Design Miami 2015: American designer Ian Stell has created an expandable bench that forms two conjoined chairs when contracted. More about Ian Stell's Austrian Loop chair expands and contracts like an accordion
Kubo Tsushima Architects gave a curved form to this public toilet in Japanese town of Nakanojo, to avoid creating spaces for dust to collect or spiders to lurk (+ slideshow). More about Kubo Tsushima Architects develops an alternative to Japan's "dismal" public toilets
French chocolate company Alain Ducasse has released a dried fruit and nut-covered festive chocolate tree that comes in a flat-pack box. More about Alain Ducasse's chocolate Christmas tree is assembled like flat-pack furniture
A flight of stairs wraps around the exterior of this mixed-use concrete tower in Seoul's busy Gangnam district, freeing up prime rental space on the ground floor (+ slideshow). More about Sae Min Oh designs irregularly shaped block in Seoul as a "three-dimensional street"
Opinion: KPF's attempt to recreate the allure of a red Porsche on the facade of Los Angeles automotive museum has left us with an eyesore, says Mimi Zeiger. But can it teach us anything about our architectural now? More about "The Petersen isn't a good building, it's a western-town front posing as architecture"
IKEA's future-living research lab Space10 has launched a visual exploration into what the next 20 years of food design might hold for the meatball, including artificially-grown animal flesh and crispy insect protein. More about IKEA's Copenhagen research lab investigates the future of the meatball
MIT Media Lab graduate Will Patrick has designed a prototype desktop bioreactor that could enable the production of pharmaceutical drugs at home. More about Will Patrick's Farma bioreactor could let owners brew their own drugs
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles reopened this week following an extensive renovation, featuring a new wavy steel and aluminium facade designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (+ slideshow). More about LA's Petersen Automotive Museum reopens with KPF-designed metal-ribbon facade
Apple has unveiled its own Smart Battery Case that slides onto the back of the iPhone 6 or 6s to provide additional power. More about Apple extends iPhone 6 battery life with slip-on rechargeable case
Comments update: Eric Parry Architects unveiled designs for the tallest building in London's financial district this week. Will it be an eyesore or a refreshing addition to the city's skyline? Read on to find out what readers thought, and explore our comments page to keep up to date with the latest discussions. More about "Sexy, sturdy, modern and masculine"
Studio Egret West has unveiled a "revolutionary new design vision" for London Underground stations of the future (+ slideshow). More about Studio Egret West reveals designs for future London Underground stations
The double-helix structure of a DNA strand inspired the design of the Singapore Helix Bridge by Cox Architecture, the latest addition to our Christmas countdown. More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Helix Bridge by Cox Architecture
From limited-edition watches to folding toys, Postmodern coffee makers to notebooks that turn sketches into digital files, Dezeen editor Anna Winston picks 21 of the best new designs to give an architect or designer this holiday season (+ slideshow). More about Dezeen's Christmas gift guide for architects and designers
One end of this concrete funeral building in Spain by Salas Architecture + Design angles up towards the sky, funnelling light into a waiting room for mourners (+ movie). More about Stark concrete funeral home by Salas Architecture + Design tilts up towards the sun
Architects and urban designers are finally responding to the threat of rising sea levels by welcoming water into cities, says urbanism expert Tracy Metz. More about "Architects are going crazy with the idea of a new relationship to water" says Tracy Metz
RIBA International Prize: the Royal Institute of British Architects is launching its International Prize for the best new building in the world, with the inaugural 2016 ceremony to take place in London. More about International Prize for world's best new building launched by RIBA
A crucifix and bell are set into two hollows in the swollen brick facade of this chapel, which was designed by Wandel Lorch Architekten for a site in Hamburg's docklands (+ slideshow). More about Wandel Lorch completes chapel with bulging brickwork in Hamburg docklands
Polish design studio UVMW has created a visual identity for Warsaw's Beton Film Festival based on Le Corbusier's Modulor system of proportions. More about Polish film festival identity references Le Corbusier's Modulor Man
Architecture office NBBJ has unveiled a concept for a series of natural ice rinks on London's River Thames that emerge from below the water's surface. More about Flower-like ice rinks proposed for London's River Thames
Slovenian firm Svet Vmes Architects has renovated the entrance hall of a 126-year-old school in Ljubljana, adding glass cabinets that resemble geometric line drawings (+ slideshow). More about Svet Vmes adds black-framed glass cabinets to school entrance hall