Curves in the capital

An affordable housing block inspired by Hercule Poirot has distinctive curving brickwork that brings a touch of class to a grey and constrained urban site in London’s East End. Stephen Cousins reports on a challenging project. Fans of the Agatha... View Article

Smarter by design

Theben Automation’s Paul Foulkes explores how smart homes are moving beyond timers and schedules, embracing real-time, sensor-based automation for greater comfort, efficiency and intuitive living. For decades, home automation has promised ease and efficiency. But early systems, reliant on fixed... View Article

The best laid plans

Lettie and Tom Fardon fell in love with a timber-framed 1950s bungalow ripe for renovation and bought it at auction, but didn’t realise just how much work would be involved in bringing it up to modern standards. TEXT JAYNE DOWLE... View Article

Building your dream outdoors

To help self-builders transform muddy plots into luscious garden havens, Anita Magee of Tobermore looks at the top trends inspiring garden design. Current garden trends are seeing a strong focus on blending luxury with sustainability, creating outdoor areas that are... View Article

Designing with doors in mind

Deuren’s Ian Chubb shares how specifying doors early unlocks better design choices, avoids compromise and keeps your self-build ambitions on track. From structural planning and detailed budgeting to sourcing materials and managing timelines, building or renovating your dream home is... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Living Rooms

Whether you need to find the perfect sofa for relaxing in the evenings or some handy storage to keep things tidy, we’ve curated a selection of products from the comfortable to the practical to help you create your ideal living... View Article

Flexible elegance

Adam Brown of The Painted Furniture Company discusses how customisable freestanding furniture offers flexible, high-quality pieces that adapt over time and combine personal style, durability and design continuity. For anyone embarking on the rewarding journey of building their own home,... View Article

Framing nature: fenestration design for comfort & compliance

Andrew Cooper of Senior Architectural Systems says architects can embrace principles of biophilic design and wellness, while keeping regulation compliance clearly in view. As well as being functional, fenestration systems can help create truly inspirational interiors where inclusivity, wellbeing, and... View Article

Transforming spaces with natural light

It is well established that maximising natural light boosts wellbeing and transforms living spaces. Victoria Brocklesby of Origin shares expert tips on using glazing and design to brighten homes beautifully. Natural light in a home has all kinds of benefits,... View Article

Designs for efficient living

Stephen Johnson of Quooker delves into how boiling water taps are helping architects design kitchens that reduce waste, conserve energy, and support sustainability for users, without compromising on style. As sustainability becomes a central consideration in architectural design, attention is... View Article

Time for a rethink on timber

Helen Hewitt of the British Woodworking Federation challenges outdated myths about specification of timber, which belie its durability and high-performance credentials. Timber is considered the oldest building material in the world, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. Despite... View Article

That’s a wrap

The rare chance to create a new film and TV studio complex from scratch in the UK, equipped with the high performance and flexibility credentials to attract Hollywood, was perfect casting for Scott Brownrigg. Roseanne Field reports. The plans for... View Article

Practice Profile: Fereday Pollard

Kim Neville speaks to practice co-founder Chris Pollard to uncover how the privately-owned firm, turning 30 this year, specialises in large-scale infrastructure projects with the differentiator of putting ‘humanising architecture’ at the forefront. Fereday Pollard was established in 1995 by... View Article

View Point: Dr Stephen Hamil

Dr Stephen Hamil of NBS explains why better data standards and Digital Product Passports are vital to fix the industry’s fragmented systems and safeguard its future. For several years now, UK construction has been beset by issues around material quality,... View Article

Redefine inclusive building design with evacuation lifts

With the priority now inclusive design for all, evacuation lifts offer the chance for architects to go ‘beyond compliance,’ says Nick Mellor of LEIA. The introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and updates to BS 9991 and Approved Document... View Article

Timber steps up

Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association (STA) outlines how timber construction offers housebuilders a route to ‘carbon-conscious design’ allied to commercial efficiency in the sector. As housebuilders and architects work toward delivering on the UK’s net zero commitments and... View Article

New town planning

Chris Adair of Marshalls, explores how developers can embed flood resilience into new housing schemes, especially as the UK prepares to deliver over a million homes, including a new generation of towns and communities. The UK Government’s recent announcement of... View Article

Social housing delivery crisis

Patrick Mooney explores how social housebuilders are falling far short of targets, with severe underinvestment, rising homelessness, and regulatory pressures undermining efforts to deliver the new homes urgently needed. A fall in the number of new homes started by housing associations... View Article

Top glass performance

Paul Higgins of TuffX explores how glazing has evolved into a critical element in buildings’ energy performance, and offers  a practical guide to help specifiers achieve ‘futureproofed’ glazing solutions. With the Future Homes Standard (FHS) set to take effect soon,... View Article