Opinion: when the creative industries across Europe go offline for the holiday season, the archetypal English country cottage becomes an incubator for problem-solving design brilliance says Kieran Long. More about "Holidays bring out the best in designers"
London office Studio Octopi has revised its proposal for a floating swimming pool in the River Thames, to become a pontoon of three freshwater pools in a new location beside Temple underground station. More about Studio Octopi's Thames Bath concept evolves into floating freshwater pools
Canadian studio Chevalier Morales Architectes has reinterpreted the traditional Swiss chalet to create a top-heavy timber house in the mountain landscape of eastern Quebec (+ slideshow). More about Canadian lodge by Chevalier Morales references Alpine chalets
San Francisco company Scribble Technology has revealed a prototype for a writing device that can scan specific tones and then write in the same colour (+ slideshow). More about Scribble's colour-matching pen can write in millions of tones
Rammed earth walls built using soil from the desert site are wrapped in a protective weathered steel shell at this courtyard house near Phoenix by local firm Wendell Burnette Architects (+ slideshow). More about Desert Courtyard House by Wendell Burnette features rammed earth walls
An old farmhouse in France's picturesque Loire Valley has been converted into a summer retreat by Paris architects Septembre (+ slideshow). More about Septembre converts old French farmhouse into holiday home
This wooden community centre in the earthquake-affected Japanese town of Yamada, by Dutch studio Van Der Architects, features a semi-opaque glass wall and an artificial grass playground (+ slideshow). More about Timber community centre by Van Der Architects built in earthquake-hit Japanese town
London Design Festival 2014: London design studio Industrial Facility has created a stool to join its Branca family of wooden furniture for Italian brand Mattiazzi. More about Industrial Facility adds Branca Stool to collection for Mattiazzi
Narrow strips of steel give an undulating facade to this renovated commercial block in Tokyo by Japanese firm Amano Design Office (+ slideshow). More about Amano Design Office wraps Tokyo office block with steel ribbons
The design arm of architecture studio CF Møller has created a white porcelain tableware set in which different pieces all stack together (+ slideshow). More about CF Møller Design creates Ensō architectural tableware set
As a Danish architect unveils plans for a snowflake-shaped floating hotel, Dezeen selects 13 of the most ridiculous, outrageous and unusual hotel designs we've ever published – including a flying whale, a person-sized bird's nest and a room that allows guests to sleep with the fishes (+ slideshow). More about 13 crazy hotel designs
News: Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has completed a building with a cage-like exterior for the newly established Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. More about Santiago Calatrava completes Florida Polytechnic University
News: property tycoon Donald Trump is to build his latest Trump Tower in Mumbai – a golden skyscraper designed by Singapore firm WOHA. More about Donald Trump to add golden Trump Tower to Mumbai skyline
Japanese firm Shinichi Ogawa & Associates added a glazed wall to the elongated facade of this house and gallery in Japan's Mie prefecture so the florist who owns it can look out into the forest (+ slideshow). More about Elongated gallery and house by Shinichi Ogawa creates a forest home for a florist
Taiwan studio Tai & Architectural Design kept this apartment in Taipei "as minimal as possible" so it can be easily reverted to its original state (+ slideshow). More about Tai & Architectural Design keeps it simple for Taipei apartment interior
A circular sitting room in this Kuala Lumpur home by Malaysian architect Fabian Tan can be transformed into a sheltered outdoor terrace by sliding slatted timber walls along tracks in the floor and ceiling (+ slideshow). More about Sliding walls reveal a round living room at Fabian Tan's Voila House
This angular concrete hideaway by Australian studio Welsh + Major sits amongst the trees in the garden of a late-Victorian house in inner-city Sydney (+ slideshow). More about Concrete den by Welsh + Major nestles in a Sydney garden
This clothes hanger by German studio A'postrophe Design twists into a new shape to hold multiple garments and save space in the wardrobe (+ slideshow). More about Inside Out Hanger by A'postrophe Design transforms to hold more than one shirt
This house extension in Melbourne by local studio Kennedy Nolan Architects is separated from the rest of the Edwardian property by a wall with a circular hole that children can climb through (+ slideshow). More about Punctured wall separates old from new at Westgarth House by Kennedy Nolan
Irish firm Donal Colfer Architects has renovated a Victorian terraced house in Dublin, adding an extension with a glazed ground floor and concrete mullions above (+ slideshow). More about Donal Colfer Architects adds concrete and glass extension to Dublin residence