Engineering-out structural emissions early

Jack Brunton and Ioana Price of AECOM explore how designers can redefine carbon calculations by assessing carbon at the early design and optioneering stage. The built environment is a significant contributor to the UK’s carbon emission and is responsible for... View Article

Practice Profile: AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is a firm that has redefined architectural practice, blending engineering precision with people-centred design, with sustainability and collaboration to the fore. Kim Neville reports. AtkinsRéalis’ journey began with an unorthodox move, establishing an architecture arm within what was formerly... View Article

The cost of ending homelessness

Preventing further increases in homelessness will only be possible with billions being invested in new housing, says Patrick Mooney, with record-high rough sleeping and temporary accommodation figures exposing the urgent need for action. The overwhelming case in favour of building... View Article

Landlord Latest: Platform Housing Group

Since 1967, Platform Housing Group has put a strong focus on providing affordable, safe homes – serving over 120,000 people since forming. With 2,000 dedicated colleagues, COO Marion Duffy explains how Platform is building a truly modern, customer-focused HA that’s... View Article

Embracing positive change

The rental sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by legislative reform, rising tenant demand, and growing corporate investment. Andy Jones of Leaders Romans Group explores the challenges and opportunities ahead. A radical transformation is occurring in the rental sector. A... View Article

Ambitious plans

Lawrence Turner of planning consultants Boyer discusses how the revised NPPF aims to meet Labour’s ambitious housing targets, from brownfield passports to grey belts. Following Angela Rayner’s promise in July 2024 to spearhead a ‘decade of renewal’ with an ambitious... View Article

How to build greener homes

The climate crisis demands urgent action, explains Philippa Hoy of sustainability consultant Bioregional. She gives the case for the One Planet Living concept, and looks at how embracing sustainable design and low-carbon solutions can meet developers’ imperatives as well as... View Article

Emberton House, Olympia: From cars to culture

Trevor Morriss, principal at SPPARC discusses how the practice embraced the challenge to convert a historic multi-storey car park at London’s Olympia in the Streamline Moderne style into a hotel and school, as part of the site’s cultural redevelopment. “Adjoining... View Article

Practice Profile: ECD Architects

Founded in 1980 as Energy Conscious Design, the subsequently abbreviated ECD Architects merged energy research with architectural practice. It later joined multi-disciplinary construction ‘one stop shop’ N-able Group in 2007, which was in turn recently acquired by the RSK Group... View Article

The art of window dressing

Debbie Leigh of ILIV shares expert insights into selecting the perfect curtains and blinds for every home, with the right window dressing able to transform a room. When it comes to interior design, window dressings are often an overlooked yet... View Article

Stylish, sustainable & functional

Charlton & Jenrick managing director Peter Mintoft speaks to The Selfbuilder’s James Parker about all things secondary heating including sustainability, trends, and what the future holds. What exactly is secondary heating? Secondary heating is very  complementary to primary heating systems.... View Article

View Point: Magdalena Arent

Magdalena Arent, building performance consultant at architect Holmes Miller, discusses strategies for when a low energy building is required, but Passivhaus ‘doesn’t quite fit the bill,’ and something else on the sustainability standard menu is called for. Passivhaus certification has... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Home Office

Whether you’ll be working from home full time or only part, creating a cosy dedicated nook or designing a whole room, we’ve compiled products from desks and chairs to storage and lighting solutions to provide all the inspiration you need... View Article

Turbocharging housing or hitting roadblocks?

Despite planning reforms aimed at delivering 1.5 million homes by 2029, challenges persist. Lawrence Turner of Boyer explores the impact of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent announcements. In her high profile January speech the Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined plans to go... View Article

The routes to a greener world

Over the last few decades, housebuilding design has drastically changed from every possible angle; from energy, technology and construction to industry standards and regulations. At the same time, the push towards carbon reduction and net zero, energy efficiency and biodiversity... View Article

Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

As the Government and construction sector struggle to meet ambitious housing targets, record low planning approvals and economic uncertainty underscore the challenges. Patrick Mooney highlights the urgent need for reforms to address the crisis. The New Year brought with it... View Article

Site Lines: Redefining modular timber

Designer Nick Blunt of WeberHaus highlights how a demonstration project in Germany was created with an aim to “redefine prefabricated timber frame construction,” harnessing contractor-builder collaboration for innovative results. When tasked with designing Villa Blunt, the ambition was clear: to... View Article

Ask the Architect: Matt Spinks

Matt Spinks from fast-rising Shropshire practice Johnson Design Partnership, answers ADF’s questions on his architectural journey from assistant to director, leadership challenges, and his vision for growing sustainable design. What made you want to pursue a career in architecture? From... View Article

On trend with tiles

Following a year of exciting innovations and technological advances, María D Arráez of Tile of Spain UK and Clara Vicedo of ASCER outline the key tile trends set to dominate homes this year. From sensory, calm textures to dynamic dimensions,... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

For selfbuilder Carys and her family, their project has been an ongoing journey from a bungalow fit for retirement to a complete demolition and rebuild, all the while knowing that the value is in the plot rather than the bricks…... View Article