Ask the Architect: Nigel Ostime

Regular ADF contributor, and partner at Hawkins\Brown, Nigel Ostime answers our questions on the role of the architect, and what designers need to learn from other sectors when it comes to efficiency What made you want to become an architect?... View Article

Hidden benefits

Using basements to maximise space without expanding a building’s footprint is increasingly popular, but keeping groundwater out can be difficult, and remediation costly. James Berry of the Property Care Association looks at the options Although hidden away, structural waterproofing can... View Article

Poolside wellness

Steve Nelson of Certikin dives into one of the most crucial aspects of pool design that architects need to get right to make sure the environment is ideal for clients – the plant room If you were planning on purchasing... View Article

Site Lines: A home fit for the future

HLM Architects is raising its profile in the residential sector with a design concept showcased in a major Government design initiative to create ‘age-friendly’ and sustainable housing. Matthew Thomas explains more Last year HLM Architects’ ‘Forever Home’ concept was one... View Article

Taking the long view

Simon Storer of the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA), explains why a fabric-first approach to design, combined with a long-term outlook, is the way forward to improve future building performance and cut emissions Building for the future, with legacy in mind,... View Article

New arrivals

Making an entrance has changed – door materials have developed far beyond traditional options to offer composite alternatives which provide a wide choice of styles as well as practicality. Chantel Roach of Distinction Doors explains all PVCu panel doors, alongside... View Article

Drawn into nature

Richard Rogers’ final project is the latest addition to an array of modern architecture at Château La Coste, near Aix-en-Provence. Jack Wooler reports on a gravity-defying cantilevered design that soars over its woodland setting Along a historic Roman road that... View Article

Georgian contemporary

A practice’s debut new build scheme is a luxury house that tackled a sloping site and planning objections, with a sensitive blend of Georgian and slick modern architecture in north west London. James Parker reports Sitting among a smorgasbord of... View Article

Designs taking flight

Eric Nicholls of Spiral UK explores the different options for feature staircases available to housebuilders and developers, detailing the benefits of each. Choosing a staircase sounds easy – after all a staircase has only one function – but why should... View Article

Raising the standard

Steve Cipriano of Vaillant examines the real-world impact of the 2025 Future Homes Standard for England’s housebuilders. The long-awaited publication of the UK Government’s response to the Future Homes Standard (FHS) consultation provided much needed clarity around the direction of... View Article

Making the journey to net zero

Progress towards net zero carbon 2050 is gathering pace with the Government reinforcing commitments to a series of sustainability pledges. Tom Murray of Baxi Heating discusses the latest developments, and what housebuilders and developers need to consider right now. The... View Article

Permanence and sustainability

Among the many benefits aluminium has to offer, Andrew Cross of Kestrel Aluminium discusses its ability to forecast the cost of maintenance over a system’s design life. With increasing pressure to specify building systems offering clearly defined sustainability, the use... View Article

Take the lead on lead

Steve Leigh of Groundbreaker asks housing providers, is your property’s drinking water harming your tenants? Awareness of the potential health problems caused by lead in the water supply, particularly in infants and children, is growing. Houses built before 1970 would... View Article

The capability of IoT

MRI Software explores how the Internet of Things (IoT) can improve safety in social housing. For some time, anticipation has been building for the capability of the IoT to transform social housing. The path to mainstream adoption has been slow,... View Article

Lifts in housing

Alastair Stannah of Stannah Lift Distribution & Service (UK) answers some of the most frequently asked questions around the emergency use and upgrading of lifts in the housing sector. Today, there are estimated to be more than 50,000 operational lifts... View Article

Turn down the volume

Karen Wilding of Forbo Flooring Systems explains how noise can be minimised in multi-occupancy buildings by retrofitting acoustic flooring solutions. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), excessive noise seriously harms human health and interferes with people’s daily activities. In... View Article

Tackling radon to keep residents safe

Exposure to radon gas is a real health risk. James Kane of Airtech Solutions explains how landlords and housing providers can protect residents. Since the introduction of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords are more aware of... View Article

Crest Nicholson’s Godalming goals

A collection of three and four bedroom houses and one and two bedroom apartments are being launched by Crest Nicholson at its new development, Catteshall Court, in the market town of Godalming, Surrey. Once the units are complete in 2023,... View Article

A modern method of Covid recovery

John Carter of Aldermore argues why builders need to embrace modern methods of construction as a way to help the industry recover from the pandemic. The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have demonstrated the importance of the need for businesses... View Article

Short supply

Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), explores how the shortage of construction materials is constraining small builders’ ability to ‘build back better.’ Since the coronavirus pandemic, many small to medium-sized (SME) construction firms have struggled to... View Article