Raising the bar for external spaces

Caroline Birdsall from Millboard describes the recent trends in including decking for outdoor areas, from entertainment to increasingly al fresco bars and dining in domestic and hospitality settings, post-pandemic An overriding trend we have all seen in recent times is... View Article

Safety rises to the top

Representing the biggest improvements to building safety in nearly 40 years, the Building Safety Act will have far-reaching implications. Nick Mellor at LEIA explains what it means for design of evacuation lifts for all users In the wake of Grenfell,... View Article

Commercial considerations

Anil Madan of Ideal Standard details the top factors that architects need to consider when designing and creating commercial washrooms Commercial washroom design is often a tricky balance due to the many factors you need to weigh up with what... View Article

Building cultural change in London

UK Construction Week (UKCW) comes to London on 3-5 May at ExCel, with the promises of a major face to face event for the construction industry for 25,000 expected visitors The organisers have developed a key focus for UKCW London... View Article

Ask the Architect: Liz Leber

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Liz Leber, managing partner of New York practice Beyer Blinder Belle, drives her firm to work with clients who have a clear “mission”, but also strives to extract their core project objectives. She explains the “creativity, pragmatism,... View Article

Health and wellbeing at work

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Architects Saunders have designed what will be one of the most sustainable business parks in the UK, with the focus on sustainable construction and healthy lifestyles for staff. Managing director Martin Williams explains why it is an... View Article

The next generation of Spandrel Panels

Glass structures dominate the skylines of UK cities, offering excellent views, enhanced internal daylighting and visual impact. An essential part of these curtain wall facades is the area between the glazing panels – the spandrel zone. Spandrel panels are designed... View Article

Time to go hybrid: Ventilation to weather any storm

The reality of climate change in the UK is being felt in force, from extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures to increasingly frequent flooding events. Building design must change in response, including ventilation. For specifiers, it’s a balancing act between delivering... View Article

A clear set of challenges

The glazing industry, like many others, faced unprecedented issues with availability of materials and extending lead times during 2021. David Clarke of ID Systems explains why these challenges are likely to continue for the foreseeable future The Covid-19 pandemic saw... View Article

Internal glazing, safely

Cath McLean of Promat UK gives a technical breakdown on why the latest generation of fire resistant glazing allows internal glass elements to be designed to deliver multiple performance benefits – without compromising safety Creating safe buildings is an absolute... View Article

Keep an eye on the sky

With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s mind, Natalie Goodridge of Lamilux UK looks at how buildings and their components – such as skylights – need to be futureproofed and designed to withstand extreme weather events Residential, industrial and... View Article

Switch up your space

Whether you favour open plan living or more defined living spaces, most building users are fans of natural light. Susan Sinden from ESG looks at some clever ways to allow maximum light and best use of space, by using switchable... View Article

Architects needed, now!

Wastewater treatment specialists Graf UK are calling on architects to help improve ground water quality throughout the UK; the firm’s David Stagg explains why it’s critical for designers to get involved Asking architects to become more involved in wastewater treatment... View Article

Accidents will happen

James Fildes of Berry Systems discusses how protecting car park cladding against inevitable accidental collisions is becoming more important with the rise of EVs When it comes to driving, most accidents happen in car parks – they account for 20... View Article

An air of improvement

Tyson Anderson of Titon outlines the main impacts of revisions to the Building Regulations, intended to strike the balance between energy efficiency, air quality and overheating in domestic settings Revisions to Part F of the Building Regulations in England were... View Article

Practice Profile: Studio Fōr

Architect Fauzia Khanani uses her role as studio principal at New York City’s Studio Fōr to combat inequality, including in architecture itself. However, as she tells James Parker, it was never her ambition to found a practice Based in New... View Article

Thermal efficiency, cost-effectively

Actis Insulation’s Thomas Wiedmer says that while many specifiers continue to struggle to maximise energy efficiency in dwellings, low carbon results are achievable without adding significantly to the build cost It is a truism that the fabric of a building... View Article

The sky’s the limit with glass, but play it safe!

Justin Seldis of Sunsquare looks at why glass has become the building material of choice for architects, but also explains why it’s never been more important to put safety and security first as designs get bigger and more elaborate Glass... View Article

The final curtain?

Alex Cooke of Kingspan Light + Air looks at why polycarbonate curtain walling solutions are being specified as an alternative to glass across various building types Glittering glazed buildings are a popular sight in many of our towns and cities.... View Article

A clear vision

The versatility of glass made it the right choice for SOM to create curved facades with maximum transparency, in a complex mixed-use development on one of Manhattan’s last undeveloped sites. Roseanne Field reports Manhattan’s West Side Yard, a rail yard... View Article