooms can improve the academic performance of primary school pupils by 25 percent according to a new study undertaken by the University of Salford and UK architects Nightingale Associates. More about Well-designed schools improve learning by 25 percent says new study
News: rumours are mounting that Apple is working on a wearable smartwatch that would link up to an iPhone. More about Apple rumoured to be working on "iWatch"
News: a building designed by Zaha Hadid for Beijing has been copied by a developer in Chongqing, with the two projects racing to be completed first. More about Zaha Hadid building pirated in China
News: British industrial designer Kenneth Grange has become Sir Kenneth Grange after receiving a knighthood for services to design in the New Year Honours. More about Kenneth Grange knighted in New Year Honours