Dezeen

Design

"I don't really believe in instruction manuals" - Marc Newson

In this third movie Dezeen filmed with industrial designer Marc Newson at his London studio, he talks about his designs for transport and how a car should have as few controls as possible, saying "I don't really believe in instruction manuals. I tend to throw them away." Update: this interview is featured in Dezeen Book of Interviews, which is on sale now for £12. More about "I don't really believe in instruction manuals" - Marc Newson

Rose Etherington | 31 August 2012 | 1 comment
Architecture

Giardino delle Vergini Installations by Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura

Portuguese architects Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura have created a pair of installations in the Giardino delle Vergini for the Venice Architecture Biennale (+ slideshow). More about Giardino delle Vergini Installations by Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura

Amy Frearson | 31 August 2012 | 1 comment
Architecture

Puff Adder at Babylonstoren by Patrice Taravella and Terry de Waal

A timber tunnel shaped like a snake - with a bulge to suggest an ingested mouse - provides perfect conditions for growing lilies on a farm in the Western Cape of South Africa. More about Puff Adder at Babylonstoren by Patrice Taravella and Terry de Waal

Emilia Kalyvides | 30 August 2012 | 3 comments
Architecture

Rem Koolhaas tipped to be director of next Venice Architecture Biennale

Dezeen Wire: Rem Koolhaas of OMA is tipped to be director of the next Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014. Among those speculating on Twitter was assistant director for the 2012 biennale Kieran Long, who tweeted "it's certain to be Rem Koolhaas next time. Done deal say my sources." More about Rem Koolhaas tipped to be director of next Venice Architecture Biennale

Rose Etherington | 30 August 2012 | 2 comments
Design

Paralympic design: Draft Mistral racing wheelchairs

Bespoke racing wheelchairs designed and manufactured by UK firm Draft will be used by a number of medal hopefuls during the London 2012 Paralympics, including Beijing gold medalist David Weir and London Marathon winner Shelly Woods (below). More about Paralympic design: Draft Mistral racing wheelchairs

Dan Howarth | 30 August 2012 | Leave a comment
Architecture

Venice Architecture Biennale "cannot get any worse" says Wolf D Prix

Dezeen Wire: architect Wolf D Prix of Coop Himmelb(l)au has launched a scathing attack on the Venice Architecture Biennale, claiming it's "no longer about lively discussion and criticism of topics in contemporary architecture" but places too much importance on celebrity. More about Venice Architecture Biennale "cannot get any worse" says Wolf D Prix

Rose Etherington | 30 August 2012 | 21 comments
Dezeen Mail #116

The lastest issue of Dezeen Mail leads with the Russian Pavilion lined with QR codes (above) from the Venice Architecture Biennale, plus new jobs, competitions and music.

Read Dezeen Mail issue 116 | Subscribe to Dezeen Mail
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Dan Howarth | 30 August 2012 | Leave a comment
Architecture

Elbphilharmonie by Herzog & de Meuron at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Architects Herzog & de Meuron have carved some of the spaces of their unfinished Elbphilharmonie concert hall from layered blocks of foam and suspended them from the ceiling of the Arsenale for the Venice Architecture Biennale. More about Elbphilharmonie by Herzog & de Meuron at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Amy Frearson | 30 August 2012 | 3 comments
Interiors

Louis Vuitton & Kusama concept store at Selfridges

Fashion brand Louis Vuitton has collaborated with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama to create a collection of garments featuring Kusama's obsessional polka dot patterns for a concept store at Selfridges department store in London (+ slideshow). More about Louis Vuitton & Kusama concept store at Selfridges

Emilia Kalyvides | 30 August 2012 | 7 comments
Competition: five copies of Why We Build by Rowan Moore to give away

Competition: architecture critic Rowan Moore's new book Why We Build is released today, and we are publishing an extract as well as giving readers the chance to win one of five copies. More about Competition: five copies of Why We Build by Rowan Moore to give away

Dan Howarth | 30 August 2012 | Leave a comment
Lighting

Bloom lamps by Kristine Five Melvær

Norwegian designer Kristine Five Melvær has designed a series of lamps that look like buds about to burst into bloom. More about Bloom lamps by Kristine Five Melvær

Rose Etherington | 30 August 2012 | 1 comment
Architecture

UK should "learn from the Netherlands" and build floating housing - Alex de Rijke

Dezeen Wire: "we're advocating other UK architects to design on water," architect Alex de Rijke told Dezeen at the Venice Architecture Biennale this week, where his firm dRMM are exhibiting proposals for floating housing at the British Pavilion. More about UK should "learn from the Netherlands" and build floating housing - Alex de Rijke

Amy Frearson | 30 August 2012 | 1 comment
Architecture

Wall House by Anupama Kundoo at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Indian architect Anupama Kundoo brought a team of Indian craftsman to Italy to construct a replica of a house inside the Arsenale at the Venice Architecture Biennale. More about Wall House by Anupama Kundoo at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Amy Frearson | 30 August 2012 | 3 comments
Design

Paralympic design: Nike Spike Pad for Oscar Pistorius

The London 2012 Paralympics begin tonight and over the coming days we'll be featuring a selection of cutting-edge sportswear designed for the competing athletes, starting with the Nike Spike Pad as worn by "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius. More about Paralympic design: Nike Spike Pad for Oscar Pistorius

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | Leave a comment
News

Aric Chen appointed curator of design and architecture at M+ museum

Dezeen Wire: design critic and curator Aric Chen (above) has been appointed curator of art and design for M+, a new museum for visual culture in Hong Kong. More about Aric Chen appointed curator of design and architecture at M+ museum

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | Leave a comment
Design

Movie: Marc Newson on designing nearly everything

Industrial designer Marc Newson has famously tried his hand at designing pretty much everything. In the second of five movies Dezeen filmed to coincide with the publication of a major book on his work by Taschen, Newson talks us though a range of his projects that takes in mobile phones, knives, beds, clothes, packaging and a surf board so slick it was sold as a sculpture. More about Movie: Marc Newson on designing nearly everything

Dan Howarth | 29 August 2012 | 2 comments
Architecture

Dutch Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Curtains glide along tracks on the ceiling to constantly reconfigure the space inside the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. More about Dutch Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | 2 comments
Architecture

Justin McGuirk, Urban-Think Tank and Iwan Baan win best project at Venice Architecture Biennale

Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Justin McGuirk (pictured above, holding the award), photographer Iwan Bann and the Urban-Think Tank team of Venezuela (also pictured above) have won the Golden Lion for best project at the Venice Architecture Biennale for their Torre David/Gran Horizonte installation and cafe. More about Justin McGuirk, Urban-Think Tank and Iwan Baan win best project at Venice Architecture Biennale

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | 6 comments
Architecture

Japan awarded best pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Dezeen Wire: the Japanese Pavilion curated by Toyo Ito (pictured above) has been awarded best pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. More about Japan awarded best pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | 2 comments
Architecture

Russian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Every surface inside the top floor of the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale is covered in QR codes, which visitors decode using tablet computers to explore ideas for a new Russian city dedicated to science. More about Russian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

Rose Etherington | 29 August 2012 | 8 comments