Passive impressive

LISTEN HERE A retired eco building enthusiast fulfilled a dream to create an ultra low energy home by upgrading a barn he originally built in North Yorkshire using ‘Passive House’ principles Text:Jayne Dowle Images: Green Building Store When Pete Smith... View Article

Hope for the best

LISTEN HERE Nicki Hogg’s self-build saw her and her partner go from surprise auction to acquiring a desirable south Devon plot in Hope Cove for their forever home Text & Images: Ewen Macdonald It was a chance visit to a... View Article

Open House London

LISTEN HERE Despite having no initial plans to alter their traditional Victorian family home in Greenwich, David and Nicola Fleming ended up reinventing it, building two highly contemporary extensions which dramatically improve look and layout Text: Debbie Jeffery Images: Joseph... View Article

A different view

LISTEN HERE Despite a distinct lack of windows and character in general, Philippa Neilson-Factor and husband Tony took a punt on reinventing an uninspiring Essex bungalow with potential for an amazing outlook Text Karen Wilson Images ODC Door & Glass... View Article

The hottest trends

LISTEN HERE Steve Birch of Vogue (UK) explores the latest bathroom heating trends for 2020. The desire for versatile, energy-efficient solutions in the home has given the industry the opportunity to create new designs which are lightweight, non-polluting, durable and... View Article

An ‘I’ on innovation

LISTEN HERE Angus Macfarlane of James Jones & Sons discusses the increasing popularity of I-joists, and their inherent economic, technical and environmental benefits for addressing the current challenges the housebuilding industry faces. With the Government’s promise to build 300,000 new... View Article

Decking – do your homework

LISTEN HERE Sarah Francis of Arbor Forest Products gives an insight into how to spot quality decking products – both in terms of timber and composite options. Despite our changeable weather, we Brits are a nation of garden-lovers: even if... View Article

The multi-generational living opportunity

LISTEN HERE The growing trend of multiple generations living together in one house offers a whole new market for housebuilders – they just need to consider age-inclusive and flexible design options, says David Schill of Aritco Lifts. Much has been... View Article

Adaptive reuse, realised

LISTEN HERE Ben Heath, principal at Grimshaw, looks at how the practice returned to the Herman Miller factory in Bath to realise its original design intent of adaptive reuse, and harness the building’s flexibility to create a new school of... View Article

Get on board with fencing trends

LISTEN HERE Fencing products are now seen as an integral part of a garden’s overall landscape, and an important aesthetic choice. Antony Reed of Birkdale looks at the latest fencing trends, and explores design choices that can garner impressive visual... View Article

Playful participation

LISTEN HERE In designing a riverside replacement for Chelmsford’s main swimming pool and gym, Pick Everard followed a brief to increase local community participation. James Parker reports In 2014, Chelmsford City Council undertook a condition survey on the only sports... View Article

A HAPPI medium

LISTEN HERE Linden Court is PRP’s response to the Greater London Authority’s call for exemplar housing designed for retirement living. Project architect Mark Walker spoke to Sébastien Reed about how the HAPPI standard was key to the project’s success The Office... View Article

Discovering property management software

LISTEN HERE Property management software is a program made to help acquire and maintain property portfolios, which can be incredibly useful for landlords, letting agents and property managers. Jodie Deakin of Decorus for Sage explains its uses and benefits Property... View Article

Exercising fire safety with due diligence

LISTEN HERE BAFE Fire Safety Register discusses the importance of quality fire safety in housing management As we approach the third anniversary of the tragic Grenfell Tower Fire, premises management teams need to fully understand their legal (and ethical) obligations... View Article

Holistic sustainability for windows or doors

LISTEN HERE Martin McCrimmon of CMS Window Systems explains why window and door specifications need to take a holistic view on sustainability for wider social and environmental benefits. The performance capabilities of today’s advanced window and door systems – when... View Article

Showering solutions

LISTEN HERE Providing the best showering solutions for refurbishments is arguably more complex than ever before, given the range of choice today. Ann Boardman of Saniflo UK explains how shower cubicles can help. Remember the days when being a student... View Article

Adding clarity to curtain wall design

LISTEN HERE Andrew Cooper of Senior Architectural Systems takes a closer look ‘behind the curtain wall’ to reveal the key issues specifiers should consider when choosing aluminium fenestration solutions Aluminium is robust, durable and fully recyclable – a perfect partner... View Article

Storage solutions for awkward spaces

Megan Baker, head of design at My Fitted Bedroom, discusses how to make the most of awkward bedroom spaces, for maximum storage Bedrooms come in all different shapes and sizes, with awkward spaces being a common problem for many homeowners.... View Article

Daring to be different

Ex-headteacher Joan Morters opted for a timber-built passive house system and a roof shaped like butterfly wings for her retirement home TEXT JESS UNWIN IMAGES JESS UNWIN & JOAN MORTERS Former teacher Joan Morters’ self-build story is an inspiring lesson... View Article

Recycled retreat

Almost everything was recycled or reinvented in Sally and John Medforth’s rural retreat TEXT Heather Dixon   IMAGES Dave Burton When Sally and John Medforth bought a hillside farm in Yorkshire it came with a series of dilapidated 18th century... View Article