The sensory power of floors

Catherine Helliker of Danfloor discusses harnessing the power of soft floorcoverings for creating inclusive education environments which support neurodivergence. In designing inclusive spaces which support all users’ needs, such as in education facilities, the need to focus on the importance... View Article

View Point: Patrick Inglis

Patrick Inglis, president of ACA, describes the new safety information regime post-Building Safety Act, and why architects are best placed to take on the Principal Designer role, while being mindful of the risks. The Phase 2 report on the Grenfell... View Article

Fit for a healthier future

The transformation of Edinburgh’s long-empty Royal Infirmary creates a sustainable new home for the University’s new Futures Institute, a flexible workspace and education facility designed by Bennetts Associates. James Parker reports. According to the University of Edinburgh, the core mission... View Article

Fighting fires: an unlikely washroom hero

In the post-Grenfell landscape, fire safety in commercial washrooms is a critical issue. Carole Armstrong of Delabie UK explains how WC frames can sit at the centre of a project’s fire strategy for preventing the spread of flame. Fire safety... View Article

Building the future with ICF

ICF is one means available for reducing the carbon footprint of new housing, says Christopher Stride of the Insulating Concrete Formwork Association. The drive to improve levels of energy efficiency and airtightness while reducing a building’s reliance on heating and... View Article

More than just hot air

Clarissa Youden from Total Home Environment discusses how super-insulated and airtight building fabrics have seen the use of Passivhaus-certified systems that go ‘beyond’ MVHR to harness the benefits of heat pump ventilation. Imagine the appeal of a new home which... View Article

Follow the curve to innovation

Innovative manufacturing and collaboration are key to architectural success. Mick Beresford of Leviat details some unique, engineered solutions for complex projects. Today’s architects are not content with the conventional and frequently seek to create buildings that will challenge our perceptions... View Article

The power of colour in design

Victoria Brocklesby of Origin discusses how coloured doors and windows can transform home design, and offers practical advice on using colour to boost kerb appeal, enhance light, and add value. The decisions are endless when designing a home: from floor... View Article

Ask the Architect: Sarah Small

Weymouth native Sarah Small is an associate and Passivhaus designer at Dorchester practice SPASE Design – here she answers ADF’s questions on what drives her, from early concepts to current schemes What made you want to be an architect? From... View Article

Hive mind

Architects SPPARC encouraged a family business hesitant to the perceived limitations of heritage restorations to rescue a Grade II-listed Fitzrovia townhouse and create an elegant office. James Parker reports. London architecture studio SPPARC built on its existing relationship with an... View Article

Evidencing competency: Who is the judge?

Nigel Ostime, architect and principal at Ostime Consulting, questions the effectiveness of the new competency requirements for Principal Designers under the Building Safety Act, asking whether the varied systems plus no unified vetting will ensure safety. One of the glaring... View Article

Clearly ready for the FHS

Paul Higgins of TuffX explores glazing options for meeting the demands of Part O but also the upcoming Future Homes Standard, on aesthetics and function During an era of change in the construction, we are also at a pivotal moment... View Article

Keep healthy and even cool with underfloor heating

Ashley Cooper of WMS explains why underfloor heating is a key way to improve indoor air quality and reduce airbourne pollutants, while also providing a cost-effective way of mitigating overheating in homes While soft furnishings are typically known as the... View Article

Practice Profile: Holmes Miller

ADF’s Kim Neville traces the evolution of multi-award winning Glasgow practice Holmes Miller, from its modest origins 70 years ago to overcoming a series of challenges which equipped it to deliver further future growth Holmes Miller was established in 2011... View Article

Success cast in stone

Toby Marlow of Haddonstone explains how architects can achieve the best outcomes when using cast stone and what advice they should expect from a manufacturer There is a virtually endless variety to the forms which cast stone can take, from... View Article

Going beyond Gateway 2

Chris Hall of Siderise looks at the new design quality regime under the Building Sagfety Act, and the Gateway 2 approval for higher-risk buildings in particular, discussing what architects need to know on the documentation requirements One of the most... View Article

View Point: Sara Edmonds

Architect and National Retrofit Hub co-director Sara Edmonds discusses the critical need for a major retrofit programme to tackle fuel poverty, reduce emissions and improve housing quality, and how the Hub is driving collaborative action The challenge of retrofitting the... View Article

Making the most of aluminium windows

Director of ASWS (Associated Steel Window Services) Kris Bennell, considers how conserving aluminium window systems can cut cost as well as carbon As a strong, lightweight and very versatile material, aluminium has seen service for everything from saucepans to the... View Article