Dezeen Wire: Michelle Ogundehin, editor of Elle Decoration magazine, has reacted angrily to a revelation in the London Evening Standard that Samantha Cameron, wife of UK prime minister David Cameron, purchased a reproduction of the Castiglioni brothers' iconic Arco floor lamp for her home. More about UK prime minister's wife sparks debate over replica furniture
Dezeen Wire: an arts centre by architect Oscar Niemeyer in the Spanish city of Avilés is to close, having been open to the public for just six months. The regional government claims there are irregularities in The Niemeyer Centre's accounts and has forced it to close for at least the next two months, sparking protests from local residents and business owners - The Guardian
Dezeen Wire: there has been mixed reaction from architecture critics to Rafael Viñoly's firstsite visual arts centre in Colchester, dubbed the "golden banana" by some commentators. More about Critics review Rafael Viñoly's "golden banana"
Dezeen Wire: design critic Alice Rawsthorn dicusses the difficulty in accurately defining design, suggesting that more "open" design processes mean anyone can claim to be a designer - The New York Times
Dezeen Wire: here is a roundup of the critics' reactions to Zaha Hadid Architects scooping the RIBA Stirling Prize for the second consecutive year with their design for a school in south London. More about Critics' reactions to Zaha Hadid's Stirling Prize win
Dezeen Wire: Vienna Design Week is underway and Dezeen are covering the festival live from Vienna. Highlights include a machine that draws Spirograph-style patterns in quartz sand by Philippe Malouin, a collaboration between Tomas Alonso and one of the city's oldest silver companies and a wooden treehouse by Konstantin Schmolzer that's constructed alongside the vertical garden inside Jean Nouvel's Sofitel hotel. More about Vienna Design Week 30/09 - 09/10
Dezeen Wire: design and architecture biennale EXD/11 Lisboa (experimentadesign) has opened in Lisbon, with exhibitions and talks on the the theme of Useless underway across the city. Dezeen is at the opening and will bring highlights over the coming days.
Dezeen Wire: planning permission has been granted for Stanton Williams' proposed transformation of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes. The comprehensive renovation of the existing museum and construction of a new 5800m2 extension is due to begin in October with completion scheduled for autumn 2013. More about Stanton Williams receives planning permission for Musée d’Art in Nantes
Dezeen Wire: the London Olympic Velodrome by Hopkins Architects has been voted the public's favourite building from a shortlist for this year's RIBA Stirling Prize. The velodrome attracted 63% of the vote in a poll organised by the RIBA. The official judging and announcement of the winner will take place tomorrow. More about Olympic Velodrome is nation's favourite Stirling Prize shortlisted building
Dezeen Wire: design critic Nicole Swengley writes about the increasing number of designers engaging in socially responsible or philanthropic projects, including Yves Behar's See Better to Learn Better reading glasses (see our previous story here) and Max Fraser's Joy of Living exhibition (see the story here and an interview with Max here) - The Wall Street Journal
More about "Wearing a Philanthropic Heart on Their Designs" - The Wall Street Journal
Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Kieran Long describes proposals by property giants Land Securities to redevelop a large part of the area around Victoria Station in London as "promising for the future of Victoria and for the future of large-scale property development in central London in general." - Evening Standard
More about Kieran Long praises proposed new commercial district in London's Victoria
Dezeen Wire: the Design Museum has submitted plans for the redevelopment of the former Commonwealth Institute building by architect John Pawson. The application concerns proposed alterations to the Grade II listed building's interior, including the creation of a new central atrium, mezzanine level and basement. More about John Pawson submits plans for new Design Museum
Dezeen Wire: here’s a summary of the most interesting things to see at Beijing Design Week, which continues until 3 October. More about Beijing Design Week highlights
Dezeen Wire: here's a roundup of the most interesting London Design Festival events that caught our eye when we weren't busy at Dezeen Space last week. More about London Design Festival highlights
Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Jay Merrick of The Independent describes the revamped Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury by Keith Williams as "a scene stealer in a city that's already full of star attractions," while Maev Kennedy, writing for The Guardian, applauds the local council for investing in a building that will generate income and jobs for the area. The theatre will be officially opened by Prince Edward on 4 October.
Dezeen Wire: architect David Chipperfield, structural engineer Cecil Balmond and Wilkinson Eyre Architects are among the shortlisted candidates for the Prince Philip Designers Prize 2011. More about Prince Philip Designers Prize shortlist announced
Dezeen Wire: design critic Justin McGuirk claims that the most creative work on show during the recent London Design Festival was to be found in basement flats and disused offices - The Guardian
See more stories by Justin McGuirk here and all of our coverage on the London Design Festival here.
More about Justin McGuirk reviews this year's London Design Festival
Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Jonathan Glancey reviews the latest building by Renzo Piano, a convent near to Le Corbusier's chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp - The Guardian
See more stories about Renzo Piano here and all of our stories on chapels and churches here.
More about "Renzo Piano's new convent is spare, calm and quietly masterful"- The Guardian
Dezeen Wire: the number of architectural practices expecting more work in the month from July to August saw a drop from 27% to 25% according to the latest Future Trends Survey published by the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. More about "More practices expecting drop in workload" - RIBA Future Trends Survey
Construction of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, designed by famed Art Nouveau architect Antoni Gaudí before his death in 1926, will finally be completed between 2026 and 2028 according to the president of the Sagrada Família Trust - Catalan News Agency
More about Sagrada Família to be completed between 2026 and 2028