MP Duncan Baker launches bill to cap embodied carbon in UK buildings
North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker is set to propose a bill to the UK Parliament today that would make it mandatory to calculate and reduce the embodied carbon footprint of new buildings for the first time. More
Mari Koppanen wraps seating collection in traditional Transylvanian mushroom leather
Furniture designer Mari Koppanen has resurrected a suede-like material, historically made in parts of central Romania from hoof fungus, to upholster a rotund stool and matching bench. More
Five architecture and design events in February from Dezeen Events Guide
Madrid Design Festival, a Neri Oxman retrospective and a drag-queen-led tour of celebrity homes during Palm Springs' Modernism Week are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this month. More
This week Brighton mandated bee bricks for new buildings
This week on Dezeen, perforated bricks that provide nesting space for bees became a planning requirement for new buildings in Brighton, England. More
Study finds cities lack green spaces to support "unsustainable" beekeeping boom
The rapid rise in urban apiaries is exceeding the amount of greenery available to feed both honey bees and other pollinators, according to a study from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. More
Marjan van Aubel turns solar cells into art with glow-in-the-dark tapestry
Strips of colourful photovoltaic cells are arranged into a geometric pattern to form this artwork, conceived by Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel to bring solar panels from our roofs into our homes. More
Shell carbon-capture facility found to be generating more emissions than it prevents
A prototype carbon capture and storage facility by Shell, which was designed to eliminate emissions from hydrogen production, actually has the same yearly carbon footprint as 1.2 million cars, according to a report by Global Witness. More
Ten interiors that use glass-block walls to play with light and shadow
As glass bricks are experiencing another renaissance, our latest lookbook features ten projects that showcase how glazed masonry can illuminate any interior – even cramped bathrooms and hallways. More
Buro Happold pledges to eliminate embodied carbon in projects as part of SE 2050 commitment
Engineering firm Buro Happold has become the latest signatory to the SE 2050 Commitment Program, which unites structural engineering firms behind the common goal to slash embodied carbon emissions from their projects by 2050. More
Gab Bois uses bread rolls to recreate the classic Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini
A brioche-bun version of Mario Bellini's 1970s Camaleonda sofa designed by Canadian artist Gab Bois has gone viral online after being shared by rapper Tommy Cash, who claimed he was in talks with IKEA about putting the high-carb couch into production. More
Blast Studio 3D prints column from mycelium to make "architecture that could feed people"
London practice Blast Studio has developed a method for 3D printing with living mycelium and used it to form a column that could be harvested for mushrooms before serving as a structural building element. More
Mac Collins wins Design Museum's inaugural Ralph Saltzman Prize for emerging designers
Nottingham furniture designer Mac Collins has been named the first recipient of the Ralph Saltzman Prize, a new annual award presented by London's Design Museum. More
Six fashion brands pushing circular design beyond recycling
A new book by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation features pioneering fashion designers and brands who share their approach to designing for a circular economy. Here, editor Elodie Rousselot picks six of the most innovative. More
Milan to build Cambio network of "super-cycle corridors" linking 80 per cent of the city
Milan has committed itself to constructing 750 kilometres of bike paths by 2035 as part of a plan to make cycling the most convenient form of local transport. More
ETH Zurich develops formwork from 3D-printed foam to slash concrete use in buildings
Researchers at ETH Zurich have used 3D-printed formwork elements made from recyclable mineral foam to create a pre-cast concrete slab, which they say is lighter and better insulated while using 70 per cent less material. More
BMW's iX Flow concept car can change colour "at the touch of a button"
Car brand BMW has unveiled an updated version of its electric iX SUV at the Consumer Electronics Show that can change colour from black to white in order to suit the driver's mood and conserve electricity. More
European Commission prioritises cyclists and pedestrians in cities for "first time in history"
The European Commission has proposed an overhaul of urban infrastructure to encourage more walking and cycling as part of the EU's aim to become a net-zero continent by 2050. More
Five architecture and design events in January from Dezeen Events Guide
Egypt's only design film festival and consumer electronics trade show CES, which features a talk about non-fungible tokens with Paris Hilton, are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this month. More
Biomaterial companies see "explosion in interest" as sales double in a year
After being confined to small-scale experiments for years, biomaterials finally catapulted into the mainstream in 2021 according to the architects, designers and manufacturers using them as building blocks for a new low-carbon economy. More
Room2 opens "world's first whole-life net-zero hotel" in Chiswick
Hospitality brand Room2 has opened what it claims is the first hotel to reach net-zero emissions across its entire lifespan from construction to demolition. More