News: Danish architect Henning Larsen is among the five laureates of the Praemium Imperiale arts prize, awarded annually by the Japan Art Association. More about Henning Larsen awarded Praemium Imperiale
News: the New York Times has published a scathing news report about the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale, claiming "the less said, the better."
The article declares the theme of "Common Ground," chosen by director David Chipperfield, to be "a missed opportunity" to draw attention away from "glamorous buildings and celebrated designers" towards "broader issues like urbanism, public space, social responsibility and collaboration." More about Venice Architecture Biennale is "missed opportunity" - New York Times
Dezeen News: a British and American proposal for a new district built around manmade waterways has been selected as part of a masterplan to double the size of Moscow in the next few decades. More about Moscow set to double in size with new masterplan for city expansion
News: Berlin design fair Qubique has been postponed until 2013, the organisers have announced. More about Qubique postponed
Dezeen News: Industrial designer Bill Moggridge, who created the first laptop computer, co-founded global design company IDEO and more recently was director of the Cooper-Hewitt museum in New York, has died aged 69. More about Bill Moggridge 1943-2012
Dezeen News: The government of Honduras has given the go-ahead for three privately run cities with "their own police, laws, government and tax systems", according to ABC News. More about "Honduras sets stage for 3 privately run cities" - ABC News
Dezeen News: mixed doubles tennis player Brian Battistone turned heads at the U.S. Open this week with a two-handled tennis racket his playing partner has dubbed "the alien". More about Two-handled tennis racket spotted at the U.S. Open
Dezeen News: the new owners of Battersea Power Station say their £8bn revamp of the site will begin in 2013, ending more than 25 years of speculation over the future of the London landmark. More about New owners of Battersea Power Station pledge to finally redevelop London landmark
Dezeen News: architect Frank Gehry has donated $100,000 to the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) to endow a new annual prize for the best graduate thesis projects. More about Frank Gehry establishes SCI-Arc prize with 0,000 donation
Architecture firm Gensler have released a conceptual proposal for a new floating airport for London, located in the Thames Estuary with terminals connected by underwater tunnels. More about London Britannia Airport by Gensler
Dezeen Wire: a house in Phoenix, Arizona designed by the influential American architect Frank Lloyd Wright could be bulldozed unless a new buyer is found or the city agrees to grant landmark status to the property. More about Frank Lloyd Wright house in Arizona faces demolition
Dezeen Wire: a new skyscraper in Suzhou designed by British architects RMJM has been likened to 'giant underpants' by Chinese commentators, reports the Telegraph.
Update 6 September 2012: RMJM have sent an official response to our story, saying "While some critics view the unfinished skeleton as a laughable pair of low-rise jeans, the gateway is a far cry from a joking matter." For the full statement, scroll down to the comments section or click here.
More about RMJM skyscraper dubbed 'big pants' by Chinese – Telegraph
Dezeen Wire: here's the first image of a new 190-metre skyscraper for the City of London designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox to house the European headquarters for insurance company W. R. Berkley Corporation. More about W. R. Berkley Corporation European headquarters by Kohn Pedersen Fox
Dezeen Wire: technology companies are moving from suburban office parks into cities, writes urban studies theorist Richard Florida in an article for the The Wall Street Journal.
Among the reasons he gives, Florida says that design is now central to the success of both software and hardware, and "design talent is overwhelmingly concentrated in big cities, with their leading design schools and multiple industries that draw upon such skills." More about "Tech firms are opting for cities" - Richard Florida, The Wall Street Journal
Dezeen Wire: Rem Koolhaas of OMA is tipped to be director of the next Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014. Among those speculating on Twitter was assistant director for the 2012 biennale Kieran Long, who tweeted "it's certain to be Rem Koolhaas next time. Done deal say my sources." More about Rem Koolhaas tipped to be director of next Venice Architecture Biennale
Dezeen Wire: architect Wolf D Prix of Coop Himmelb(l)au has launched a scathing attack on the Venice Architecture Biennale, claiming it's "no longer about lively discussion and criticism of topics in contemporary architecture" but places too much importance on celebrity. More about Venice Architecture Biennale "cannot get any worse" says Wolf D Prix
Dezeen Wire: "we're advocating other UK architects to design on water," architect Alex de Rijke told Dezeen at the Venice Architecture Biennale this week, where his firm dRMM are exhibiting proposals for floating housing at the British Pavilion. More about UK should "learn from the Netherlands" and build floating housing - Alex de Rijke
Dezeen Wire: design critic and curator Aric Chen (above) has been appointed curator of art and design for M+, a new museum for visual culture in Hong Kong. More about Aric Chen appointed curator of design and architecture at M+ museum
Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Justin McGuirk (pictured above, holding the award), photographer Iwan Bann and the Urban-Think Tank team of Venezuela (also pictured above) have won the Golden Lion for best project at the Venice Architecture Biennale for their Torre David/Gran Horizonte installation and cafe. More about Justin McGuirk, Urban-Think Tank and Iwan Baan win best project at Venice Architecture Biennale
Dezeen Wire: the Japanese Pavilion curated by Toyo Ito (pictured above) has been awarded best pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. More about Japan awarded best pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale