Ace Hotel opens latest branch in downtown Los Angeles
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
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Cisco offices by Studio O+A feature wooden meeting pavilions
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
Google's "smart contact lenses" could help diabetics monitor blood sugar levels
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
Concrete house by Olson Kundig Architects cuts into a rocky outcrop
Seattle firm Olson Kundig Architects used dynamite, chippers and saws to bore through the huge boulders of a rocky outcrop on a North American island to make room for this raw concrete house (+ slideshow). More about Concrete house by Olson Kundig Architects cuts into a rocky outcrop
"We need to steel ourselves for more rapid architectural obsolescence"
Opinion: Mimi Zeiger argues that dismay over the New York Museum of Modern Art's plan to demolish the next-door American Folk Art Museum represents "a lingering sentimental belief that architecture is an exception to the rules of obsolescence." More about "We need to steel ourselves for more rapid architectural obsolescence"
Google buys domestic technology firm Nest in first step towards connected home
News: Google has announced it is poised to acquire domestic technology firm Nest for $3.2 billion, a move that will increase the tech giant's presence in the home. More about Google buys domestic technology firm Nest in first step towards connected home
Michael Graves' Portland Building faces threat of demolition
News: Michael Graves' seminal postmodern work the Portland Public Services Building is under threat of demolition, following news that the 32-year-old building needs more than $95 million worth of repairs. More about Michael Graves' Portland Building faces threat of demolition
Libeskind unveils timber-clad physics centre for Durham University
News: New York architect Daniel Libeskind has unveiled images of a timber-clad building to house physics researchers at Durham University in north-east England. More about Libeskind unveils timber-clad physics centre for Durham University
American Institute of Architects names best projects of the year for AIA Institute Honor Awards
News: the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced 26 winners for this year's Institute Honor Awards, including a holocaust museum beneath a hill in Los Angeles, a stone mausoleum in Minneapolis, and a concrete house on a rocky outcrop in Washington (+ slideshow). More about American Institute of Architects names best projects of the year for AIA Institute Honor Awards
World's first glow-in-the-dark plant genetically engineered
News: American biotechnology company Bioglow has applied synthetic biology processes to create plants that glow, which its founder claims are "truly the first of their kind." More about World's first glow-in-the-dark plant genetically engineered
Terence Riley: Miami was actually "laid out as a pedestrian city"
Dezeen and MINI World Tour: architect Terence Riley takes us on a tour of downtown Miami and says that redevelopment of the historic area has coincided with a new emphasis on outdoor living in the city. More about Terence Riley: Miami was actually "laid out as a pedestrian city"
Dover Street Market fashion store opens in New York
Japanese fashion brand Comme des Garçons has opened a branch of its London store Dover Street Market in New York City (+ slideshow). More about Dover Street Market fashion store opens in New York
Studio Gang's Chicago boathouse designed to echo the rhythms of rowing
Chicago firm Studio Gang Architects has completed a boathouse on the northern bank of the Chicago River with a rhythmic roofline intended to capture the alternating motions of a rower's arm movements (+ slideshow). More about Studio Gang's Chicago boathouse designed to echo the rhythms of rowing
Demolition "only option" for New York's folk art museum says MoMA director
News: the Williams and Tsien-designed former American Folk Art Museum in New York will be demolished just 13 years after it was built to make room for an extension to the neighbouring Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), despite an outcry from architects, conservationists and critics. More about Demolition "only option" for New York's folk art museum says MoMA director
Snøhetta completes phase one of Times Square transformation
News: architecture firm Snøhetta has concluded the first phase of a major overhaul of New York's Times Square, continuing the initiative started in 2009 to pedestrianise large sections of the popular tourist destination. More about Snøhetta completes phase one of Times Square transformation
Green wall pioneer Patrick Blanc: "Now everybody is doing vertical gardens"
Dezeen and MINI World Tour: in this exclusive interview with vertical gardens pioneer Patrick Blanc, the French botanist discusses his hanging gardens for Herzog & de Meuron's new Pérez Art Museum in Miami and reflects on why vertical gardens have become so popular. More about Green wall pioneer Patrick Blanc: "Now everybody is doing vertical gardens"
Airbnb removes "knockoff" Navy Chairs from new headquarters
News: online home rental brand Airbnb is to replace a set of aluminium chairs at its new San Francisco headquarters after Emeco, the company that makes the original Navy Chair, pointed out that they were fakes. More about Airbnb removes "knockoff" Navy Chairs from new headquarters
Google joins forces with major auto brands to bring Android to car dashboards
News: Google has joined up with automotive manufacturers including Honda, Audi, Hyundai and General Motors to integrate its Android smartphone operating system into cars. More about Google joins forces with major auto brands to bring Android to car dashboards
Tilting glass attraction proposed for observation deck of Chicago's John Hancock Center
News: the owners of an observation deck on the 94th storey of Chicago's John Hancock Center are considering adding a glass box into which visitors would be strapped and tilted forward to experience a bird's eye view of the city below. More about Tilting glass attraction proposed for observation deck of Chicago's John Hancock Center
Aesop's Chelsea boutique is shrouded in copies of The Paris Review
One thousand editions of literary journal The Paris Review cover the ceiling of skincare brand Aesop's new store in Chelsea, New York (+ slideshow). More about Aesop's Chelsea boutique is shrouded in copies of The Paris Review