Permission to criticise

Permitted Development Rights have fast-tracked housing delivery, but often at the expense of thermal comfort and occupant wellbeing, says Andrew Nash from Nuaire, who warns that reforms and ventilation innovation are urgently needed. Permitted Development Rights (PDR) emerged as a... View Article

Practice Profile: Bennetts Associates

Kim Neville speaks with Rob Bearyman of Bennetts Associates about how the now employee-owned practice has over its three decades combined resilience, collaboration and pioneering sustainable design. Bennetts Associates has built its reputation over more than three decades on conviction,... View Article

A new era for verification & certification

Mike Vaczi of SOPREMA discusses how recent legislative changes are fundamentally altering the construction industry’s approach to product verification and certification. The construction industry stands at a turning point in regards to building safety and product verification. Recent years have... View Article

London Build’s 10th birthday

19-20 November  London Build Expo London Build is taking over Olympia’s Grand and National Halls on 19 and 20 November, celebrating 10 years of connecting the construction industry. To mark the milestone, this year’s event will offer more content, networking,... View Article
View Point: Rabia Charef and Frantz Gault

View Point: Rabia Charef and Frantz Gault

Rabia Charef of Lancaster University, and sociologist and author Frantz Gault, invite designers to rethink how we build – and shift from a human-centred mindset to one where nature is a partner, not just a resource. What if architects and... View Article

elementalLONDON debuts!

19-20 November. Excel London ElementalLONDON is a new event coming to London’s Excel on 19-20 November 2025. This new exhibition  for London is focused on the twin aims of advancing building efficiency and decarbonisation. The 4,000 attendees expected at elementalLONDON encompass... View Article

The point of WCs in BREEAM

David Davis of MEP engineer G&H says that with BREEAM remaining a well-used method for assessing sustainability goals, choosing the right product choices for earning points needs to be a prority, and why toilets are a key component. Achieving higher... View Article

Why modern wood burning stoves belong in Future Homes

Erica Malkin of the Stove Industry Association explains why modern wood burning stoves offer architects a low carbon, resilient secondary heat source for sustainable home design, and one which is now backed by policy. As the UK moves toward net... View Article

An education in colour

It is well known that colour can have a profound impact on building occupants; Dawn Scott at Dulux Trade explains how in educational environments, it can be used to enhance learning and wellbeing for students. Across the built environment, colour... View Article

The embodiment of quality?

Reyan Clarey of CA Group discusses the challenge facing the industry of balancing embodied carbon targets against design quality in the race to net zero. Decision makers are looking for a simple metric by which to measure products’ sustainability credentials.... View Article

Reporting on the future

Dorothe Kessels and Thomas Eurlings of Forbo Flooring Systems discuss how trend reports are helping to shape the future of design, helping architects create spaces that meet modern expectations and inspire creativity. Trends are a crucial part of the architectural... View Article

High performance

GT3 Architects’ new Passivhaus leisure centre in Staines has set a new bar for larger leisure projects in terms of both community engagement and building performance. Roseanne Field reports. A leisure centre built in the Surrey town of Staines has... View Article

Framing nature: fenestration design for comfort & compliance

Andrew Cooper of Senior Architectural Systems says architects can embrace principles of biophilic design and wellness, while keeping regulation compliance clearly in view. As well as being functional, fenestration systems can help create truly inspirational interiors where inclusivity, wellbeing, and... View Article

Transforming spaces with natural light

It is well established that maximising natural light boosts wellbeing and transforms living spaces. Victoria Brocklesby of Origin shares expert tips on using glazing and design to brighten homes beautifully. Natural light in a home has all kinds of benefits,... View Article

Designs for efficient living

Stephen Johnson of Quooker delves into how boiling water taps are helping architects design kitchens that reduce waste, conserve energy, and support sustainability for users, without compromising on style. As sustainability becomes a central consideration in architectural design, attention is... View Article

Time for a rethink on timber

Helen Hewitt of the British Woodworking Federation challenges outdated myths about specification of timber, which belie its durability and high-performance credentials. Timber is considered the oldest building material in the world, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. Despite... View Article

That’s a wrap

The rare chance to create a new film and TV studio complex from scratch in the UK, equipped with the high performance and flexibility credentials to attract Hollywood, was perfect casting for Scott Brownrigg. Roseanne Field reports. The plans for... View Article

Practice Profile: Fereday Pollard

Kim Neville speaks to practice co-founder Chris Pollard to uncover how the privately-owned firm, turning 30 this year, specialises in large-scale infrastructure projects with the differentiator of putting ‘humanising architecture’ at the forefront. Fereday Pollard was established in 1995 by... View Article

View Point: Dr Stephen Hamil

Dr Stephen Hamil of NBS explains why better data standards and Digital Product Passports are vital to fix the industry’s fragmented systems and safeguard its future. For several years now, UK construction has been beset by issues around material quality,... View Article