Researchers at MIT have found a way to grow bacteria to function as signal-senders that might allow plants to "sense and respond to environmental conditions such as drought or attack by pests". More about MIT researchers engineer bacteria that could program plants for self-defence
Portuguese studio António Costa Lima Arquitectos has extended the historic Colégio de Santa Maria school in Lisbon, adding a stack of cubic concrete volumes that cascade down to a terrace and playground. More about António Costa Lima Arquitectos adds concrete extension to historic Lisbon school
American actor Brad Pitt has joined German filmmaker Wim Wenders on the production of a documentary exploring the works of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. More about Brad Pitt brought on as executive producer for Peter Zumthor documentary
With a renewed focus on contemporary art, Groninger Museum artistic director Roos Gortzak is seeking closer connection between the extraordinary postmodern building, she says in this interview. More about Groninger Museum "deserves to be more famous" says artistic director Roos Gortzak
AIM Architecture has designed Zara Huaihai Road, a flagship store for the Spanish fashion brand in Shanghai, with an amphitheatre-like brick podium that connects the building with the street. More about Zara flagship store in Shanghai reflects "the future of physical retail"
Architecture studio Xiang Architects has unveiled a multi-stair observation tower within the Chenhu Wetland bird sanctuary near Wuhan City, China. More about Xiang Architects creates steel double-helix viewpoint for bird watching in China
The American Institute of Architecture has announced the longest ever slump in architecture revenues in the US measured by the ABI index, citing "macroeconomic uncertainty" associated with rising oil prices. More about AIA announces longest "ongoing slump" for architecture revenues
Texas studio Schaum Architects has joined a team of restorers to work on the two massive Artillery Sheds at the Chinati Foundation, the museum artist Donald Judd set up in Marfa to act as permanent storehouses and exhibition spaces for his work. More about Schaum Architects to lead restoration of Donald Judd's Artillery Sheds in Texas
Dezeen School Shows: a restorative infrastructure designed to support eel habitats among projects from the University of Nottingham. More about Proposal tackling European eel decline among projects from University of Nottingham
Stepped, pastel-pink seating spills out from inside the OBA Next Lab library and community space in Amsterdam, designed by Dutch architecture practices Matter Makers, AWR and BAZ Studio as a public living room. More about Demountable timber library in Amsterdam is "a living room for the neighbourhood"
Danish amusement park Tivoli has unveiled Hikari, a new area informed by Japanese cities that features art by Takashi Murakami and was designed to be "genuinely respectful of its origin". More about Tivoli creates theme park Japanese neighbourhood in central Copenhagen
The Architects Registration Board has announced changes to its professional practice experience approach, which will see its two-year requirement of industry experience scrapped. More about ARB scraps two-year practice requirement for architectural registration in the UK
Furniture company IKEA has launched the limited-edition Konstrunda collection, an assortment of furniture and homeware objects that reimagine collectible design from the likes of Andu Masebo at an affordable price point. More about IKEA launches collectible design objects "at a price that people can afford"
International studio Open Architecture drew on Lina Bo Bardi's own designs when creating The Poetics of Survival, the first major exhibition of the architect's work in China. More about SESC Pompéia indoor pond replicated for Lina Bo Bardi exhibition in Shanghai
The New York office of OMA and local practice YA Studio have arranged a 160-home apartment block in San Francisco, California, around multiple courtyards. More about OMA completes first US affordable housing development in San Francisco
The Thompson Center in downtown Chicago has been given a new facade as part of a renovation for tech company Google by architecture studio Jahn. More about Photos reveal new facade of Google's Thompson Center
Dezeen School Shows: a project aiming to optimise architect Berthold Lubetkin's Grade I-listed Finsbury Health Centre for 21st-century users is among those by the University of Nottingham. More about Berthold Lubetkin's Finsbury Health Centre reimagining among projects by University of Nottingham
A brick cube reminiscent of old industrial structures forms this family home in the suburbs of Ghent, designed by Belgian architecture studio Atelier Vens Vanbelle. More about Atelier Vens Vanbelle references brick industrial buildings for cubic home in Belgium
The Barbican Centre shop has launched a homeware collection with online retailer Made.com, which includes furniture and lighting modelled on details of the brutalist housing complex in central London. More about Barbican and Made.com launch homeware collection celebrating iconic London estate
Game developer Blue Hood Games has released a survival game named Europe Heatwave Simulator, where players need to outlast a 14-day heatwave without air conditioning in an apartment in Paris. More about Gamers must survive without air-con in Europe Heatwave Simulator