We're racing towards the end of our A-Zdvent calendar of houses, so in the first of three final posts today here's a house in Inner Mongolia, China, by Multiplicities that's named after its X-shaped central void. Read more about (X) »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: (X) for Ordos 100 by Multiplicities
Dezeen archive: we've compiled a selection of candle holders from Dezeen for dark winter nights. See all our stories about candle holders »
More about Dezeen archive: candle holders
Dutch designer Frederik Roijé has designed a piece of furniture for children combining a chair, table and lamp. More about Little Triple Chair by Frederik Roijé
A painted-timber skin that skirts around the top storey reveals the heights of staggered floors inside this Hamburg house. Designed by Kraus Schoenberg, it's the W in our A-Zdvent calendar. Read more about Haus W »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Haus W by Kraus Schoenberg
Two giant blue busts face each other across this Hong Kong boutique by Italian designer Fabio Novembre (+ slideshow). More about HITGallery Hong Kong by Fabio Novembre
KHBT of London and Berlin has doubled the size a 1970s family house in Offenbach, Germany, by wrapping a timber-clad extension around the walls and over the roof (+ slideshow). More about Haus Bergé by KHBT
Product news: this wind-up toy by British design brand All Lovely Stuff creates abstract art when let loose on a sheet of paper. More about Drawing Machine by All Lovely Stuff
Next up in our A-Zdvent calendar series is V-House in Leiden, the Netherlands. Architects GAAGA named the building after its roof, which pitches inwards to create a V-shaped profile. Read more about V-House »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: V-House by GAAGA
This week on Dezeen has been all about twisted buildings, as BIG released designs for twisting skyscrapers in Miami (below) and a spiralling observation tower shaped like a honey-dipper for Phoenix (above) plus here's our Dezeen Music Project track of the week. More about This week on Dezeen
News: Design Academy Eindhoven is looking for a creative director following a period of turmoil that has seen the resignation of the heads of the three masters courses, their subsequent return to the school and the departure of school's chair. More about Design Academy Eindhoven advertises for creative director
In the next of our movies filmed at Dezeen Live during 100% Design, British industrial designer Benjamin Hubert argues that designers should focus on building their own name as a brand. More about "It's all about brand – a designer's name is powerful" – Benjamin Hubert at Dezeen Live
News: a yacht built for Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs has been impounded in Amsterdam following a dispute over an unpaid bill to French designer Philippe Starck. Update 27/12/12: the boat is now free to sail again following a temporary agreement between Starck and Jobs' heirs. More about Steve Jobs yacht seized over unpaid Philippe Starck design bill
Italian architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas have won a competition to build a cultural complex in Chengdu, China, with designs for spiralling buildings inspired by the city's ancient emblem. More about Chengdu Tianfu Cultural and Performance Centre by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas
Our movie for Philips Lumiblade about how OLED lighting technology will change interior design leads the lastest issue of Dezeen Mail, which also includes sex toys, twisting skyscrapers and all the latest news, jobs, competitions and reader comments from Dezeen.
Read Dezeen Mail issue 132 | Subscribe to Dezeen Mail
More about Dezeen Mail #132
London-based studio Alex Cochrane Architects added a timber balcony and an open-plan interior to this Victorian boathouse in a deer park in the south of England. More about The Boathouse by Alex Cochrane Architects
Product news: These jewel-like vases from German design duo snug.studio are assembled from flat sheets of cardboard. More about Snug Vases by snug.studio
The form of U-House by Jorge Graca Costa was inspired by traditional Mediterranean courtyard houses to protect it from the windy climate of western Portugal and it's the twenty-first door on our A-Zdvent calendar. Read more about U-House »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: U-House by Jorge Graca Costa
Two chunky concrete storeys are perched above a living room without walls at this house in São Paulo by Brazilian architects Studio MK27 (+ slideshow). More about Casa Cubo by Studio MK27
London and Tbilisi firm Architects of Invention has completed a public services building on stilts for a city that doesn't exist yet in Georgia. More about Lazika Municipality by Architects of Invention
More doomsday preparations: earlier this year we published this survival kit for tomorrow's predicted apocalypse, containing practical items such matches and water as well as chocolate and hard liqueur. It's designed by Mexican branding company Menosunocerouno and you can read our story about it here »
More about Just in Case by Menosunocerouno