A hot topic: choosing smoke, heat and CO alarms

When specifying for housing developments – be they public or private sector – there can be no greater concern than tenant safety. With this in mind, it’s crucial to be aware of the most effective smoke, heat and carbon monoxide... View Article

The power of vaults

Jeremy Cassady of Securikey looks at how modular vault systems can provide an effective, easy-to-install bespoke system for high security applications. When clients are storing expensive equipment and valuables, sensitive documents and drugs or chemicals, the risks are extremely high, both in... View Article

SITE LINES – Shaping spaces for people

Architect and professor Fabrizio Rossi Prodi offers five principles for creating residential developments with rich and diverse opportunities for social interaction as well as a distinctive character, with a particular focus on social housing. A research project on social housing... View Article

Practice Profile – BuckleyGrayYeoman

BuckleyGrayYeoman is a name that is increasingly heard in connection with award-winning projects, as Norman Hayden discovers. Over the past 20 years BuckleyGrayYeoman has developed a growing reputation for delivering high-quality design that has been acknowledged by a number of... View Article

Giving old multi-storeys a new lease of life

They may have been the necessary solution to post–war housing shortages, but concrete multi-storey buildings’ structural integrity has come back to haunt planners and maintenance teams. Nic Collins of Sika explains how they can be made fit for the future.... View Article

Don’t slip up: effective choices for communal spaces

Beware taking the cheap option when it comes to busy communal spaces – it could prove to be a false economy. Martyn West of Altro advises on how to make informed specification choices based on safety, durability and reducing maintenance... View Article

Smart lighting management

New generation monitoring and management systems for indoor lighting and LED solutions are bringing significant benefits to social housing. Tim McKernan from Harvard Technology explains. Lighting, which can accounts for as much as 40 per cent of a building’s electricity bill, has... View Article

Restoring pride in social housing

Building more social housing is higher on the agenda than ever before, but future-proofing must be top priority for management teams, explains William McDowell of Rockpanel Group. Social housing tower blocks are easily one of the most controversial elements of... View Article

Opening up the possibilities

Garage doors have improved hugely in recent years as the value placed on them by homeowners has increased. David O’Mara of Hörmann looks at the different options available and how to decide which is best for you Garage doors have... View Article

Solar success: why PV systems are a win for landlords

Energy efficiency continues to be a hot topic for property as housing providers gear up to meet rigorous efficiency rules. John Forster, Chairman of Solar Trade Association Scotland, reveals how solar roofing can improve homes and lives. Despite the UK government’s commitment... View Article

Embracing nature

Garden designer Elaine James and her antique dealer husband Ian used their combined skills to design a tranquil home around the ever-changing view of the north Yorkshire countryside. It can be blowing a gale across the field at the back... View Article

Smart answers on smart homes

Ben Johnson, director of Powertrac Electrical Services, a Berkshire-based smart home and electrical contractor, answers some of the frequently asked questions on smart homes. What is a smart home? In short, a smart home intelligently automates and allows you to... View Article

RIBA shows support for custom and self-build

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has shown support for custom and self-build in its latest policy document: Housing Matters: 20 Ways to Tackle the Housing crisis. In a bid to help improve the housing market, RIBA has listed... View Article

Wellness in the workplace

Mark Bauer at Forbo Flooring Systems explores how improving workplace design with a holistic focus on all interior elements has the ability to enhance employee productivity and satisfaction. Workers spend between 80 and 90 per cent of their time in... View Article

A hot favourite for heating sustainable buildings

Rising fuel prices and the need to cut carbon emissions has put greater focus on green building and renewable energy. Schiedel Chimney Systems’ Stephen Dodds explains why wood burning stoves are the smart as well as safe way for heating... View Article

Presenting a sophisticated front

With more sophisticated facade solutions come even greater expectations. Paul Hughes from FunderMax explains how the market is continuing to innovate to meet clients’ increasingly esoteric demands. In today’s construction market, competition is no longer simply about the best price.... View Article

Preparing for winter with resilient properties

In recent years there has been significant damage to many properties as a result of harsh and persistent wintry weather. Flooding has been high up on the agenda with a national flood resilience review having been commissioned by the Department... View Article