The future in focus

Louise Walters at Designer Contracts looks at the future of new build flooring, from a shift in colour palettes to sustainable products, the importance of EPDs and how flooring materials can help meet the Future Homes Standard. The role of flooring... View Article

Unprecedented challenges ahead

The social sector faces unprecedented level of challenges to deliver the Government’s tough housing agenda Record levels of homelessness are pushing many councils’ revenue budgets to breaking point as the housing system buckles under the strain of unprecedented demand for... View Article

The role of roofscapes

Nick Boulton at the Trussed Rafter Association says that with calls for faster and better housing delivery continuing to shape the sector, making practical progress relies on involving specialists. The demand to build more housing has been a long standing... View Article

Sustainability through placemaking

John Bowden at Keepmoat discusses how housebuilders must approach sustainability in 2026 – advocating a strategy that puts placemaking at the centre of developments. Sustainability in housebuilding can too often be approached as just energy efficiency alone. Whilst essential, it... View Article

Ask the Manufacturer: IDSystems

Housebuilder & Developer’s James Parker speaks to IDSystems’ David Clarke, to discover how the 2021 changes to Building Regulations have driven the specification of better glazing systems for new build and retrofit domestic projects. How have the changes to Part... View Article

Clay brick in contemporary design

Robert Flello at the Brick Development Association explores how clay bricks combine tradition with design flexibility, offering architects greater freedom. Few materials have shaped the built environment as profoundly as clay brick. Recognisable across centuries of construction, it embodies continuity,... View Article

The growth of biophilic offices

Laura Light, Concept Design Team Leader at Interface, explains how incorporating biophilic design in the workplace beyond planting alone can not only promote wellbeing for staff, but also nurture productivity for clients. Organisations are increasingly acknowledging that workplace design plays... View Article

Getting ahead of the standards

Bradley Hirst of Knauf Insulation explains why designers must uplift thermal standards ahead of the Future Homes Standard, in order to futureproof homes. The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is still working its way through consultation at the time of writing,... View Article

Heating and cooling have to be part of the masterplan

David Patrick at Dimplex explains why key decisions around heating, hot water and comfort cooling must now be considered holistically at the masterplanning stage – including electricity load implications – rather than left until detailed design. For architects working on... View Article

Ask the Architect: Jennifer Dixon

Jennifer Dixon, director at Fereday Pollard, speaks to ADF about her love for the profession, and why architects must better articulate the value they bring in order to grow their presence in projects. What made you want to become an... View Article

How human-centred design turns strategy into supportive spaces

Barbara Clarenz at AtkinsRéalis explores how human centred architecture translates care strategy into lived experience, creating supported housing that feels genuinely like home – not only for residents but also staff. Does it feel like home? That question guided a... View Article

Mass movement

A mass timber office building in Lambeth doubles down on sustainability goals by slashing embodied carbon and incorporating a fully-demountable structure designed to drive reuse instead of demolition. Stephen Cousins reports. Dante’s description of Paradise in The Divine Comedy is... View Article

Early stakeholder engagement matters

Richard Tocher at Permarock explains how facade system suppliers can bring greater benefits if engaged at the earliest stages of new build or refurb projects. It’s well understood that an externally insulated facade, when properly designed and installed, can yield... View Article

Architects need to network

Josh Collins at Altecnic Ltd explains the vital role of heat networks in the UK’s journey towards net zero and how architects could be key to ensuring their adoption. The UK’s Energy Act 2023 paved the way for a new... View Article

Practice Profile: CPMG Architects

This established education sector specialist was transformed following a management buyout, embracing innovation and a people-focused culture, as Kim Neville reports. Founded in Nottingham in 1997, CPMG has undergone a profound transformation, accelerated by a pivotal management buyout in 2011.... View Article

How landscape architecture futureproofs urban spaces

Kinley’s Sol Russel assesses the importance of utilising sustainable urban design solutions – to mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and create more liveable urban environments. While sustainability is rapidly becoming a major consideration of building design... View Article

Upwardly-mobile inclusivity

Rebecca Goldsmith at Knauf explains how expectations are now higher for inclusive bathrooms in high-rise multi-occupancy buildings, which are often where requirements for safety, acoustics, thermal performance and durability are tested. High-rise multi-occupancy buildings (HRMOs) now face unique regulatory obligations... View Article

Call to action at Futurebuild ‘26

Under the headline theme of ‘Connect’, Futurebuild 2026 is shining a light on the need for collective action in order to drive sustainable change, strengthen competitive standing and support a thriving built environment. There are a raft of heavyweight partners... View Article