News: in 2012 the total number of skyscrapers constructed around the world failed to increase for the first time in six years, says the annual report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, revealing the continued impact of the global financial crisis that started in 2007. More about Skyscraper construction stalled in 2012
White walls are sandwiched between the exposed concrete ceiling and floor of this minimal hair salon in Kobe by Japanese designers Sides Core (+ slideshow). More about Jeté hair salon by Sides Core
Product news: the Pebble smartwatch, the project that raised the most money ever on crowd-funding platform Kickstarter, has gone into mass production and is set to begin shipping on 23 January. More about Kickstarter record-breaking Pebble smartwatch goes into production
Royal College of Art student Gabriele Meldaikyte has designed a set of interactive exhibits for a museum of iPhone gestures (+ slideshow). More about Multi-Touch Gestures by Gabriele Meldaikyte
A wall of digital animals that distract children on their way to surgery is one of the interactive installations presented by designer Jason Bruges in this movie we filmed at our Designed in Hackney Day. More about "The pieces wouldn't be anything without the people who interact with them" – Jason Bruges
Product news: colourful LED torches shaped like the handlebar grips of BMX bicycles by British designer Alexander Taylor have gone into production with Hong Kong brand Praxis. More about Grip Torch by Alexander Taylor for Praxis
Israeli studio Paritzki & Liani Architects has squeezed a house with an exposed brickwork interior into the space between two existing properties in Tel Aviv (+ slideshow). More about ZBL House by Paritzki & Liani Architects
This doctor's surgery in the Austrian Alps by Graz-based architects Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher was inspired by small wooden hay barns that dot the local landscape (+ slideshow). More about Medical Practice in Ramsau by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten
This animation by architect Andrea Stinga and graphic designer Federico Gonzalez depicts the best-known buildings of 26 famous architects, one for each letter of the alphabet. More about The ABC of Architects by Andrea Stinga and Federico Gonzalez
A collection of original costumes, set designs, photographs, instruments and other objects from David Bowie's personal archive will go on show at the V&A museum in London this March, coinciding with the release of the pop star's first album and single in a decade. More about David Bowie is at the V&A
Dezeen promotion: creators of the Philips LightCollector app, which stores and shares users' pictures of their lighting design inspiration, have selected some of their favourite images uploaded since its launch in November. More about Highlights from the Philips and Light Collective LightCollector App
Karina Wiciak of Polish design studio Wamhouse imagines paper chairs and chandeliers suspended on meat hooks in this fantasy interior inspired by a slaughterhouse (+ slideshow). More about Ubojnia by Karina Wiciak
Cologne 2013: these chairs with metal frames wrapped in continuous cords by Israeli designer Rami Tareef have gone into production with Israeli design brand Gaga & Design. More about COD by Rami Tareef for Gaga & Design
These shots by photographer Edmund Sumner show some of the first visitors able to scale the roof of the O2 Arena in London, thanks to a new fabric walkway designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Bblur Architecture (+ slideshow). More about Up at the O2 by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Bblur Architecture
The angled columns of an earthquake-proof structure frame a series of window slits on the exterior of this Tokyo research laboratory by KINO Architects (+ slideshow). More about Spiralab by KINO Architects
In this movie we filmed at our Designed in Hackney Day, design duo Something & Son talk about keeping chickens in east London buildings and making tea with heat from compost heaps. More about "We got into a geeky zone trying to understand urban agriculture" – Something & Son
News: British architect John Pawson has designed 26 high-end apartments for a new leisure complex at Miami Beach. More about John Pawson designs apartments for Miami Beach
News: the American architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable, who won the first Pulitzer Prize for criticism, has died aged 91. More about Ada Louise Huxtable 1921-2013
News: Swiss architect Peter Zumthor is now inviting guests to rent a holiday home he built for his family in the mountain hamlet of Leis in Vals (+ slideshow). More about Zumthor lets his holiday home to guests
News: graphic design studio Barnbrook has defaced a classic David Bowie album and upturned a 1970s photograph of the musician to create the covers of his new album and single. More about Barnbrook designs David Bowie album and single covers