A "forest" of sweet gum trees grows through openings in the concrete slabs of this house in Morelia, Mexico, by Roof Arquitectos, providing an alternative to a central courtyard (+ movie). More about Trees grow through the floors of Julio Hernández house by Roof Arquitectos
Dutch office MVRDV has revealed the first photographs of The Stairs, a huge scaffolding staircase leading up to the roof of an office block in Rotterdam city centre (+ slideshow). More about MVRDV completes giant scaffolding staircase in Rotterdam city centre
Golden boxes fronted by balconies make up the exterior of this student housing block in Paris by Hamonic+Masson & Associés, which also features a secret garden and nesting areas for birds (+ slideshow). More about Hamonic+Masson completes student housing with a facade of golden cubes
British architecture studio Foster + Partners has launched its latest light produced in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Lumina: a tabletop design that emits a gentle glow. More about Foster + Partners introduces Eva tabletop light with candle-like glow
Panoramic windows puncture the grey brick walls of this guest house, designed by South Korean studio Z_Lab to optimise views of Jeju island's picturesque coastline (+ slideshow). More about Z_Lab uses volcanic stone and pale grey brick for gabled holiday home on Jeju island
New York 2016: Brooklyn company Calico Wallpaper has used the salts in Mast Brothers' new chocolate range to create marbled packaging for the bars (+ slideshow). More about Calico Wallpaper uses salt to pattern chocolate packaging for Mast Brothers
This house in Japan features bright white walls and mirrored surfaces inside and out to make the most of the surrounding greenery and natural light (+ slideshow). More about Mirrors and white walls draw light through House in Okazaki by Kazuki Moroe Architects
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a method for 3D printing artificial hair, allowing them to print everything from paintbrushes to fake fur (+ movie). More about MIT researchers create 3D-printed fur, opening up "a new design space"
Milan 2016: German designer Thomas Schnur has designed a gridded storage system than can be used to display plants, hang up clothes, or as a framework for shelves (+ slideshow). More about Thomas Schnur's wire Grid functions as a storage system
New York 2016: the latest designer to set up their own brand is Joe Doucet, who has launched a range of 3D-printed products by names including Claesson Koivisto Rune, Sebastian Bergne and Philippe Malouin. More about Joe Doucet launches Othr brand for 3D-printed home accessories
Each of the pieces in this basalt tableware range by British designer Max Lamb has been cast from a hand-carved mould. More about Max Lamb creates range of tableware from black basalt
Dezeen promotion: architects and designers are invited to submit concepts to transform an abandoned paper factory in Bologna, Italy, into a high school and a business incubator for start-ups (+ slideshow). More about Call for entries to YAC's Green Academy competition 2016
London's Architectural Association has released a film showing its first major foray into robotic construction, and has revealed it will this year launch a new course focussed on digital fabrication (+ movie). More about London's AA School taps into robotic construction trend by launching specialist course
Plant Architect has used weathering steel to create a series of wing-like structures for bird watchers in a Toronto park, which are punctured with both patterns and information about local species (+ slideshow). More about Bird-watching pavilions by Plant Architect are made from perforated plates of weathering steel
Milan 2016: designer Martino Gamper explains how he repurposed the Flyknit material Nike uses in its shoes to create drum skins in our next movie from the sports brand's The Nature of Motion exhibition in Milan. More about Martino Gamper creates drum kits for Nike with Flyknit skins
A team of architects have launched an initiative to build a network of "makerspace" structures at Agbogbloshie, Ghana – the world's largest dumping site for electronic waste (photos by Julien Lanoo + slideshow). More about Agbogbloshie Makerspace Platform creates mobile workshops for world's largest e-waste dump
Milan 2016: Gebrüder Thonet Vienna's trademark steam-bent wood features in this modular wall hanging designed by Danish design duo GamFratesi and based on the movements of dancers. More about GamFratesi designs bent-wood Waltz coat hanger for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna
Set back from the beach behind a row of houses, this Mexican villa by architect BAAQ has terraces and a swimming pool raised up so residents can relax outdoors with a view of the ocean (photos by Edmund Sumner + slideshow). More about BAAQ completes seaside house in Mexico with an elevated pool and a thatched roof
Australian studio PHAB Architects has converted a former condensed-milk packing shed into an art gallery and workshop, without losing the building's industrial character and materiality (+ slideshow). More about PHAB Architects transforms 1920s packing shed into a contemporary art gallery
Nimtim Architects created a steeply terraced garden to accommodate this extension to a 1960s house in southeast London, which features parquet flooring and blue-stained woodwork (+ slideshow). More about Herringbone parquet and stained ply cabinetry feature in London extension by Nimtim Architects