Canadian designer Julie Legault has developed a desktop biolab to make synthetic biology more accessible, allowing users to hack DNA at home and monitor the progress of their creations (+ movie). More about Julie Legault's Amino bio-engineering kit creates a bacterial Tamagotchi
Declerck-Daels Architecten used different varieties of timber and "frivolous" colours for this surgery in Bruges, in an attempt to make going to the dentist more bearable (+ slideshow). More about 50 Shades of Wood by Declerck-Daels Architecten is a timber dentist surgery in Bruges
Built in the wake of an earthquake, this secondary school in northern Thailand by Vin Varavarn Architects is raised above the ground on metal stilts (+ slideshow). More about Earthquake-resistant school in Thailand raised up on stilts by Vin Varavarn Architects
Landscape firm Gustafson Porter has unveiled plans to create tiered gardens and waterfalls with a towering development proposed for Singapore's Marina Bay. More about Verdant "cloud forests" and waterfalls proposed for new Singapore high-rise
Italian fashion house Fendi has moved into its new headquarters at Rome's Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana – a building commissioned by dictator Benito Mussolini in 1943 that has been renovated by local architect Marco Costanzi (+ slideshow). More about Fendi moves headquarters into iconic Mussolini-commissioned building
Dubai is undergoing its "next wave of development" after bouncing back from the 2008 financial crisis, according to architects in the region. More about Dubai experiencing "boom 2.0" as construction projects soar
Prolific Japanese design studio Nendo has created slippers shaped like wizard's hats that can be stood up and stacked one on top of another. More about Nendo designs cone-shaped stackable slippers
World Architecture Festival 2015: British architect Will Alsop says there are more opportunities for ideas-driven architecture projects in China – like his Gao Yang development, which features a four-storey hanging restaurant – in this movie filmed in London (+ movie). More about China more open to new architecture than risk-averse UK, says Will Alsop
London-based startup Blocks has designed a smartwatch that allows wearers to choose the functionalities they need by clipping on additional modules. More about Blocks launches "world's first modular smartwatch" on Kickstarter
Developers of Foster + Partners' luxury residential tower in Manhattan have released new images to tempt buyers into purchasing one of the multi-million dollar apartments (+ slideshow). More about New images released of Foster's super-skinny New York skyscraper
NEXT Architects has completed its Batbridge in South Holland, which integrates spaces for bats to roost in during different seasons (+ slideshow). More about NEXT Architects completes bat-friendly bridge in the Netherlands
Designer Paul Cocksedge has unveiled photos that demonstrate the freezing techniques he used to seamlessly join metal furniture for a new gallery show opening in New York this week (+ slideshow). More about Paul Cocksedge freezes furniture together for Friedman Benda exhibition
Danish toy brand Lego, which has built a fan base among architects and designers with its colourful building bricks, has been accused of "censorship" by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei after refusing to supply an order for an exhibition in Australia. More about Ai Weiwei appeals to public after Lego refuses to provide bricks for "political" work
David Chipperfield Architects has completed a series of stone apartments raised on plinths above the surface of a water garden in Hangzhou, eastern China (+ slideshow). More about David Chipperfield creates "village" of stone dwellings in Hangzhou marshland
Dutch Design Week 2015: Delft University of Technology graduate Rob Scharff has created a soft robotic limb that can shake hands with people. More about Rob Scharff's Soft Robotics 3D-printed hand responds to human grip