News: Google's self-driving car, Frank Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton building (pictured) and Konstantin Grcic's Man Machine furniture are among the 76 projects nominated for the Designs of the Year awards 2015. More about Designs of the Year 2015 nominees announced
Strips of golden aluminium cover this performing arts school and library designed by Ateliers O-S Architectes to stretch across a hillside in a Parisian suburb (+ slideshow). More about Ateliers O-S adds golden metal walls to cultural centre beside a French cemetery
White balloons spill out the windows and doors of a house, invade a golf course and overflow from a burnt-out car in a series of installations by French artist Charles Pétillon (+ slideshow). More about Charles Pétillon fills abandoned spaces with white balloons
Bags of rice and bottled condiments are displayed on simple plywood units inside this former Tokyo greengrocers that has been converted into a tiny rice shop, cafe and a home for the proprietor (+ slideshow). More about Tokyo rice shop by Schemata Architects is filled with boxy plywood fittings
Geneva Motor Show 2015: luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has revealed images of its Vantage GT3 special edition, which will debut at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show next month (+ slideshow). More about Aston Martin's Vantage GT3 is designed to "bridge the gap between road and track"
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: Ben Alun-Jones of Knyttan explains how customers can create bespoke knitwear at the company's "factory of the future" and claims mass customisation is transforming the role of designers (+ movie). More about Mass customisation "can be the future of fashion," says Knyttan co-founder
Business news: architecture critic Ellis Woodman has been appointed director of the London-based Architecture Foundation. More about Architecture Foundation names critic Ellis Woodman as new director
News: Sony has announced that it will make its augmented reality eyewear prototype available for developers, following news that Google pulled sales of its own headset last month (+ movie). More about Sony to release SmartEyeglass devices next month
News: Foster + Partners has released photographs of its new Apple store in Hangzhou – one of five new shops that the company is opening in China ahead of Chinese New Year (+ slideshow). More about Foster + Partners completes Apple store in Hangzhou, China
A large circular mirror reflects a tree planted in the centre of this Osaka cafe by Japanese studio Ninkipen! (+ slideshow). More about A small tree grows inside Ito-biyori cafe by Ninkipen!
News: Apple has been granted a patent for a wireless headset that mounts an iPhone in front of the eyes, hinting at the company's expansion into virtual reality. More about Apple wins patent approval for wireless virtual reality headset
News: the first image showing the "super-strength" copper-nickel skin that will clad Thomas Heatherwick's Garden Bridge has been unveiled, just 24 hours after the £175 million project was threatened by a legal challenge. More about New image shows "super-strength" cladding for Thomas Heatherwick's Garden Bridge
Bored with the dismal view from the office window, Polish studio Zalewski Architecture envisioned a grassy suspended walkway that would allow them to take a stroll without leaving the building. More about Zalewski Architecture imagines spiral walkway strung between high-rise buildings
Graphic wallpaper by Eley Kishimoto creates the illusion of a three-dimensional grid across the walls and floors of this bakery in south-east London (+ slideshow). More about Eley Kishimoto adds optical-illusion wallpaper to London patisserie
Cologne 2015: the first collaboration between German designer Sebastian Herkner and Danish furniture manufacturer Gubi has resulted in a minimal pendant lamp. More about Sebastian Herkner's Collar Lamp pairs hand-blown glass with a spun aluminium shade
Hundreds of thin wooden strips cover the facade of this university building by Japanese firm Kengo Kuma and Associates, while a cavernous opening at ground level frames a view of a park behind (+ slideshow). More about Kengo Kuma creates facade of wooden strips for University of Tokyo computing facility
Fashion studio The Unseen will present a sculptural jacket that changes colour depending on the wearer's mood during this month's London Fashion Week. More about The Unseen creates "coded couture" to read wearers' auras
Researchers from Swiss technical university Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have created a prototype for telescopic contact lenses, and have developed the technology to allow them to be controlled by winking. More about Telescopic contact lenses zoom in and out with right and left winks
Dezeen promotion: architects and designers have until the end of this month to submit projects for this year's A' Design Awards. More about Final call for entries to A' Design Awards 2015
News: a "zero-emission" electric black taxi design has been approved to operate on London's roads and could replace the city's famous diesel-fuelled cabs (+ slideshow). More about London's first electric black cab approved for fare-paying passengers