![\"Render](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mad-architects-anji-culture-and-art-center-architecture-china_hero_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x479.jpg\")
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This week on Dezeen, we looked ahead to the 12 most anticipated architecture projects<\/a> set to complete in China<\/a> this year, in celebration of the Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n Among the many exciting projects to look out for are a sculptural art centre by Chinese firm MAD<\/a> and Shanghai’s new opera house by architecture studio Sn\u00f8hetta<\/a>, which will feature a spectacular spiral staircase.<\/p>\n In the US, members of the advisory council Commission of Fine Arts unanimously voted to approve designs<\/a> for the White House ballroom expansion. Digital drawings and renderings by designer Shalom Baranes Architects were approved on 19 February, with further hearings to come.<\/p>\n Earlier in the week, detailed drawings of the ballroom were released by the Washington DC advisory committee<\/a> the National Capital Planning Commission, before being “swiftly” removed from its website.<\/p>\n Antoni Gaud\u00ed has been confirmed as the architect of Xalet del Catllar\u00e0s<\/a>, an early 1900s chalet in northern Spain, in a report published by the Government of Catalonia.<\/p>\n Gaud\u00ed was confirmed as the building’s architect because of the presence of structural details he was known to use at the time of its construction, which were only adopted by others 10 or 15 years later.<\/p>\n A design by Gensler and Populous of a proposed stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays professional baseball franchise<\/a> was released this week, showing a 31,000-seat venue in Tampa, Florida, USA.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in Chicago, construction is underway on a 256-metre-tall skyscraper by US studio SOM<\/a>, which will be located at 400 Lake Shore, the site of the cancelled Chicago Spire skyscraper.<\/p>\n Quirky designs made the headlines, with US-based Nik Bentel creating a handbag for the supermarket chain Lidl<\/a>. The gridded, stainless-steel bag was informed by shopping trolleys.<\/p>\n Swedish designer Gustaf Westman also drew on an existing object for his Curling Bowl<\/a>, which celebrates the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and is shaped like a curling stone \u2013 but can be filled with snacks.<\/p>\n We interviewed RIBA president Chris Williamson<\/a>, who spoke about how he’s trying to make an impact despite limited power.<\/p>\n “I try not to do anything half-hearted,” he told Dezeen. “It looks as though I’m acting alone as some sort of renegade, but I’m actually not.”<\/p>\n Popular projects this week included a mirrored Saudi metro station by Sn\u00f8hetta<\/a>, an Indian home with a coconut-wood roof<\/a> and Ukrainian glass houses with thatched roofs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Listen to our journalists talk about the key design and architecture stories of the past seven days<\/a> on our Dezeen Weekly podcast, which this week focused on Jony Ive and Marc Newson’s interiors for the first electric Ferrari<\/a> and Australia’s first new city in 100 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week on Dezeen<\/p>\n This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories.\u00a0Subscribe to our newsletters<\/a>\u00a0to be sure you don’t miss anything.<\/p>\n New! 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Plus occasional updates on Dezeen\u2019s services and invitations to Dezeen events.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dezeen Daily<\/p>\n A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen.<\/p>\n Dezeen In Depth<\/p>\n Sent on the last Friday of every month, Dezeen in Depth features original feature articles, interviews and opinion pieces that delve deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.<\/p>\n Dezeen Jobs<\/p>\n Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.<\/p>\n Dezeen Jobs Weekly<\/p>\n Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.<\/p>\n Dezeen Awards<\/p>\n News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.<\/p>\n Dezeen Events Guide<\/p>\n News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates and invitations to Dezeen events.<\/p>\n Dezeen Awards China<\/p>\n News about our Dezeen Awards China programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.<\/p>\n We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/east-wing-white-house-commission-of-fine-arts_dezeen_hero-1-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>The White House ballroom design has received approval<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Xalet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hero-xalet-del-catllaras-antoni-gaudi_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>A chalet in Spain has been confirmed to be designed by Antoni Gaud\u00ed<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tampa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tampa-bay-rays-stadium-concept-populous_dezeen_2364_hero-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>The stadium would feature a gridded roof covered in a translucent material<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Handbag](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lidl-trolley-bag-nik-bentel_dezeen_2364_col_9-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>Nik Bentel’s Trolley Bag was designed for Lidl<\/a><\/p>\n![\"RIBA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chris-williamson-riba-president-interview_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>RIBA president Chris Wiliamson spoke exclusively to Dezeen this week<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Qasr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hero-qasr-alhokm-metro-station-snohetta_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x479.jpg\")
<\/a>Sn\u00f8hetta designed the Qasr AlHokm Metro Station in Riyadh<\/a><\/p>\n