New secretary of state for culture Matt Hancock has described the UK's creative industries as "a mammoth" in his first speech to the sector in his new post. More about New culture secretary compares UK creative industries to a woolly mammoth
Autonomous vehicles could make congestion worse in cities, according to leading transport designer Paul Priestman, who claims that personal transport needs to be rethought as it's "just not efficient any more". More about Self-driving cars will "exacerbate congestion rather than improve it" says Paul Priestman
Glenn Howells Architects has won approval to build a 132-metre skyscraper that will be the tallest residential building in Birmingham, England, and will house over 480 hi-tech rental apartments. More about Birmingham's tallest residential skyscraper to include rooftop running track and app-controlled lifts
Korean startup company Innomdle Lab has designed a smartwatch strap that allows users to receive phone calls by simply raising their finger to their ear. More about Sgnl watch strap lets you receive phone calls through your fingertips
Stanton Williams has completed a four-storey addition to a business school at the University of Cambridge, England, which features social and circulation areas that adjoin an existing historic building and are illuminated by large roof lights. More about Stanton Williams completes contemporary extension to historic Cambridge University campus
Copenhagen-based art and design studio Wang & Söderström has used algorithms to form the patterned surfaces of these vases, which are 3D-printed from plaster and set inside lumpy bases. More about Wang & Söderström's trio of 3D-printed vases feature mottled patterns and bulbous bases
US firm Walker Warner Architects has designed a large residence in Hawaii, where a great room opens onto a patio, a grassy poolside and sea views. More about Walker Warner Architects creates open-air beach house in Hawaii
Car company Toyota has unveiled an autonomous, fully electric concept vehicle that could function as a communal taxi, delivery truck or mobile shop, depending on the time of day. More about Toyota reveals vision for driverless vehicles that switch function on demand
Readers debate the effects of capitalism on London's ever-changing skyline in this week's roundup of comments from our readers. More about "This era of architecture will not be remembered fondly"
Fashion designer Rick Owens has updated three sandal designs by footwear brand Birkenstock, using a combination of felt, calf hair and grainy leather. More about Rick Owens creates calf-hair sandals for Birkenstock
American studio Haus has created a countryside home that consists of interlocking boxes clad in ash, concrete and cement board and a large overhanging roof that shelters an Airstream trailer. More about Haus wraps low-lying Indiana residence in thermally treated ash
Wood-lined bedrooms, a minimal diner and a shop all feature inside the Muji Hotel in Shenzhen, which is due to open to the public later this month. More about Muji offers first look inside its "anti-cheap" hotel in Shenzhen
London studio Outpost has won a contest seeking ideas for how disused gas holders could be repurposed across the UK, with its concept for a ring of affordable housing and workspaces. More about Affordable housing and studio concept wins RIBA contest for decommissioned gas holders
A mirror-clad pavilion camouflaged in woodland and another resembling a dilapidated shed are among five temporary structures on show in the grounds of the Alvaro Siza-designed Serralves Foundation in Porto. More about Porto architects create five temporary gallery spaces for travelling art exhibition
Chinese startup Byton has debuted its first concept car – an all-electric, self-driving SUV that it describes as the "next generation smart device". More about Byton unveils self-driving SUV boasting facial recognition and gesture controls
A glazed courtyard and roof lights draw daylight into this small house in south London, which was designed by local studio Hayhurst and Co for a plot where no outward-facing windows were permitted. More about Hayhurst and Co uses glazed atrium to illuminate interior of compact south London home
The controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's wall between the US and Mexico continues, as updated plans bring the predicted cost to $33 billion, while a petition has been launched to designate the eight construction prototypes as a national monument. More about Cost of Trump's US-Mexico border wall soars to billion
Virtual hangout spaces, biometric security and robotic companions are among the innovations poised to become part of our lives over the coming months, according to analysts at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas this week. More about Tech predictions and trends for this year and beyond from CES 2018
An electrical fire has caused smoke to billow from the roof of Donald Trump's skyscraper on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue and has injured three people. More about Trump Tower catches fire in New York City, injuring three
A man-made island surrounded by wind farms in the middle of the North Sea could help bring large-scale renewable energy to Europe by 2050. More about Wind farms and man-made island in the North Sea could help Europe meet renewable energy targets