Practice Profile: vPPR Architects

LISTEN HERE ADF’s Kim Neville profiles a rare female-led UK architecture practice, exploring vPPR’s foundations, ethos, and focus on supporting users’ creativity in its designs Established in 2009, vPPR is a female-led multi-national architectural practice, with offices in London, Liverpool... View Article

View Point: Gareth Abrahams of Changing Streams

LISTEN HERE A new ‘independent’ database of products has been designed to help specifiers substitute and reduce the use of plastic in buildings they are designing, and thereby tackle a major sustainability challenge. Architect Gareth Abrahams explains how the Changing... View Article

Hertford hub’s second act

LISTEN HERE A renovation of a theatre and cinemas complex in Hertford by cultural sector experts Bennetts Associates has created a riverside hub with new openings both theatrically, and for the community. James Parker reports Opening this summer, BEAM transforms... View Article

How software is tackling the compliance challenge

LISTEN HERE With social landlords under increasing pressure to improve housing compliance, Dave Carr from Propeller explains the role of software in overhauling safety checks and meeting RSH standards A new regulation, enforced in April 2024, has put housing safety... View Article

Eliminating emissions

LISTEN HERE Eliminating the carbon emissions associated with housing involves understanding the impact of the dwelling over its lifespan. Anastasia Mylona of CIBSE explains how this should be approached Regular revisions to Building Regulations over the last two decades have... View Article

Energy efficient block management

LISTEN HERE Robert Poole of Glide explains how regardless of the changing political mood, there is a real need for more energy efficiency in block management The shift towards greater energy efficiency within block management is crucial due to environmental,... View Article

A dramatic rescue

LISTEN HERE A cottage in the Cornish village which hosted Poldark saw its own share of drama when it was rescued from the point of collapse by Mark Semmens TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES CORNISH GEMS In 2018, a tiny cottage... View Article

Local sensitivity

LISTEN HERE Roseanne Field reports on a high-end nine house development in a small village in Kent, built by an SME developer that prides itself on its local knowledge and respectful approach to schemes. Situated just outside Maidstone in Kent,... View Article

Clearing the path to timber

LISTEN HERE The Government’s roadmap for increasing timber use in construction is here, but how is the industry tackling the obstacles? James Parker spoke to Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association. How can structural timber, the ultimate... View Article

Ascending to
greatness

LISTEN HERE Young couple Lianne and James took the design of their home into their own hands, despite a challenging steep plot in Neath, South Wales, and managed to take full advantage of their surroundings while offering a residence that... View Article

Skilling up to design sustainable timber buildings

LISTEN HERE Andrew Orriss from the Structural Timber Association says that with the Government’s Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap pinpointing skills as one of the key themes to address, the industry needs to take a series of steps According to... View Article

Ask the Architect: Jane Duncan

LISTEN HERE Former RIBA president, founder of her own practice and recipient of an OBE for diversity, Jane Duncan answers ADF’s questions about what continues to inspire her What was the highlight of your career as a designer? Most of... View Article

From standard ’80s to solar temple

LISTEN HERE Ruth Slavid reports on how Scott Brownrigg salvaged the ‘bones’ of a typical 1980s commercial building in Bristol to create an understated, sleek facility with greater capacity, and passive design measures to sustain it into the future The... View Article

A long time coming

LISTEN HERE For Paula and David Matthews, creating their dream home began back in the late 90s when they first bought their house, completing decades of good (and not-so-good) alterations before finally unlocking its full potential TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES... View Article

Ask the expert – The art of colour selection

LISTEN HERE Choosing the right paint colours for different rooms is more than just a matter of aesthetics – it’s about understanding how colours interact with light, influence mood, and create a sense of continuity. Dulux Heritage’s Dawn Scott paints... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

LISTEN HERE Jo and Andrew’s dream New England-style home on the Dorset coast is finally taking shape after years of planning woes, and their original builder dropping out a week before demolition began! Jo takes up the story… When we... View Article

Design your very own ‘Wonderwall’

LISTEN HERE Interior designer Judith Harrop describes how with careful design, you can make a media wall for all your home entertainment needs that’s an integral part of your interior design, and provides the right balance of aesthetics and function... View Article

Wetland wonder

LISTEN HERE Simon Roberts and Sarah Bruml managed to achieve their innovative, sustainable and flood-resilient cabin on a highly sensitive site next to a tidal creek and natural wetland in Southwold, thanks to a bedded-in design TEXT DEBBIE JEFFERY IMAGES DAVID... View Article

Practice Profile: RX Architects

LISTEN HERE After working on projects in London and the south east for several years, Rob Pollard and Derek Rankin decided their true calling was to found a resi-focused practice in historic Rye. Roseanne Field reports on their successful partnership,... View Article