LEEDing on low impact

LEED is a new rival to BREEAM in evaluating the sustainability of industrial, office, hotel and residential buildings. Wojciech Brożyna from Aluprof UK discusses its benefits, and ways to meet the standard LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is... View Article

Raising the bar for external spaces

Caroline Birdsall from Millboard describes the recent trends in including decking for outdoor areas, from entertainment to increasingly al fresco bars and dining in domestic and hospitality settings, post-pandemic An overriding trend we have all seen in recent times is... View Article

Safety rises to the top

Representing the biggest improvements to building safety in nearly 40 years, the Building Safety Act will have far-reaching implications. Nick Mellor at LEIA explains what it means for design of evacuation lifts for all users In the wake of Grenfell,... View Article

Commercial considerations

Anil Madan of Ideal Standard details the top factors that architects need to consider when designing and creating commercial washrooms Commercial washroom design is often a tricky balance due to the many factors you need to weigh up with what... View Article

Building cultural change in London

UK Construction Week (UKCW) comes to London on 3-5 May at ExCel, with the promises of a major face to face event for the construction industry for 25,000 expected visitors The organisers have developed a key focus for UKCW London... View Article

Ask the Architect: Liz Leber

Liz Leber, managing partner of New York practice Beyer Blinder Belle, drives her firm to work with clients who have a clear “mission”, but also strives to extract their core project objectives. She explains the “creativity, pragmatism, and optimism” she... View Article

Health and wellbeing at work

Architects Saunders have designed what will be one of the most sustainable business parks in the UK, with the focus on sustainable construction and healthy lifestyles for staff. Managing director Martin Williams explains why it is an exemplar workplace Cambridge... View Article

The right rainwater system

With a varied choice of rainwater systems on the market, there should be no problem in finding the perfect product for your self-build project, says Sally Moores from Yeoman Aesthetics, though important, should not be the only thing that is... View Article

A grand affair

Selfbuilder + Homemaker have teamed up with Grand Designs Live to offer our readers 2 for 1 tickets to this year’s event, which is taking place at ExCel in London from 30 April to 8 May This year’s Grand Designs... View Article

What makes a good paving surface?

If you’re thinking of upgrading an existing paving surface or simply designing a new hard landscape area, how do you know which is the right one? Alasdair McMillan from Sureset looks at the options available Before deciding on your paving... View Article

Insulating a better future

Quentin Bassieux of Huntsman Building Solutions explains why minimising air leakage must go hand in hand with better insulation Better insulation of domestic households is seen as one of the most important ways of reducing carbon emissions and slowing the... View Article

Brave new home

After an almost traumatic experience with her first self-build, Poppy Robinson bravely decided to take on another, conquering her fears to produce a bright and eco-friendly forever home TEXT TOM BODDY IMAGES NICK AUSTWICK PHOTOGRAPHY & ORIGIN On the Lincolnshire... View Article

The art of restoration

A historic 100-year old house designed by a St Ives artist has become a decade-long labour of love for the owners to save it from demolition TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD It is a sad truth that it is often... View Article

A meeting of minds

Bob and Carrie Forsyth had very different ideas about their ‘forever’ home until they set eyes on a dated 1950s ‘fixer-upper’ near Leeds, and decided to compromise, including with the planning department TEXT HEATHER DIXON IMAGES BEVAN COCKERILL Bob Forsyth... View Article

Jane of all trades

As an architect, Jane Burnside has created many stunning contemporary homes. However, also taking on the role of project manager and interior designer – and even cook – on her own self-build on the Isle of Mull required a whole... View Article

The next generation of Spandrel Panels

Glass structures dominate the skylines of UK cities, offering excellent views, enhanced internal daylighting and visual impact. An essential part of these curtain wall facades is the area between the glazing panels – the spandrel zone. Spandrel panels are designed... View Article

The next step in your project

Richard Harding from British Spirals and Castings discusses the different regulations you need to consider when choosing a staircase for your project Staircases can be a home’s key feature, helping to communicate the style and feel of your property. For... View Article

Bathrooms with longevity

Like most of the building industry, the bathroom sector has changed over the last two years. James Sketch from Keuco explains what people are now focussing on when it comes to planning and designing their bathroom The combination of Brexit... View Article

Exterior Inspiration: Gardens

The exterior of your home is arguably just as important as the interior; the design needs to relate to the building as well as the wider landscape. Here we round up some of the latest outdoor products to influence your... View Article