A spiral staircase rises through the trough-shaped floors of this concrete residence in Japan by local studio Takeshi Hosaka Architects (+ slideshow). More about Spiral stairs puncture hilly floors inside Takeshi Hosaka's House in Byobugaura
News: OMA is set to transform part of a former shipyard in Shanghai into a 1,500-square-metre exhibition centre, after winning an international design competition. More about OMA scoops Shanghai exhibition centre competition
An aluminium and glass box sits over a long stone wall to form the facade of this mining heritage centre in the French village of Banca, by Toulouse studio V2S (+ slideshow). More about Mining museum by V2S contrasts a traditional stone wall with a metal box
Danish designer Henrik Thor-Larsen's retro-futuristic 1968 Ovalia Egg Chair is the 15th iconic seat design in our Christmas countdown this year. More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Ovalia Egg Chair by Henrik Thor-Larsen
Triangular skylights set into a faceted stainless-steel roof direct daylight into the reading room of this library that Tank Architectes has completed in a converted police station in France (+ slideshow). More about Metallic polygonal roof tops La Madeleine library by Tank Architectes
Architects plan low-cost residences for all kinds of reasons, whether rehousing victims of natural disasters or creating affordable homes for people with low incomes. We've collected eight of the best examples, from a prefabricated home in Sweden to a bamboo dwelling in Vietnam (+ slideshow). More about Eight resourceful low-cost housing projects from around the globe
Australian company Run4 has launched a piece of fitness equipment designed to prevent running injuries that works like a bicycle and cross-trainer hybrid (+ slideshow). More about Bionic Runner combines cycling and jogging for "injury-free" running
More than 900 bamboo poles were used to construct this home, designed by architect Enrique Mora Alvarado for a site in a remote Ecuadorian rainforest (+ slideshow). More about Low-cost house by Enrique Mora Alvarado built using rainforest wood and bamboo
N is the next letter in our A-Zdvent calendar, represented by Emeco's lightweight aluminium Navy Chair designed for use on US submarines. More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Navy Chair by Emeco
We've updated our Japanese houses Pinterest board to include 141 examples that have been published on Dezeen since May 2013. See our updated board »
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A new timber and concrete cafe cantilevers out towards the swimming pool at this 1970s hotel in Portugal that has been renovated by Campos Costa Arquitectos (+ slideshow). More about Hotel cafe by Campos Costa Arquitectos projects towards a swimming pool
Eindhoven studio OS & OOS have unveiled a version of their Keystone chair upholstered in textiles from the Raf Simons collection for Danish company Kvadrat. More about OS & OOS upholsters Keystone chair in Raf Simons' Kvadrat textiles
Music: Australian studio Dropbear Digital used over 330 paper illustrations to tell the story of a wandering spirit in this stop-motion video for John Butler Trio's new single, Spring to Come. More about Dropbear Digital turns paper cut-outs into stop-motion music video for John Butler Trio
Squeezed between two existing buildings in Barcelona, this family home by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes features a steel frame, a timber facade and two street-facing balconies (+ slideshow). More about Alventosa Morell slots a four-storey house between two blocks in Barcelona
Helsinki-based Studio Puisto used hanging basket seats, strips of timber and potted plants for the interior of this 20-room hotel in Tampere, Finland (+ slideshow). More about Studio Puisto's Dream Hotel extends a popular hostel in a former warehouse
Transparent resin blocks peppered with flowers form the seat and arms of the Miss Blanche Chair by Shiro Kuramata – letter M in our alphabetical Christmas countdown. More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Miss Blanche Chair by Shiro Kuramata
Behind the aluminium facade of this innovation centre for the University of Toronto Mississauga, local office Moriyama & Teshima Architects has converted a courtyard into a rotunda with a glass roof (+ slideshow). More about Courtyard becomes rotunda inside Toronto university building by Moriyama & Teshima
This week we reported on MoMA's acquisition of a "4D-printed" dress, MAD's first European project (pictured) and 2015's AIA Gold Medal recipient. Read on for more architecture and design highlights, plus our regular track of the week. More about This week on Dezeen
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: engineering student Martijn Lammers, part of the team behind the world's "first solar-powered family car," claims most vehicles could be powered by the sun in future. More about Solar-powered cars could become standard "within 30 years"
News: the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in Manhattan reopens to the public today after a three-year renovation project including new fittings by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro (+ slideshow). More about New York's Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum reopens