Roaring into retirement

Embarking on the journey of self-building their retirement home along the south-west’s Jurassic Coast turned into a decade-long adventure for two septuagenarians. The result surpassed everything they could have hoped for TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES PHIL COFFEY Former city dweller... View Article

Permeable paving: the driving force behind SuDS success

Chris Hodson of Interpave delves into the impact of soon to be mandatory sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) in new residential projects, and the transformative role that permeable paving plays The wider application of concrete block permeable paving to reverse... View Article

Practically
perfect

Young newlyweds Euan and Fiona Coleman thought they had found their forever home, but once children arrived they reassessed their wish list of practicalities, which led them to embark on a renovation in Hertfordshire TEXT LAURA SHADWELL IMAGES JWB ARCHITECTS... View Article

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall | From River to Roof

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall, one of the most anticipated architectural projects to be completed in Prague in the coming decades, is taking its final form under the lead of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. The project unifies a contemporary music... View Article

Survey reveals UK self-builders’ challenges and aspirations

Younger people in the UK are vastly under-represented in the self-build community, according to a recent survey which also looked at key motives for self-builders including creating better quality and more sustainable homes.  The survey of 759 individuals undertaking homebuilding... View Article

The warm feeling of cost-efficiency

Dennis Milligan of the BFCMA explores the efficiency benefits of wood-burning stoves, how they work with heat pumps, and installation essentials Heat pumps work best when they are running at a constant temperature. A stove can complement a heat pump... View Article

The Window View: A look at safety issues

Victoria Brocklesby of Origin discusses what features to look for in your doors and windows in order to achieve the critical security you need for your home When undertaking a self-build project, it can be tempting to overlook home security... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

After overcoming a rocky start, Kerri and her family are now making headway with a self-build in the Suffolk village they’ve lived in for years. She says the excitement and enthusiasm is building as their new home starts to take... View Article

The versatility of contemporary bookcases in home design

Adam Brown, managing director of The Painted Furniture Company highlights the shift from mere book storage to bookcases becoming elegant feature pieces, serving as showcases for favourite reads and home accessories. From expansive floor-to-ceiling units that make a striking visual... View Article

2024 construction predictions

The construction industry continues to evolve but perhaps no more so more than in 2023. Technological advancements, changes in building regulations as well as environmental concerns have fuelled major reform.  However, as we enter a new year, the sector shows... View Article