Blocks of colour

aLL Design took on a residential project in Docklands to not only add colour, character and sustainability for a mix of residents, but also to solve a spatial efficiency puzzle for the client, as James Parker discovers The practice founded... View Article

The gentle art of conservation

A historic Hong Kong police compound and prison have been restored and developed into a new centre for heritage and arts, in the largest heritage project the area has seen. Gary Sparrow from Purcell explains to Jack Wooler how the... View Article

Discover solutions to all of the challenges

The RCI (Roofing, Cladding and Insulation) Show returns to the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 27-28 March, bringing together the latest trends, technologies and industry issues The RCI Show is the largest UK event bringing together the entire roofing, cladding and insulation... View Article

Take a fresh look at stone and hard surfaces

As a cladding material, architectural detail, hard landscaping, interior, or even roofing material, stone has it all. Architects will be able to see for themselves at the Natural Stone Show, which is taking place in London’s ExCeL from 30 April... View Article

Putting community at the centre

Providing retirement homes alongside a multi-functional social hub, it is hoped that Debden Grange will become a ‘village within in a village’ for retirees in Essex. Jack Wooler spoke to Andrew Mills of developer Retirement Villages Group, to see how... View Article

Blog: AI and VR in House Building

Technology is advancing at break-neck speed but so far, the construction industry has stayed relatively impervious to it. This is often put down to the very slim margins that developers work to which makes the investment in new technology seem... View Article

SuDS is not money down the drain

Brian Wilson of Tobermore explores how the changing climate is urgently increasing the need for sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS). Climate change is the talk of the moment, with consumers being encouraged to reduce and monitor their water consumption. Flooding... View Article

Opening the envelope

Simon Wild of Formica group discusses how the application of cladding using traditional building methods has evolved, and explores the modern materials now on offer. Traditionally, housebuilding techniques in the UK relied upon the use of local materials typical of... View Article

Seal the deal

Richard Osborne of LTP Ecoprotec looks at the options for sealing outdoor surfaces, and the benefits that each can bring to projects. When discussing the best sealer for a job, it’s generally assumed that it’s for use indoors – for... View Article

Softly, Softly

Ryan Blake of Harvey Water Softeners details the dangers of hard water, and explains the techniques that can help developers attract customers seeking the benefits of softer water With any new build or renovation project, the main focus for developers... View Article

Futurebuild 2019: the challenge for housing managers

Taking place from 5 – 7 March at London’s ExCeL, Futurebuild will focus on exploring and tackling the biggest challenges impacting the industry Futurebuild is the leading built environment event for professionals working across the social and private rented sector... View Article

Making maintenance manageable

Kirona’s Neil Harvey explains how workflow management solutions can benefit housing providers, making it simpler to monitor and manage necessary maintenance and repair work Mobile workforce products provide organisations with the opportunity to have a stable and seamless work management... View Article

Safe and secure

Kate Descamps of DAD UK, a Decayeux company, explains how installing secure mailboxes in multi-occupancy residential buildings can bring peace of mind to both tenants and landlords They might not seem of great importance, but it’s often the smaller details... View Article

Pro-active roof asset management

Ensuring that a property’s roof condition is maintained and monitored is vital, especially for social housing where budgets need to be carefully managed and disruption to tenants minimised. Dean Wincott of Langley Waterproofing Systems explains the benefits of implementing a... View Article

Roofs renewed

Kingspan Insulation’s Adrian Pargeter explains why tapered insulation systems should be considered when refurbishing flat roofs in order to avoid water ponding Water ponding is an all too common sight on flat roofs across the country. When carrying out refurbishment... View Article

The no compromise composite door

John Whalley of Nationwide Windows & Doors discusses the advantages of composite doors for social housing Specifiers and asset managers have lots of choice when it comes to the different types of materials on the market for doors. Naturally, product... View Article

Comfort height – a big deal

Lecico’s Adam Lay discusses what comfort height means and why it’s something to consider when planning a bathroom refurbishment Comfort height is a buzzword that anyone shopping for a new toilet will probably hear, be it in a showroom or... View Article

The importance of boiler protection

Craig Mitchell of Sentinel discusses working with ALMO, St Leger Homes, to demonstrate how social housing providers can improve resident satisfaction while improving the performance of heating systems across their housing stock Customer satisfaction is a key priority for social... View Article

The fabric-first route to healthy interiors

As well as improving sustainability, PIR insulation can create interiors that excel in terms of comfort and wellbeing, as Jon Parsons of Recticel Insulation explains The average UK household spends around £1,230 on fuel bills each year, which can be... View Article

Design for total envelope safety

James Gooder of SFS Fall Protection Systems explains what specifiers need to consider when designing for safe working at height The ability to be able to design-in safety gives assurance to those tasked with maintaining the building envelope. This includes... View Article