Brick’s net zero future

In today’s construction industry, brick forms part of the sustainability argument and the drive towards net zero carbon emissions. Keith Aldis of the Brick Development Association (BDA) explains how manufacturing has evolved Brick is not only one of the most... View Article

Storing up future benefits

Tony Huggins from David Bailey Furniture highlights the importance of the humble cupboard and fitted storage unit within a modern educational setting, and offers some key pointers for architects to consider There is no doubt that schools are striving to... View Article

Educational copper

Copper has seen a dramatic change from its historic place in roofing to a leading role in today’s facades, particularly for academic structures. Here Chris Hodson from Aurubis provides some striking examples With an exceptionally long life, copper requires no... View Article

Keeping cool naturally

Alex Hill from Whitecode Consulting looks at fabric-based approaches to balancing thermal performance and comfort in UK school buildings, in the context of a range of challenges We are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of heat in the UK, and British... View Article

A centre of learning

Ulster University’s new campus is a significant and complex achievement that knits a formerly suburban education provision into a busy part of Belfast’s city centre. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios describes the scheme to ADF’s Tom Boddy The historic and newly... View Article

Dialogue by design

Oliver Moore of Design Engine Architects looks at how the design of Sixth Forms is evolving to harness the ability of non-hierarchical classrooms to foster more communal dialogue and learning Dialogue is fundamental to the way that Design Engine Architects... View Article

A sense of renewal

Rohit Sharma from Bona discusses how sustainable, high-performance flooring solutions can be achieved by renewing resilient floors in a variety of sectors Popular due to its low-cost, hard-wearing properties, as well as the ergonomic and acoustic factors, resilient surfaces are... View Article

Showing how to build with stone

Many homeowners dream of including natural stone somewhere in the home. Whether it is limestone floors, granite worktops, marble in the bathroom, a sandstone patio or a slate roof, the chances are there will be natural stone somewhere. Simply put,... View Article

The rise of underfloor venting

Karl Stauss at AET Flexible Space discusses the changing face of commercial ventilation Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) may seem almost incidental when designing commercial spaces. But with changing working trends and new regulations now in force, it is... View Article

National savings

Andrew Mellor from PRP Architects wonders whether a real energy saving strategy would be more relevant than the Government’s new Powering Up Britain idea The new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently published its Powering Up Britain report which... View Article

Housing 2023

Throughout the whole of the UK, the housing sector is facing unprecedented challenges. From uncertainty in government funding; new regulations; the pressing need for more homes; the equally pressing need to maintain and improve the homes we have while modernising... View Article

Legionella risk assessments

The Legionella Control Association (LCA) discusses why a thorough risk assessment is a good starting point for adhering to legislation, as well as the importance of ensuring it is undertaken by a trained and occupationally competent person A  Risk Assessment... View Article

New technology is the key to fire door compliance

With new regulation now in force for checking fire doors, Dave Carr from Propeller Powered explains how advanced technology is helping the housing sector to comply Enforced in January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 set new legal duties... View Article

A bathroom and kitchens role in reaching net zero targets

Chris Tranter from Bristan looks at the kitchen and bathroom solutions available to help providers work more efficiently and sustainably across retrofit projects Soaring energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis are having a huge impact on housing providers as they... View Article

What progress has been made since Grenfell?

Hannah Mansell, from the Masonite group of companies in the UK, outlines findings from research into how the public sector approaches fire safety and the biggest challenges facing organisations looking to safeguard resident wellbeing in high-rise buildings In 2017, the... View Article

Show Preview: The home front

27 – 29 JUNE MANCHESTER CENTRAL Throughout the UK, the housing sector is facing unprecedented challenges. From uncertainty in government funding, incoming new regulations, and the pressing need for more homes, to the equally pressing need to maintain and improve... View Article

Fencing solutions that will stand the test of time

All property developments require a fencing solution that is attractive, durable and low maintenance. Here, John Abernethie of Birkdale looks at why it’s time to switch from traditional to more modern options. When specifying a fencing system, certain characteristics should... View Article

Manage moisture & avoid floor failure

Excess subfloor moisture causes floor failure and costly delays to projects. Stephen Boulton of F Ball & Co provides some crucial advice for developers to help them guard against the problem when installing floorcoverings. Unchecked subfloor moisture, whether residual construction... View Article

Futureproof your foundations

The NHBC’s Richard Smith shares some of the key learnings from its latest report, which looks at how to futureproof foundations against climate change. The NHBC Foundation is committed to providing high quality research and practical guidance to support the... View Article