Opinion: after returning from a two-week break, Sam Jacob reflects on the phenomenon of the modern beach holiday and argues that it is just as artificial as everyday working life in the city. More about "The beach is part of the same landscape as the city"
Product news: architect David Adjaye has unveiled his first furniture collection, designed for American retailer Knoll, which includes two cantilevered side chairs and a limited edition coffee table. More about The Washington Collection by David Adjaye for Knoll
Architect Julien De Smedt has launched Makers With Agendas, a new design brand with products ranging from solutions to natural disasters and humanitarian crises to coat hooks and tea sets (+ slideshow + interview). More about Makers With Agendas by Julien De Smedt and William Ravn
A free-running staircase (pictured), 3D-printing space robots and the car-frying "Walkie Scorchie" skyscraper all feature in Dezeen Mail issue 168, which also includes all the latest news, jobs, competitions and reader comments from Dezeen.
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More about Dezeen Mail #168
News: electronics brand Samsung has launched its Galaxy Gear smartwatch. More about Samsung launches Galaxy Gear smartwatch
News: the world's vainest skyscrapers have been revealed in the latest report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which reveals the unnecessary "vanity space" added to the top of the world's tallest buildings. More about Space-wasting "vanity" skyscrapers revealed
Models at a Norwegian fashion event walked along this looping wooden catwalk designed by Oslo studio Gartnerfuglen Architects (+ slideshow). More about Catwalk for Up [øpp] by Gartnerfuglen Architects
London studio Duggan Morris Architects has completed a community facility in south London that combines exposed concrete frames with raw brickwork and warm oak (+ slideshow). More about ORTUS, home of Maudsley Learning by Duggan Morris Architects
A combined bookshelf and staircase creates a small library with interchangeable shelving at this apartment in the Ukraine by architect Alex Bykov (+ slideshow). More about Loft Apartment by Alex Bykov
These magnetic headphone jacks by New York designer Jon Patterson split in two when tugged to prevent damaging devices when wires get snagged (+ movie). More about Pogo connectors by Jon Patterson
Australian studio Edwards Moore has revamped a small brick house in Melbourne by adding a new storey and a translucent roof (+ slideshow). More about Lightbox House by Edwards Moore
London film agency SHOWstudio has unveiled a 3D animation of the latest home for fashion doll Barbie - a virtual brutalist dystopia designed by fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic (+ slideshow + movie). More about Barbie Dreamhouse by Roksanda Ilincic and SHOWstudio
Movie: Dutch designer Hella Jongerius explains why she moved to Berlin and discusses her latest projects in the first of a series of exclusive video interviews Dezeen filmed at her studio in the German capital. More about "I work best in a new field or culture" - Hella Jongerius
Robots could be sent to Mars to build caves for later habitation by humans, according to a proposal for the colonisation of the planet by German firm ZA Architects (+ slideshow). More about Mars Colonisation by ZA Architects
This house by architect Marlene Uldschmidt has been built into the side of a hill in Portugal and features a vertical light well that links its upper and lower floors (+ slideshow). More about Casa 103 by Marlene Uldschmidt Architects
Following the huge success of Sam Jacob’s regular opinion column, we’re proud to announce that four more world-class writers are joining us as columnists: Dan Hill, Alexandra Lange, Kieran Long and Justin McGuirk. More about Meet our new Opinion columnists!
News: the "death-ray" effect created by sunlight reflected off the glazed facade of Rafael Viñoly's Walkie Talkie skyscraper in London were predicted over a year ago by a professional CGI artist, it emerged today as developers rush to install protective screens. More about CGI artist predicted "Walkie Scorchie" effect a year ago
News: today's Google Doodle in Japan celebrates what would have been the 100th birthday of Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. More about Google Japan pays tribute to Kenzo Tange
This timber-clad house in Auckland by New Zealand studio Glamuzina Paterson Architects zigzags across its site to outline gardens on both its east and west sides (+ slideshow). More about S House by Glamuzina Paterson Architects
An old brick and timber house appears to have been cut in two inside the new Shanghai flagship store for shoe brand Camper, designed by Chinese architects Neri&Hu (+ slideshow) More about Camper Shanghai by Neri&Hu