Practice Profile: vPPR Architects

LISTEN HERE ADF’s Kim Neville profiles a rare female-led UK architecture practice, exploring vPPR’s foundations, ethos, and focus on supporting users’ creativity in its designs Established in 2009, vPPR is a female-led multi-national architectural practice, with offices in London, Liverpool... View Article

View Point: Gareth Abrahams of Changing Streams

LISTEN HERE A new ‘independent’ database of products has been designed to help specifiers substitute and reduce the use of plastic in buildings they are designing, and thereby tackle a major sustainability challenge. Architect Gareth Abrahams explains how the Changing... View Article

Hertford hub’s second act

LISTEN HERE A renovation of a theatre and cinemas complex in Hertford by cultural sector experts Bennetts Associates has created a riverside hub with new openings both theatrically, and for the community. James Parker reports Opening this summer, BEAM transforms... View Article

Skilling up to design sustainable timber buildings

LISTEN HERE Andrew Orriss from the Structural Timber Association says that with the Government’s Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap pinpointing skills as one of the key themes to address, the industry needs to take a series of steps According to... View Article

Ask the Architect: Jane Duncan

LISTEN HERE Former RIBA president, founder of her own practice and recipient of an OBE for diversity, Jane Duncan answers ADF’s questions about what continues to inspire her What was the highlight of your career as a designer? Most of... View Article

From standard ’80s to solar temple

LISTEN HERE Ruth Slavid reports on how Scott Brownrigg salvaged the ‘bones’ of a typical 1980s commercial building in Bristol to create an understated, sleek facility with greater capacity, and passive design measures to sustain it into the future The... View Article

Practice Profile: RX Architects

LISTEN HERE After working on projects in London and the south east for several years, Rob Pollard and Derek Rankin decided their true calling was to found a resi-focused practice in historic Rye. Roseanne Field reports on their successful partnership,... View Article

Clerkenwell Design Week expands its offer for 2024

LISTEN HERE Clerkenwell Design Week made a triumphant return to London between 21-23 May, marking its 15th year as a global design festival. Building upon its 2023 edition, which drew over 37,000 visitors, CDW elevated the experience with new venues,... View Article

Learning from the past

LISTEN HERE Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios designed a replacement primary school in south London which builds on the features created over time in its predecessor, and celebrates its mixed community. Jayne Dowle reports When Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) won... View Article

Up for a night out

LISTEN HERE London’s Camden Market has its share of characterful drinking establishments, so to attract visitors to a new terrace bar crowning a historic building, playfully nostalgic design moves within a contrasting light structure were in order. James Parker reports... View Article

Ask the Architect: Gillian Burgis Smith

LISTEN HERE Gillian Burgis Smith details how she became an architect, overcoming some outdated industry mindsets and major health obstacles; and how she has positively harnessed her own experience to create inclusive environments for others What made you want to... View Article

Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Denmark Hill

LISTEN HERE Architects and ‘urbanist’ studio TateHindle has completed work on the new six-storey Salvation Army UK and Ireland Headquarters in Denmark Hill, London. This project saw the successful delivery of an elegant, sustainable cost effective new home for the... View Article

Olympia opens up

LISTEN HERE Freeing up the sclerotic site that London’s historic events venue had become over the decades was a refreshing challenge for Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC. James Parker visited the site to hear about their collaboration to create a new... View Article

An uplift for inclusion

LISTEN HERE Mark Chapman of Stannah Lifts discusses the specification options available to provide access for all users of new and retrofit schemes using space-saving platform lifts Platform lifts are governed by the Machinery Directive (note: not the Lift Directive)... View Article

Practice Profile: NBBJ

LISTEN HERE One of the world’s top architectural firms, US-founded NBBJ built a global reputation among healthcare and major corporate clients, but despite its size still aims to place people at the heart of all its buildings. Laura Shadwell reports... View Article

View Point: Rory Bergin of HTA Design

LISTEN HERE How can architects use place-specific data on design outcomes to have a meaningful impact in future projects? Rory Bergin of HTA Design proposes a change of approach ‘If you can’t measure it, you cannot manage it’ has been... View Article

Shared opportunity

LISTEN HERE James Parker reports on how Assael Architecture achieved a pioneering co-living scheme which used a difficult site to the full to give single occupants and keyworkers a foothold in London, plus co-working and shared amenities to combat loneliness... View Article