The safe bet for decking

William Hogg of Ecodek discusses the options for blending safety standards and sustainability with striking design when it comes to aluminium decking The specification of non-combustible building materials in the design of high-rise buildings has never been such a prevalent... View Article

Practice Profile: Stride Treglown

Pierre Wassenaar from the top 10 UK practice speaks to Tom Boddy about how the firm’s social value ethos has sustained since its inception, and has led to it achieving a demanding business standard for inclusivity and sustainability Since its... View Article

Opening the door to better hygiene

In healthcare environments, infection control is of course a critical concern. Tim Checketts of dormakaba discusses the door and access control solutions that can help to minimise the spread of germs and bacteria The design of healthcare buildings must balance... View Article

Rethinking rainwater harvesting for SuDS

Mark Manning of SDS discusses rainwater reuse in the context of SuDS regulations, and says that architects could be mistakenly rejecting such approaches as an important option for sustainable drainage Whenever an architect receives a design commission that includes sustainable... View Article

Get it right on the tiles

If you are looking to specify a tiled floor, it is crucial to understand what preparation is required to ensure that new or existing floor substrates are suitable. Stuart Ross of BAL looks at the different likely substrates, and the... View Article

View Point: Richard Hill of Arup

Despite the technical challenges, designers have an obligation to explore the potential to conserve and reuse heritage structures, says Richard Hill of Arup While there is an inherent desire in our industry to build new and start afresh, it is... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Bathrooms

For many people, the bathroom might just be the most important room in the house, providing absolute relaxation as well as the necessary functions. What are the products that will add the finishing touches – as well as the right... View Article

Accessibility begins at home

A plot on the family farm proved the perfect spot for John and Helen White to build a forever home for their family TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES JOHN & HELEN WHITE For many who have long dreamed of building their... View Article

Green shoots of recovery

When Mark Rainforth bought a dark and dated bungalow on the outskirts of Sheffield, he wanted to work out a way of creating an eco-home befitting the beautiful location, but achieving it was not without its construction woes TEXT HEATHER... View Article

The power of neutral

Interior designer Lucy Bartley from lucyb home shows how a neutral kitchen look can be enhanced with careful lighting and design touches to deliver a special ambience The biggest advantage to a neutral kitchen is that it will instantly create... View Article

Put safety first with fire doors

Scott Francis of Bowater doors explores the standards and accreditations housebuilders should consider when looking for a composite fire door. Choosing fire doors can be a confusing and frustrating process. The internet is awash with manufacturers, installers and so called... View Article

Get hip to SIPs

SIPs systems offer an extremely low energy and eco-friendly construction method that’s also incredibly strong and quick to build. Matt Banks of SIPs Eco Panels explains more about the options available As we move into an era of low energy... View Article

Timber or composite?

Deciding on the best decking option for your garden makeover can be challenging. Tony Hobbs of Southern Sheeting offers some advice to help you choose The trend for durable and premium wood plastic composite (WPC) decking is now firmly established... View Article

A new green focus for bathrooms

Adam Teal of Kaldewei explains why sustainability is now a key aspect for specifiers when planning bathrooms, as the industry restarts in earnest. During World Earth Day this year, Delhi experienced the cleanest air quality on record, Greta Thunberg met... View Article

The sustainable case for PIR

Simon Blackham of Recticel insulation explores why the sustainability benefits of PIR make it a great choice for smart, energy efficient homes. Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation panels satisfy two crucial factors for designing effective insulation solutions for new and existing buildings:... View Article

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