Pushing design boundaries with bespoke

Kathryn Muller of The Rooflight Company discusses how bespoke design can allow housebuilders and developers to push the boundaries of aesthetics on their schemes. ‘Bespoke’ – designers, developers and architects love the word. It means breaking conventional rules and resetting... View Article

Seeing the light

A dark and run-down Regency villa has been rebuilt ‘from the inside out,’ with a new basement level and exciting glass features which draw in the light TEXT DEBBIE JEFFERY IMAGES MATT CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY “When we first bought this house... View Article

A new lease of life

When David and Martin Ratcliff set about adding a top-floor extension to their handsome Victorian terraced house in South West London, they had no idea their project would end up taking such a different path TEXT JENNIFER GRIMBLE IMAGES RICHARD... View Article

Raising the profile

Tony Hobbs of Southern Sheeting looks at how and why profiled metal sheeting is increasingly being used across a range of areas in residential projects. Profiled metal roofing has been adopted in the commercial sector for many years but, thanks... View Article

The importance of green spaces

Paul Cassidy of Meadfleet explores how green space in housebuilding projects is crucial for the sake of residents’ health and their environment, and the role open space management specialists play here. If the last year has taught us anything, it... View Article

The great bungalow rescue

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Years of wet and windy winters in rural Shropshire had brought the 1960s bungalow on Bob Griffiths’ farm to the point of near collapse, but he decided to give it a new lease of life Text Roseanne... View Article

Functional flooring

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Darren Trivett of Ridgespear Group offers insights into why developments in underfloor heating make it a practical option, and gives some installation tips The commonest forms of underfloor heating (UFH) involve circulating water through a high-performance plastic... View Article

Hanover gets the green light

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A pioneering project by housing association Hanover (Scotland) to provide 15 Passivhaus social homes near Loch Lomond, on the site of the developer ’s first ever scheme, has been given the go -ahead. Jack Wooler speaks to... View Article

Radiating future relevance

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With energy efficient heating systems fast becoming vital components of new homes, Chris Harvey of Stelrad Radiators looks at some of the hottest ideas when it comes to radiator innovation for self-builds With the major changes taking... View Article

Power your life

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Mark Chewter of Plug In Solar explains why solar energy remains a great investment, and how a solar PV system can be used to help you meet Building Regulations, while saving money on your self-build home’s future... View Article

Counting down to SAP10

With a return to normality comes a realisation that a new SAP method for assessing houses’ energy use is imminent. Harry Hinchliffe of C80 solutions outlines the impact that SAP10 will have. Having faced unprecedented challenges over the past year,... View Article

Support needed for SMEs to build greener

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) explores why SMEs should be at the heart of the government’s plans for green construction to help them conquer obstacles This year, the UK will host the United... View Article

How modern masonry works with modern methods

Scott Denham from IG Masonry Support looks at how offsite solutions are delivering the architectural masonry details specifiers want, ensuring quality alongside a safer and faster way to create masonry facades Brick has long been the specifier’s choice when it... View Article

The Passivhaus balancing act

Iain Fairnington of the A. Proctor Group highlights some of the key technical factors relating to performance in Passivhaus design, and best practice for managing the balance of movement of heat, air and moisture within the building envelope Since time... View Article

Digital bathrooms

Tom Farrant of Lecico Bathrooms looks at how the ongoing pandemic has accelerated changes in the industry’s working patterns, including the move to a greater acceptance of 3D BIM, and how this has improved bathroom specification Digital transformation continues to change... View Article

Making an impact on noise

Recent research links unwanted noise levels with a heightened risk of mental and physical health problems. Karen Wilding of Forbo Flooring Systems says this shows that architects must adopt tools and materials that mitigate these effects Without effective management, unwanted... View Article

Finding the perfect blend

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Co-located developments, an emerging trend, could help solve industry challenges by satisfying demand for both industrial and residential developments at a stroke. Peter Watkins of HDR | Bradbrook Consulting looks at the inherent design challenges A co-location... View Article

A generational challenge

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Paul Smith of F.H. Brundle explains how the Government’s changes to Part M of the Building Regulations could meet the challenge posed by Britain’s ageing population Between September and December 2020, the Government held a consultation on... View Article

Water-tight partnerships

LISTEN HERE 🔊 James Homard of Urban Environments explores how housing professionals can maximise value from their water hygiene consultancy. Many housing providers and landlords appoint a specialist water hygiene consultancy to manage Legionella control. Particularly for those with extensive... View Article