Unique, high-end real estate remains a well-performing investment opportunity for ultra high-net-worth individuals in uncertain economic times

With millions to spend, life on top of the world with unimpeded 360-degree views, double-height ceilings, a hotel-style concierge and ‘wow’ factor is the ultimate real estate status symbol

Despite the flat’s small size – just 453 square feet – clever design and careful planning mean every member of a family of five, including Pa the parrot and Meow the cat, get their own space

Siti Nurafaf Ismail, the first Asian woman to win the RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship, will shadow leading architects working on post-disaster rebuilding projects in Hokkaido, Japan, and Karachi, Pakistan.

Following the death of Bing Thom, the architect behind Tsim Sha Tsui’s Xiqu Centre, Venelin Kokalov, of Revery Architecture (formerly Bing Thom Architects), finished the project in collaboration with Ronald Lu & Partners.

Projects such as Melbourne Skyfarm and those by Hong Kong’s Rooftop Republic are turning busy urban areas into hubs of food production while promoting green and sustainable lifestyles.

If you’re looking for a laid-back lifestyle with plenty of solitude, there are private islands for sale all over the world. Remember to factor in access, planning and ability to build

Planto, gini, Chloe and Mellow – the financial equivalent of fitness trackers – can act as digital financial advisers

Think of it as foliage without the fuss. Trees, flowers and moss can be filled with a preservation formula to add years of maintenance-free ‘life’ to your plants.

Keeping your most intimate digital details safe is not impossible but does require a level of caution most of us seldom exercise

The new technology, which could offer superior online privacy, will not be widely adopted until smartphone and computer manufacturers install Li-fi chips in devices

Robotic airport delivery service and ‘sporty’ AR sunglasses among highlights at Hong Kong’s Trends Symposium 2019 – Roadmap to the Future

This most recent generation of consumer-grade smart locks are safer than ever before and deliver more convenience

Water-based cool and dry air system; hi-tech solutions by major brands; and ‘smart glass’ with self-modifying coating help you and the planet beat the heat

Whether it’s blown, cast, fused or melted, glass is having a moment in interior design – used to craft unique furniture and decorative features. Designers point to its handmade, tactile quality and the way it reacts to light.

Improved electric vehicles, such as Jaguar’s I-PACE, and increase in enhanced charging stations in city will help energise drivers

Etania Green School in Sabah, conceived by a Singapore-based non-profit, shows how good design can help inspire young thinkers. It’s hoped it will be the first of 30 schools to be built for thousands of children left stateless.

One estimate claims we waste a year of our lives looking for things we mislay

Cycles, treadmills, rowing machines, smart mirrors and apps can connect to real-time and on-demand exercise classes

Wearables that vibrate to restore calm, ‘smart, self-care lights’ and a waterbed that keeps you cool at night are among the latest innovations

The social media platform has changed the way we value design, but it’s also raised questions about originality and authenticity. Following the trend may create ‘kitsch’ projects that will have no longevity.

Start-up industry disrupters such as Van de Sant, Pentatonic, ecoBirdy, and Vepa/Ocean Plastic are circular-economy pioneers who upcycle waste resources, including marine trash, into tables and chairs which customers can return for reuse.

Interior designers have scoured the world’s trade fairs for upcoming trends. Recycled plastic, wood and metallic finishes will be popular, as will wall rugs.

A robot crime-fighter, Knightscope K5, is now in use by Microsoft and Uber to patrol car parks and large outdoor areas in the US

Dutch-led consortium’s proposal for Des Voeux Road Central, centred on themed tram stops linked to amenities and Central heritage sites, wins design contest; competition drew 43 entries from 11 countries.

The building recently awarded one of architecture’s most coveted trophies is no twisted tower or glitzy skyscraper. It’s boarding school accommodation for poor children in rural Brazil.

• An automatic cocktail maker, a robotic bartender that serves drinks as it cleans, and lights with rhythm will impress guests – and help gatherings go with a bang

Solar emulsion that produces clean energy from sun and water vapour in the air and ‘spray on’ antennas offering internet connection among innovations

Research shows the average person has 48.6 thoughts per minute, so it’s lucky firms are devising ever more hi-tech digital gadgets so we can record them all

A study has shown the link between well-designed schools and improved academic performance. Some architects and school boards are taking note, and building well-lit, airy and sustainable school buildings.