Clearly beautiful

Tanzeela Yasin of IQ Glass explains the aesthetic benefits of including frameless glass balustrades in your project, but also the safety considerations that you need to take into account. Frameless glass balustrades are becoming a popular glazing feature across many... View Article

Looking beneath the surface

David Sherry from Dreadnought Tiles explains the importance of looking beyond the marketing when choosing traditional clay plain tiles. The use of traditional building materials is widely recognised as a vital part of preserving the unique character of our old... View Article

The building blocks of driveway success

Lee Dunderdale of Bradstone spells out everything you need to know about block paving a drive, from planning, design and excavation through to the key aspects of installation, and finishing touches For those who have embarked upon a self-build or... View Article

The lap of luxury

Paul Bailey of Grohe UK offers tips to self-builders on how to add a luxurious feel to your bathroom, whether you’re working to a tight budget, or you are ready to ‘splash some cash’ The term ‘luxury bathroom’ is no... View Article

Windows of opportunity

The Browns had never considered building their own home, but the chance to create a ‘Glasshouse’ with views of the Forth Bridge and Edinburgh Castle was too good to miss. Roseanne Field reports Alan and Lucy Brown had been looking... View Article

BIM for all

Adrian Wild, founder of Integro Construction Software, looks at why smaller housebuilders and developers are missing out on practical BIM software solutions which could bring a range of benefits. Feature-heavy CAD and Building Information Modelling software products are popular with... View Article

Change is in the air

In the wake of the Hackitt review, Paul King of Vicaima explains the changing landscape around fire doors. Government departments are poring over technical data and preparing new directives, and trade bodies are examining every aspect of potential market implications.... View Article

Window shopping

Tom Swallow of Quickslide Windows & Doors discusses some of the key performance and aesthetic considerations when selecting windows. Windows are crucial to the design of a home. Not only do they take the brunt of the elements such as... View Article

Balconies: Bridge the gap

Lee Barber of Balcony Life explains the benefits of, and methodology behind, bolt-on cantilevered steel balconies designed to avoid thermal bridging. Bolt-on cantilevered steel balconies are an architectural feature which are becoming increasingly popular in both the construction of new... View Article

View Point – James Potter, WG+P Architects

James Potter from WG+P Architects takes a look at how the process of identifying your practice’s USP as part of marketing can reveal some interesting truths I’ll start with a plug for some excellent IT consultants, called DP-IT. They have... View Article

Wellness at heart

Racheal Cadey of Edge Architecture + Design explains how The Crown Estate’s new head office in London became the first WELL Platinum certified workplace in Europe, by putting wellness principles at the heart of the design There is a growing... View Article

Warming to lower cost refurbishment

With new energy efficiency standards now in force, some properties needing upgrading could incur significant refurbishment costs. New insulation technologies could help ease the pain, says Hudson Lambert of Safeguard Europe On 1 April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards... View Article

Commercial benefits

Catherine Helliker of Danfloor UK explains the many factors that specifiers must consider when selecting a high-performance commercial carpet The floors of any building, whether commercial or residential, will be the surface that has most impact from footfall as well... View Article

Take command of septic tanks

By January 2020, septic tank installations must be upgraded in line with new regulations. Here, Ann Boardman of Saniflo UK offers some tips to specifiers on how to prepare for the changes Septic tanks are found all over the UK,... View Article

Remaining a sustainable ally

Richard Hall of Reynaers UK explains how glass and glazing systems made from aluminium are helping a variety of specifiers improve sustainability and performance Sustainability is a ‘top-of-mind’ concern nowadays; it permeates all levels of society, from a micro perspective... View Article

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