For this year's Coachella festival, American artist Phillip K Smith III created an installation of shiny cuboids that by day provided a series of mirrors, but by night were transformed into neon towers of light (+ slideshow). More about Neon mirrors by Phillip K Smith III created glowing beacons at Coachella
This skateboarding ramp floating over the clear waters of Lake Tahoe was put together in just four days by design-and-build team Jerry Blohm and Jeff King for Californian skater Bob Burnquist (+ slideshow). More about Floating skateboard ramp installed on Lake Tahoe for pro-skater Bob Burnquist
A wall of windows winches up and down to reveal the interior of this gallery renovation in Los Altos, California, by Seattle architect Tom Kundig (+ slideshow). More about Tom Kundig hoists California gallery facade using gears and pulleys
News: architecture firm OMA is working on designs for a 167-metre skyscraper on Folsom Street in San Francisco. More about OMA plans San Francisco skyscraper
A sequence of vaulted ceilings and arched openings sets up layered vistas through the interior of this beach house in Southern California by Los Angeles firm Johnston Marklee (+ slideshow). More about Johnston Marklee's Vault House frames beach views through multiple arches
The three-fingered plan of this rural Californian retreat by Mork-Ulnes Architects is oriented to frame views of a mountain ridge, vineyards and a local landmark named Eagle Rock (+ slideshow). More about Moose Road house by Mork-Ulnes Architects frames the Californian landscape
This all-black house in the Yucca Valley desert was designed by Los Angeles office Oller & Pejic to look "like a shadow" (+ slideshow). More about Oller & Pejic's Desert House designed to look "like a shadow"
The Ace Hotel chain has opened its newest outpost inside a 1920s tower in downtown Los Angeles, complete with a 1600-seat theatre. More about Ace Hotel opens latest branch in downtown Los Angeles
Employees meet in octagonal timber gazebos at the San Francisco headquarters of technology company Cisco by local interior designers Studio O+A (+ slideshow). More about Cisco offices by Studio O+A feature wooden meeting pavilions
News: scientists at the Google[x] research facility in California are working on contact lenses containing tiny electronics that could constantly monitor glucose levels in the tears of people with diabetes. More about Google's "smart contact lenses" could help diabetics monitor blood sugar levels
News: architect Frank Gehry has submitted new plans for a hotel and apartment complex to be located across the road from his Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. More about Gehry presents new proposal for site opposite his Walt Disney Concert Hall
American artist Phillip K Smith III has added mirrors to the walls of a desert shack in California to create the illusion that you can see right through the building (+ movie). More about Lucid Stead installation by Phillip K Smith III makes a desert cabin appear transparent
News: architecture firm Snøhetta has unveiled the design for a new staircase linking the existing San Francisco Museum of Modern Art with the 21,000 square-metre extension currently under construction. More about Snøhetta unveils new staircase for San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The new San Francisco headquarters for photo-sharing website Pinterest is housed in a converted warehouse filled with two-storey white volumes. More about Pinterest's San Francisco headquarters by All of the Above and First Office
An angular red corridor at the entrance to these offices for a motocross apparel company in California by Clive Wilkinson Architects leads to a corridor designed like a city street, with trees, benches and offices arranged off smaller side streets (+ slideshow). More about Fox Head Inc offices arranged like a city street by Clive Wilkinson Architects
News: architect Norman Foster has revealed how late Apple CEO Steve Jobs called him "out of the blue" in 2009 to invite him to design the Apple Campus 2 with the words "Hi Norman, I need some help." More about How Steve Jobs hired Norman Foster: "Hi Norman. I need some help"
News: here are images of Foster + Partners' latest design for the new $5bn Apple Campus 2, which was unanimously approved by Cupertino City Council last night (+ slideshow) More about Foster's bn Apple Campus unanimously approved by Cupertino City Council
A combined car park and terrace covers the roof of this hillside house in Los Angeles by Californian studio Anonymous Architects (+ slideshow). More about Car Park House by Anonymous Architects
News: architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox has unveiled plans to surround the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in a cloak of steel ribbons as part of major refurbishment. More about KPF to wrap steel ribbons around LA's Petersen Automotive Museum
The new Silicon Valley HQ of data storage company Evernote features a coffee bar in the lobby, staircases with built-in seating and an in-house artist to paint murals on whiteboards. (+slideshow) More about Evernote by Studio O+A