Galvanizing sustainability in construction

Andy Harrison of Wedge Group Galvanizing explores the key benefits galvanizing brings to sustainable construction, and highlights the growing number of techniques adopted by the galvanizing industry to further reduce the sector’s environmental impact Galvanizing has long been recognised as... View Article

Aluminium’s place in architecture – and human ecology

Architect Professor Michael Stacey looks at the case for aluminium, backed by ongoing research, on grounds of versatility, sustainability and durability As a light and versatile metal, aluminium has been serving humankind well since Humphry Davy identified it 200 years ago.... View Article

The challenges and pleasures of life in the Bronze Age

Architectural bronze has long been the choice for delivering a premier feel and finish to any building, but specifying it has always come with challenges. Warwick Penson of Bronze Architecture discusses the resurgence of this material and its uniquely distinctive... View Article

View Point – Nigel Ostime from Hawkins\Brown

Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown Architects discusses how practices can research and adopt aspects of AI and automation, and thereby stay one step ahead of the robots About five years ago, two academics from Oxford, Carl Frey and Michael Osborne, produced... View Article

Practice Profile: gpad London

With origins in small residential projects, gpad London is a firm that has proved its mettle through steady growth and diversification. Sébastien Reed speaks to managing director Charles Bettes The silver lining of gpad london founder and current chair Christopher... View Article

Efficient evacuations – never leave a person behind

We’re all familiar with the fire safety drill, from regular practice runs at school all the way through to adult working life. An alarm is sounded, signalling the urgent evacuation of every person in the building – in an orderly fashion... View Article

View Point – Richard Harral of CABE

Richard Harral of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) says the lessons we need to learn from Dame Judith Hackitt’s post-Grenfell review must include a wider look at our society’s relationship with its buildings, and regulatory reform Attention has been... View Article

Roofing elements of designing to Passivhaus

As designing to the Passivhaus standard continues to grow in popularity, not only for residential builds but also increasingly for commercial constructions, architect Nicolas Tye shares insights on the specific considerations a Passivhaus-accredited roof requires Over the last few years,... View Article

Five reasons to sell your house

Selling a home can be frustrating, thrilling, depressing, exciting, terrible, and amazing. In other words, it’s a roller coaster ride. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to sell, though. Any significant life transition like this can be a bit daunting... View Article

Putting together a flooding contingency plan for your home

While a direct correlation between global warming and increased incidences of extreme weather has yet to be conclusively proven, there is mounting evidence that the two are related. You can work that out with a rudimentary understanding of physics. The... View Article

Exploring modern landscaping styles

Landscaping has been practiced for thousands and thousands of years, whether the earliest practitioners were aware of today’s term for what they were doing or not. The Renaissance, Baroque and Victorian styles of landscaping came to define gardening practices in... View Article

3D printing presents multi industry opportunities

The recent broadening in knowledge and understanding about 3D printing and additive manufacture have generated new business ideas and opportunities ranging from home hobby machines to printing buildings on other planets. Andrew Watts, CEO of international Building Engineers Newtecnic, reveals... View Article

RIBA responds to the Government’s Social Housing Green Paper

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has tresponded to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Social Housing Green Paper. RIBA President Ben Derbyshire says, “Whilst there are some welcome proposals in the Government’s Social Housing Green Paper, I’m... View Article

Why timber is the answer

ADF caught up with Jeremy English of Sӧdra to discuss why he feels timber is the solution to the UK’s housing crisis, and how the material can help architects adopt less labour-intensive, offsite building techniques What do you see as... View Article

Blog: A brave new (planning) world?

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the Government’s policies for planning and directs local authorities on matters around granting permission for developments. Sam Dewar, a planning expert and director of DPA Planning, gives his assessment of a... View Article