Open to a fresh lifestyle

Richard Atkins, design director at DesignSpace London, shares tips on how to create open plan kitchen living for your project Traditionally, kitchens were hidden from view, with meals prepared out of sight and doors firmly shut between the cooking area... View Article

More than just homes

A new £6m Places for People social community is being handed over in Salford, Greater Manchester. Michael Dong, CEO of developer Investar Property Group, and Mike Watson, director of housebuilder Watson Homes, walk Jack Wooler through the Melody Gardens project.... View Article

Policy Exchange Report on Planning – expert comment

Following The Times’ story on the Policy Exchange report on planning and plans to overhaul the system, Paul Smith, MD of Strategic Land Group commented:  “The planning system is very recognisably the one that existed in 1947 when the socio-economic... View Article

A change for the better

Listen here. Heidi and John Exley moved into the house of their dreams near Doncaster – and then modernised it beyond all recognition with the help of a local architect TEXT & IMAGES: HEATHER DIXON For years Heidi Exley had secretly... View Article

Sliding doors, made simple

Listen here. Steve Bromberg of Express Bi-Folding Doors outlines the essential factors for self-builders who are considering sliding doors – from size limitations to energy efficiency OTHER THAN SAVING SPACE, WHAT BENEFITS CAN SLIDING DOORS OFFER OVER BI-FOLDS? The main benefit... View Article

The fruits of determination

Listen here. Nothing was going to stop resourceful self-builder Gill MacLeod achieving the house of her dreams, a major renovation in rural Scotland TEXT JAYNE DOWLE IMAGES EMMA GRAY Clambering around a delivery depot in a hi-vis vest and hard hat,... View Article

An adventure by the sea

Listen here. Embarking on a self-build sans architect is not for the faint-hearted, but Joey and Charlotte Thomson decided to go the DIY route to creating their perfect coastal home TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD In 2015 Joey Auger and Charlotte... View Article

An uphill battle

Self-Build Case Study: Ian and Julie Perrin were unsure about buying the ‘difficult’ plot of land they ended up building on in Montgomery, mid-Wales, but they convinced themselves to take the plunge TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES NIKHILESH HAVAL | Listen... View Article

Preparing for changes to ADL

The construction industry is facing a number of significant regulation changes over the coming years, with the consultation to approved Document L (ADL) 2020 closing on 10 January set to introduce significant sustainability challenges. James Hulbert of Knauf Insulation looks... View Article

Curves in all the right places

Self-Build Case Study: Not only have Roger and Lucy Southcott achieved their ambition of building a home that’s energy self-sufficient with super-low greenhouse gas emissions, they’ve also created something that’s carefully shaped to fit the contours of its Wiltshire location... View Article

An Active Resolution for 2020

Written by Simon McWhirter, Head of Engagement at Active Building Centre. At the start of each year it’s customary to make resolutions for the year ahead which, it is hoped, will encourage positive changes. Of course, for all the best... View Article

Is home heating set for a period of change?

Over the last 10 years it’s become clearer than ever that we can’t go on heating our homes by burning fossil fuels such as gas and oil. As effective as these fuels are, they release carbon into the atmosphere, a... View Article

Addressing the challenges of senior housing in the UK

Almost 25% of the UK’s population is over 65 and by 2050, this proportion will have grown to an estimated 37%, according to Property Consultants Bidwells insight. While there are ambitious carbon neutral targets for this date, the planning for the care... View Article

The dynamics of a building

The lines between different segments have blurred, and buildings are adopting a variety of identities, which may reflect the characteristics of various segment designs. Here, Marijke Griffioen of Forbo Flooring Systems, discusses these trends and how the use of a... View Article

Let the sunshine in but keep the heat out

Solar Control Glasses: From a luxurious item in the age of fossil fuel to a new benchmark in the era of climate change. The air at the earth’s surface has already warmed up considerably. In 2016, the mean global near-surface... View Article

2018 RIBA National Awards announced

On 21 June 2018, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced the 49 winners of the 2018 RIBA National Awards for architecture. The RIBA awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the best new buildings and provide an insight into... View Article