SENDing a message on design for better inclusivity

Catherine Ward from HLM Architects explores the key principles of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) design and their importance for ensuring that every school pupil has a chance to thrive and reach their full potential The past few years... View Article

Uniting for a net zero future

When like-minded people come together with a common purpose, great things can happen. And what could be a more critical reason to do so now, than the need to secure a net-zero future for ourselves and generations to come?  Time... View Article

Ask the Architect: Marion Room

Marion Room, the new director running DMWR Architects’ Manchester studio, answers ADF’s questions on future plans to grow the practice in the north west, and her personal goals What made you want to become an architect? I was good at... View Article

Euroclass fire ratings: the difference between A1 and A2

John Duffin, Managing Director, Keyfix explains the differences between A1 and A2 of the Euroclass fire rating system. Despite the government’s temporary exemption of the combustible product ban on buildings over 18m, Keyfix and many of its industry peers are... View Article

Future-roofing

With a global gas supply crunch, issues with renewables and strong demand pushing up energy prices, the energy efficient design of roofing and insulation is vitally important for homeowners, as Lisa Grosse from Cedral explains In 2025, The Future Homes... View Article

Sheffield steel

Kitchen thieves, a collapsing roof, and then a pandemic would be enough to make anyone throw in the towel on a renovation project, but Suzanne and David Williamson are made of sterner stuff TEXT & IMAGES HEATHER DIXON The Williamsons... View Article

Paving responsibly for rainwater runoff

Chris Hodson from Interpave explains the importance of taking a responsible approach to rainwater runoff from paving around both new and existing homes to protect them and the wider community Another year of flooding around the UK provides a timely... View Article

Best of both worlds

Dealing with planners can be a frustrating business, but to modernise a substantial Victorian building in Devon, Geoff Hall also had to negotiate heritage surveyors, ecologists, conservationists and archaeologists TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES CO CREATE ARCHITECTS A ramshackle 19th century home... View Article

Money to burn?

Installing a wood burning stove in your home can not only save you money on your heating bills but can also enhance the aesthetic value of your living space. Dennis Milligan of the British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA)... View Article

Building a case for keeping it clay

A campaign has been launched to inform self-builders on why they should stay with clay brick rather than look at concrete newcomers. Keith Aldis of the Brick Development Association explains further The campaign we have launched features an illustrated comparative... View Article

Converted to Class Q

For Kat & Tris Baxter-Smith, the challenge of converting an agricultural barn on the farm belonging to Tris’ family – to his own design – became a lesson in the pros and cons of Class Q permitted development  TEXT ROSEANNE... View Article

Home Styling: Designs that work for you

Hybrid working is here to stay, so it’s no surprise that a dedicated workspace has become a staple of houses’ layouts. But where do you start when planning a home office? Steve Hird of Edward Thomas Interiors gets down to... View Article

Ask the Expert: Fully kitted up

Your choice of construction method will affect almost every aspect of your project. Derek Dawson of Scandia Hus answers some common questions on kit homes, explaining how they can be the ‘ultimate solution’ for a self-build WHAT IS A KIT... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

Whether it’s for accenting individual items, creating overall ambience, or achieving the right light levels for working from home, getting lighting right is one of the first priorities for a great interior design. Here we round up a selection of... View Article

Fit for purpose

During their long saga to build a home with stables on an exposed site on the west coast of Scotland, David and Louisa Wallace discovered that bigger isn’t necessarily better when they had to edit their plans down TEXT NIK... View Article

The heritage is in the detail

Andy Sharlot, chief designer at IG Masonry Support, explains how a mixed use scheme in south London required a high level of detail to achieve an authentic brickwork look that complemented repurposed Victorian structures The restoration and transformation of Victorian... View Article

View Point: Tom Dollard of Pollard Thomas Edwards

Architect Tom Dollard from Pollard Thomas Edwards looks at the likely impact of an AECOM-led research project into creating affordable low carbon housing at scale, highlighting the potential but also the serious barriers that remain Building for 2050 is a... View Article

Beware the dark side

Johanna Elvidge from Marshalls explores new findings that reveal how users’ perceptions of safety in public spaces change depending on the time of day, and how specifiers need to take this into account During winter months, streets and public spaces... View Article

A clear-cut case for glass

While the uninterrupted aesthetics of glass balustrades make them undeniably appealing, there are several considerations to be aware of from a safety and installation viewpoint, as Simon Boocock of CRL explains Glass is a trending material for stairs and balustrades,... View Article