Sound advice for office acoustics

Mike Carrick of Siderise Group discusses how designers and specifiers can create quieter workspaces, improving privacy and delivering exceptional floor-to-floor, room-to-room sound reductions A well-designed office is an important investment that will attract talent and ensure workers are engaged and... View Article

Evolving modular design

Architect James Walsh gives his views on the merits of a component-based approach concept for modular buildings, which could shift them away from their former stigma As the move to modular construction gathers pace, what are the key design drivers... View Article

A sustainable future for water

Glenn Payne from Grohe discusses sustainable solutions for bathrooms as well as the innovations making their way into UK homes Water – our most natural resource, spans 70 per cent of the planet’s surface. Thanks to nature’s wonderful recycling system,... View Article

London Build returns

London’s dedicated construction and design show, London Build, will return to London Olympia from 23rd-24th October, with over 240 speakers and more than 200 hours of CPD content for visitors to benefit from. Since its launch four years ago, London... View Article

The appliance of science

Claire Alonge of Extension Architecture explains how a considered approach to sourcing kitchen units and appliances can bring dividends for housebuilders and developers looking to please their customers. Whether you are a project manager, architectural or interior designer, builder or... View Article

A watershed moment?

John Marsh of GtC explains how a new framework could allow independent network operators to provide new water and wastewater connections, providing beneficial market competition for developers. April this year saw a significant shake-up of the water market, as competition... View Article

Next generation housing

John Whalley of Nationwide Windows & Doors discusses why he believes offsite construction is fast becoming the solution to fix the housing crisis, and describes some of the benefits the method can bring to the fenestration industry. It is well... View Article

Play with fire

There are more than 1.25 million stoves in the UK, with around 200,000 stoves sold annually. As Ian Sams of Specflue points out, there are many good reasons for their popularity, not least their environmental performance. Wood-burners are a stylish... View Article

Fusing design with technology

As more everyday devices become connected to the internet, so the desire for integrating technology into the home increases. Here, Matt Nimmons of CEDIA EMEA explains how architects can tap into this ongoing trend The integration of smart home technology... View Article

Bathrooms that sell homes

Rob Holroyd of Easy Bathrooms explains how housebuilders can create bathrooms that appeal to the target buyer. With the time people spend in their bathrooms on the rise – and the room often acting as an escape from the stresses... View Article

Natural slate, natural beauty

Allan Liddell of Cupa Pizarras explores the inherent beauty, as well as the environmental credentials, of natural slate Slate is formed through the regional metamorphosis of mudstone or shale under low-grade conditions. This happens when shale or mudstone is exposed to... View Article

Designing out condensation

Iain Fairnington of A. Proctor Group highlights some of the factors affecting pitched roof design, and how architects can design out condensation problems from the start BS5250 is the code of practice for condensation control, and includes the following reference... View Article

Decoding fire regs

Rob Gunningham of SE Controls discusses regulations, compliance and best practice for fire safety Fire safety is more than ever a prominent issue within the construction industry, as a result of the high-profile failures associated with Grenfell Tower. While certain... View Article

Compare and contrast: steel vs aluminium

Calvin Wilson of Metal Technology looks at the relative pros and cons of steel and aluminium from a structural perspective Architects need no introduction to the benefits of metal as a structural material with design flexibility, robust performance and aesthetic... View Article

Galvanizing sustainability in construction

Andy Harrison of Wedge Group Galvanizing explores the key benefits galvanizing brings to sustainable construction, and highlights the growing number of techniques adopted by the galvanizing industry to further reduce the sector’s environmental impact Galvanizing has long been recognised as... View Article

Copper – the real thing

Despite an unrivalled heritage including use on some of our oldest buildings, continuing developments make copper and its alloys thoroughly modern and sustainable options for contemporary architecture, as Graeme Bell of Aurubis explains Copper has seen a dramatic shift from... View Article

The fast route to compliance

Steve Howard of Neaco gives his view on why there has been a revolution in balconies and decking, with the dominance of wood being usurped by aluminium Decking design is undergoing something of quiet revolution. For many years, two materials... View Article

Aluminium’s place in architecture – and human ecology

Architect Professor Michael Stacey looks at the case for aluminium, backed by ongoing research, on grounds of versatility, sustainability and durability As a light and versatile metal, aluminium has been serving humankind well since Humphry Davy identified it 200 years ago.... View Article

The challenges and pleasures of life in the Bronze Age

Architectural bronze has long been the choice for delivering a premier feel and finish to any building, but specifying it has always come with challenges. Warwick Penson of Bronze Architecture discusses the resurgence of this material and its uniquely distinctive... View Article