The interior of this east London cafe by local firm TwistInArchitecture features copper tubes, timber boards and metal light fittings, designed to reference the area's trade history (+ slideshow). More about London cafe interior by TwistInArchitecture references city's commercial history
Competition: Dezeen has teamed up with publishers MIT Press to offer readers the chance to win one of five copies of a new book about developments in synthetic biology, by researchers including Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. More about Competition: five Synthetic Aesthetics books to be won
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: micro-robotics and 3D-printing are poised to revolutionise fashion, says the designer of Lady Gaga's bubble-blowing dress, in the second part of our interview with Studio XO. More about Clothes will shrink to fit "at the push of a button" within five years
This office and workshop for a theatre designer in Osaka was designed by Japanese studio Mattch to look like a glazed box hovering between two solid curtains (+ slideshow). More about Set design studio in Japan by Mattch plays with theatrical imagery
Gravity keeps the aluminium and timber components of these lamp shades by industrial designer Nick Sadowsky locked together. More about Aluminium and timber light shades by Nick Sadowsky use gravity to maintain shape
Milan 2014: Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka has created a collection of spongy seats inspired by erotic bondage techniques by tying up blocks of foam and dipping them in rubber. More about Foam dipped in rubber becomes seating by Jo Nagasaka
Milan 2014: Spanish designer Jaime Hayón has created a tableware collection of vessels with metal stands that reference the pottery and architecture of ancient Rome. More about Roman artefacts influence tableware designs by Jaime Hayón
A wooden treehouse with circular perforations is suspended from the ceiling inside this space for a south London theatre company for disabled children, echoing round patterns on its facade (+ slideshow). More about Timber treehouse hangs inside Oily Cart theatre headquarters by Hawkins\Brown
Milan 2014: this plastic table by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka for Italian brand Kartell resembles cut glass. More about Plastic table by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell sparkles like crystal glass
Milan 2014: cushions scattered on the Nubilo sofa by French designer Constance Guisset look like a collection of giant pebbles (+ slideshow). More about Nubilo sofa by Constance Guisset for Petite Friture offers pebble-shaped cushions for comfort
Dezeen Music Project: discoloured images from children's science journals have been collaged together by videographer Ewan Jones Morris to create this music video for London band Fanfarlo's Cell Song (+ movie). More about Ewan Jones Morris' animation for Cell Song by Fanfarlo explores biological structures
French architect Noel Dominguez has added a timber-clad residence with an angular penthouse to the former garden of a townhouse on the outskirts of Paris (+ slideshow).
More about Noel Dominguez inserts timber cube house into Parisian garden
We've collected together the most repinned projects from the pages of Dezeen and pinned them onto a dedicated Pinterest board.
More about New Pinterest board: Dezeen's most popular pins
Milan 2014: dripping water from ice-encased tropical plants and quietly rotating feather-patterned fans featured in this climate-themed exhibition by Italian research centre Fabrica (+ slideshow). More about Fabrica researchers explore temperature theme for sensory installation in Milan
Designer Reiichi Ikeda inserted boxy partitions that follow the pattern of existing ceiling trusses into this clothing boutique in Osaka, Japan (+ slideshow). More about Reiichi Ikeda divides narrow Japanese clothing boutique with boxy partitions
Milan 2014: what started as a conversation between Swedish furniture brand Offecct and Milan-based Fattorini+Rizzini+Partners at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in 2013 has come full circle with the launch of the MEET sofa (+ slideshow). More about Fattorini+Rizzini+Partners' MEET sofa combines "sound absorption" with versatility
This house in the Oxfordshire countryside was designed by London studio The Manser Practice with a Cotswold stone facade and a cantilevered terrace overlooking the woods (+ slideshow). More about Dry-stone walls surround English countryside house by The Manser Practice
Milan 2014: Dutch designer Frederik Roijé has created a series of metal trays that form criss-crossing patterns when stacked on top of each other (+ slideshow). More about Stacking trays by Frederik Roijé form overlapping grid patterns
A 100-year-old house in Paris has been renovated and extended by local studio CUT Architectures to frame a garden facing the morning sun and create a shaded terrace overlooking a nearby park (+ slideshow). More about Red cedar clads extended Parisian house by CUT Architectures
Our most popular story this week has been a system of illustrated characters and animations developed to help people learn to read Chinese. Read on for more architecture and design highlights from the past seven days plus our Dezeen Music Project track of the week. More about This week on Dezeen