"How is placing bricks in the street terrorism?" asks commenter
In this week's comments update, readers are debating the winner of the People's Choice category at the Designs of the Year awards and sharing their views on other top stories. More
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Brick Arches roadblocks from Hong Kong protests resonate as "anyone can replicate"
Makeshift roadblocks from Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests won the People's Choice category at the Designs of the Year awards because they could be made by anyone anywhere, says Design Museum curator Maria McLintock. More
Six designs to encourage voting in 2020 US presidential election
As the US presidential election on 3 November approaches, we've rounded up six designs that aim to motivate people to vote, including Instagram gifs, brass pins, billboards and magazine covers. More
UK government's housing formula "does not make sense" say planning groups
The UK government's proposal to use a mathematical formula to determine where to build 300,000 new homes a year has been criticised by campaigners. More
Nicholas Boys Smith to lead new government task force to "embed beauty" in the planning system
Create Streets founder Nicholas Boys Smith has been appointed by UK housing secretary Robert Jenrick to lead a national design body that has been tasked with "driving up design standards" for planning applications. More
EC president announces "new European Bauhaus" to help Europe move to a circular economy
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to create a new Bauhaus modelled on the influential design school as part of the European Union's €750 billion coronavirus recovery plan. More
UK government attempting to "destroy" planning system say architects and critics
The UK government's planning reform proposals, which were revealed yesterday, will fail to address the root causes of England's housing crisis according to architects and critics. More
New homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices will be "automatically" granted planning permission in England
A "new planning system" that will see new housing, hospitals, schools, shops and offices on land designated for growth automatically granted planning permission in England has been announced by UK housing secretary Robert Jenrick. More
Marc Quinn replaces statue of slaver Edward Colston with Black Lives Matter protestor
Artist Marc Quinn has erected a sculpture of Black Lives Matter protester Jen Reid on the plinth in Bristol where the statue of a slave trader stood before it was torn down. More
Government's coronavirus advice "crippling blow to the UK’s creative industries" says Creative Industries Federation
The Creative Industries Federation has criticised the UK government's decision not to ban group gatherings due to coronavirus, as it could restrict the ability of creative organisations to claim compensation. More
Fallback device can bypass governmental internet shutdowns to give access to news
Students from London's Royal College of Art and Imperial College have devised a system that provides access to news coverage via a portable satellite modem during a government-enforced internet shutdown. More
Indian creatives united by "collective rage and shock" over citizenship laws
Artists and designers in India have joined protests against controversial new citizenship laws by sharing posters for use at demonstrations and creating infographics to counter misinformation. More
"Whoever wins the general election will bring radical change for better, or worse"
The leading parties' manifestos contain bold pledges that will change Britain's cities for generations, says Phineas Harper. He takes a look at the architecture and housing policies ahead of the UK's general election. More
RIBA members call for Boris Johnson to be stripped of honorary fellowship
Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects, including a past president, have signed a letter calling for UK prime minister Boris Johnson's honorary fellowship to be taken away. More
1MDB scandal superyacht proposed as alternative Malaysian pavilion for Dubai Expo
No-To-Scale has imagined installing a superyacht connected to the 1MDB embezzling scandal as a provocative alternative Malaysian pavilion for the Dubai Expo 2020. More
Architects and designers join Global Climate Strike to demand government action
Architecture studios Stanton Williams, Grimshaw and dRMM and designers Usman Haque, Sebastian Cox and Ben Terrett are among the creatives taking to the streets to protest political inaction over climate change in today's Global Climate Strike. More
Roger Scruton returns to head up UK housing commission
British philosopher Roger Scruton has returned to the Building Better Building Beautiful housing commission, from which he was sacked three months ago for making controversial comments about Chinese people and Jewish philanthropist George Soros. More
Boris Johnson wanted to decorate "boring" London Bridge Station with gargoyles
Boris Johnson asked Grimshaw to jazz up its re-design of London Bridge Station when he was mayor of London, it has emerged, with him suggesting the studio add "gargoyles along the front". More
Finland announces plans to become carbon neutral by 2035
Finland's new government has promised to reduce the country's fossil-fuel consumption and invest in renewable energy sources, after 80 per cent of Finns called for urgent action on climate change. More
Madrid could scrap low-emissions zone despite air quality improvements
A major plan to reduce air pollution in Madrid may be repealed, because incoming politicians want to bring traffic back into the city. More