This must be just like living in Paradise

A £52 million student accommodation development in Coventry is using smoke and heat exhaust ventilation (SHEV) systems from SE Controls to enhance fire safety by providing smoke free escape routes for almost 1000 students living at Paradise Student Village. Located... View Article

Retractable Kalwall allows open air swimming

Kalwall® translucent cladding, exclusively available in the UK and Ireland from Structura UK Ltd, has been used for a clever retractable roof system at Club One in Maryland, USA. Kalwall and its subsidiary, Structures Unlimited, worked with SEI Architects to... View Article

Policy Exchange Report on Planning – expert comment

Following The Times’ story on the Policy Exchange report on planning and plans to overhaul the system, Paul Smith, MD of Strategic Land Group commented:  “The planning system is very recognisably the one that existed in 1947 when the socio-economic... View Article

Guaranteeing an invaluable roofing solution

When a roofing defect occurs, it is often the housebuilder or developer that ends up picking the hefty repair bill. Mark Parsons, technical director at leading pitched roof tile manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles, highlights the importance of manufacturer’s guarantees. The... View Article

Kalwall rockets away

Aerospace company Blue Origin’s vast new 70,000 square metre factory in Kennedy Space Centre’s Exploration Park in Florida is now manufacturing ‘Glenn’ rockets for launches at Cape Canaveral 10 miles away. In addition, it is expected that the factory’s upper-level... View Article

Bathroom style statements

John Brooks of Lecico discusses changing bathroom design trends, and the impact that tV and other influences have had on consumers’ demands. At the end of a busy day, many people are keen to get home, kick off their shoes... View Article

Guide to pre-completion sound testing

Pre-completion testing forms the Part E requirement of the Building Regulations that are in place for new houses, new flats, flat conversions and change of use into flats. Therefore, Part E puts the responsibility on the owner of the property... View Article

A change for the better

Listen here. Heidi and John Exley moved into the house of their dreams near Doncaster – and then modernised it beyond all recognition with the help of a local architect TEXT & IMAGES: HEATHER DIXON For years Heidi Exley had secretly... View Article

Sliding doors, made simple

Listen here. Steve Bromberg of Express Bi-Folding Doors outlines the essential factors for self-builders who are considering sliding doors – from size limitations to energy efficiency OTHER THAN SAVING SPACE, WHAT BENEFITS CAN SLIDING DOORS OFFER OVER BI-FOLDS? The main benefit... View Article