With an increasing drive to ensure homes are as efficient as possible – particularly where heating, cooling and ventilation is concerned – it is important to carefully consider the various housebuilding options available to ensure minimal thermal losses. Here, Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) looks at... View Article

Mike Rawlings from Saint Gobain PAM challenges housebuilders to look beyond alternative rainwater systems and consider specifying a steel system. Steel rainwater systems are quickly becoming a great alternative for all types of dwellings and offer significant benefits for social housing. The material is making... View Article

David Layland, joint managing director of treatment specialist Japanese Knotweed Control (JKC) offers a timely warning to landowners and developers on the perils of ignoring the latest invasive plant legislation. A difficult and expensive burden, invasive, non-native plants have long been the scourge... View Article

Visiting five locations across the UK throughout September: Coventry, Exeter, Farnborough, Edinburgh and Manchester, plus an awards ceremony on 10 September at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The last few months since the General Election have been anything but straightforward for the construction industry. With... View Article

Michael Goddard, director of housebuilder Caplin Homes, assesses some of the challenges of the renewable technologies available to housebuilders and explores how a new application could change the future of eco building. Structural building design has improved dramatically in recent years and the... View Article

A striking blend of modern architecture and heritage transport infrastructure makes Altrincham Interchange something of a destination in itself. Ray Philpott reports. Atruly integrated transport interchange where it’s possible to access several different modes of transport with minimal effort is... View Article

Continuing advances in window film technology mean that a range of difficult glazing challenges in the transport sector can be met effectively and cost-efficiently. Micky Calcott, managing director of specialists,The Window Film Company, reveals how. The world of transport utilises... View Article

Designed as a cathedral to food, the new Gloucester services on the southbound M5 are the complete opposite to big-brand motorway fuel stops. Could they revolutionise motorway services’ design? Alison Harmer investigates At a stunning rural location flanking the Cotswolds... View Article

With tight budget restrictions and a multitude of requirements to fulfil, transport sector architects and specifiers are faced with a difficult task when choosing the right street furniture. Nigel Kightley, sales director at CIS Street Furniture, spotlights three products vital... View Article

As passenger numbers grow, specifying the right materials to future-proof stations and airports has never been more important. Andrew Jackson, director at SAS International, looks at how steel solutions meet the required design flexibility and aesthetic demand while providing long-term... View Article

Sally Binns, Marshalls’ rail expert, takes us on a journey to find out how good design and carefully selected materials can enhance the passenger experience from the station interface to the platform. Around 6.5 million passengers travel on Britain’s rail... View Article

Oak remains perhaps the most iconic of British hardwoods, but how does English oak fare against imported oak, and do designers and specifiers fully understand and appreciate the available choices and advantages of English oak over imported timber? Tom Barnes... View Article

Transport facilities are subject to heavy footfall and tiled flooring offers an aesthetically appealing and hard-wearing solution in this environment. But even the most resilient surfaces are vulnerable to damage after installation. Judith Mawtus, general manager at Dural UK, offers... View Article

Creating harmony in our lives is every person’s desire, and with our ever increasing busy lifestyles, adding the pleasure of water at home can provide the dream lifestyle and that ultimate feeling of paradise! The design of a swimming pool... View Article

It is no coincidence that “balcony” is now one of the most searched keywords when people are looking for a new home. Estate agents are often told that the apartment they are offering would be perfect, “if only it had... View Article

Since its creation, the architecture of the railways has been primarily about facilitating transportation. Now, as today’s travellers require multi-tasking spaces, architects and designers need to create retail opportunities as an essential part of the journey from pavement to platform,... View Article

Structural defects and poor thermal efficiency are issues affecting a significant number of non-traditional and prefabricated concrete (PRC) buildings. Andy Carter, Structherm’s technical manager, looks at how Structural External Wall Insulation (SEWI) can be used to remediate these problems Many... View Article

Latest developments in window technology have radically improved the design, performance, and security of fully-glazed external sliding doors for residential use. However, as sliding doors become increasingly sophisticated, specification also becomes more complex. Andy Trewick, VELFAC direct sales manager, comments Site suitability To... View Article

A tectonic shift has overtaken the retail construction sector over the past five years as retailers have responded to the challenges of persistently weak consumer spending and changes to how and where people shop. Stephen Cousins asks “where is it... View Article