To prove that germs aren't all bad, Paris-based studio Bold-design came up with an activity kit that uses bacteria to turn sand from the beach into stone souvenirs (+ slideshow). More about Memorabilia Factory by Bold-design
In a movie filmed by Alice Masters for the Design Museum's annual Designers in Residence exhibition, Lawrence Lek explains how he created a modular system of plywood pieces that can be bent into objects including a stool and a pavilion. More about Lawrence Lek at Designers in Residence 2012
Interieur 2012: Studio Makkink & Bey built a house of scaffolding and stairs to represent the transient, roaming lifestyle of the future as their contribution to the Future Primitives series at last month's Interieur design biennale in Kortrijk, Belgium. More about Lost in Translation by Studio Makkink & Bey
The peeling, brightly painted walls of an abandoned house provide a striking backdrop to this collection of over-dyed handmade rugs by American designer homeware brand ABC Carpet & Home. More about Color Reform Spectrum Edition by ABC Carpet & Home
This student housing block in Norway by MEK Architects is named MySpace, as the architects imagined the building as a social network where each of the 116 residents can get to know one another (+ slideshow). More about MySpace student housing in Trondheim by MEK Architects
In the latest movie from our Designed in Hackney Day, designer Dominic Wilcox speaks about Sounds of Making in East London, a vinyl recording of atmospheric urban noises. More about "It was nice to hear the sounds of east London on Tokyo radio" - Dominic Wilcox
Product news: Montreal-based designers St-Ely have created a sofa made up of three interchangeable modules with sliced-off corners. More about Ear Sofa by St Ely for Lerival
As areas affected by Hurricane Sandy began the recovery process this week, Iwan Baan's photos of New York during the ensuing blackout featured in our most popular story. More about This week on Dezeen
French designer Jérôme Dumetz placed a wheel on each corner of this wooden sideboard to turn it into a miniature truck (+ movie). More about Not For Highway Use by Jérôme Dumetz
This thatched visitor centre by architects Wingårdhs sits beside the shallow waters of Sweden's Lake Tåkern, the annual nesting habitat for over a hundred species of bird (+ slideshow). More about Tåkern Visitor Centre by Wingårdhs
News: designer and urbanist Dan Hill has been announced as the new managing director of Fabrica, the Benetton Group’s communication research centre in Treviso, Italy. More about Fabrica appoints Dan Hill as managing director
Our second story this week about Japanese architects no.555 features a low-budget house inspired by animals' nests beside a rice field in Matsumoto (+ slideshow). More about MYZ Nest by no.555
Product news: German design graduate Meike Harde has designed a range of upholstered benches and stools simply by folding foam mats and fixing them to wooden frames with elastic bands. More about Zieharsofika upholstery by Meike Harde
This police station in eastern Spain by architects Daniel Martí and Natàlia Ferrer has perforated aluminium walls that let arriving visitors take a peek at what's going on inside (+ slideshow). More about Police Station in Xixona by Daniel Martí and Natàlia Ferrer
Swiss studio Mauro Turin Architectes wants to celebrate the history of the Lavaux wine-making region in Switzerland by cantilevering a museum from the side of a mountain (+ slideshow). More about Wine Museum in Lavaux by Mauro Turin Architectes
In this movie filmed by Dezeen, Bandar Antabi of designer electronics brand Jawbone explains how the company took a holistic approach to designing their Big Jambox wireless speaker. More about "We take a very holistic approach to design" - Bandar Antabi of Jawbone
Photographer Iwan Baan's images of post-Sandy New York (above) lead this week's issue of Dezeen Mail, which also features all the latest news, jobs, competitions and reader comments from Dezeen.
Read Dezeen Mail issue 126 | Subscribe to Dezeen Mail
More about Dezeen Mail #126
Following the sad news that experimental architect and artist Lebbeus Woods passed away last week, here's a look back at some of his early drawing projects from the 1980s. More about Lebbeus Woods: Early Drawings
News: a trawler fishing net that filters out young and endangered fish from the catch has won this year's James Dyson Award for students working on innovative engineering solutions. More about Sustainable fishing net wins James Dyson Award
Product news: the steel beam running through this compact bicycle by British industrial designer Ben Wilson means it can carry heavy loads on its front and rear platforms (+ slideshow + movie). More about Donky Bike by Ben Wilson