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

Why concrete remains a rock-solid design choice

Dr Bill Price of Tarmac Cement discusses why concrete is increasingly popular with architects for its aesthetic as well as practical characteristics An ever-popular material for construction, concrete is seeing a new wave of usage and innovation, thanks to both... View Article

Smart homes means secure homes

Mark Carey of Salto Systems discusses how technology is now laying the foundation for the creation of truly smart homes when it comes to security Still thinking in terms of keys and locks when it comes to security for your... View Article

Expand your mind

Adrian Walker of Sundolitt discusses why specifiers should consider expanded polystyrene as a versatile as well as sustainable material for landscaping applications Weighing only 1 per cent of the weight of traditional fill, expanded polystyrene (EPS) is continuing to prove... View Article

The offsite route to accessibility

Chris Sutton from On the Level discusses the challenge of delivering accessible living for an ageing population, and the benefits of offsite bathroom construction One of our greatest societal challenges is how we meet the needs of an ageing population.... View Article

Turning the sound down

As higher density living becomes more common, nuisance noise and its possible impact on health is becoming an all-important topic. With one of the most invasive irritations being impact sound, Chris Willett of Schöck describes an innovative solution for staircases... View Article

Ask the Architect – Tiago Pereira

Tiago Pereira, partner at top five Danish practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen answers ADF’s questions; including on making the move to Copenhagen, and balancing a host of tasks in a busy design office Why did you become an architect? That’s a... View Article

Getting the balance right

Jon Sheaf of AluK discusses the considerations that must be taken into account when specifying curtain walling, alongside achieving the right aesthetic results Once a glazed facade has been chosen as part of your building envelope, the first stage in... View Article

Sounding out the benefits

Ed Peltor of Rockwool UK says that considerations of the benefits of insulation go well beyond thermal performance to acoustics and fire, when looking the whole building envelope It’s time to look for more from insulation than just thermal performance.... View Article

Making a solid decision

Andy Noble of CD (UK) looks at why architects should consider staying ahead of the curve by specifying solid surface facades for a highly contemporary look How do you create a contemporary and yet timelessly effective facade? From a wave-like... View Article

On a learning curve

With the new V&A museum plus a regenerated waterfront, Dundee was in dire need of a new station with the right presence. James Parker describes how the architects steered an evolving project that produced an unconventional concourse building topped by... View Article

Composite cladding solutions

Dr Amin Emami from 3A Composites looks at why aluminium composite materials are popular with architects for rainscreen cladding, and at the robustness of testing regimes in the UK post-Grenfell Aluminium composite panels (ACP) or alternatively aluminium composite material (ACM),... View Article

Where past and future meet

Combining old and new in a unique composition created from two dramatically reimagined Victorian roofs, Heatherwick Studio’s Coal Drops Yard retail scheme forms the heart of the King’s Cross regeneration. Roseanne Field reports Formerly a gritty part of London, King’s... View Article

A celebration of sustainability excellence

Previewing the annual BREEAM Awards, an international celebration of excellence in sustainable buildings, which will take place on 4 March in London The project teams, clients and buildings shortlisted for the annual BREEAM Awards represent significant achievement in sustainable building design,... View Article

Futurebuild 2019: addressing architects’ challenges

Futurebuild, the new name for Ecobuild, remains the leading event for architects and specifiers to meet and learn, be inspired, and do business, adding new features for 2019 Futurebuild 2019 (formerly Ecobuild) will focus on exploring and tackling the biggest challenges... View Article

Make room outside

David Coleman of Oak Timber Structures explains why the inclusion of an oak gazebo in the garden can add huge value to a property for the long term, and discusses the considerations to bear in mind With fewer people moving... View Article

Taking an alternative route to drainage

When building or renovating a home with no connection to mains drainage for the disposal of sewage, alternative options have to be considered. Burnham Environmental Services’ Mark Newbery explains further The UK currently has four different environmental regulators for surface... View Article

Debunking underfloor heating myths

According to Nigel Sanger of JG Speedfit, many self-builders and property developers are still cautious about installing underfloor heating (UFH) due to rumour and hearsay. Here he dispels the four most common myths Demand for underfloor heating (UFH) is rising,... View Article