Practice Profile: Apt Architects

A rebrand of a fast-growing practice gave it a facelift and left staff re-energised. Sébastien Reed speaks to Jason Geen, studio leader of Apt Architects. “It wasn’t the best time to set up a studio,” says Jason Geen, studio leader... View Article
Flexible, fascinating, and fitting

Flexible, fascinating, and fitting

Jordan Perlman of Newground Architects explains that although a time-honoured material, brick has limitless possibilities for designers, illustrated by a recent mixed use scheme in London In the six years since our practice was founded, we have used brick in... View Article
Joe Morris

Ask the Architect – Joe Morris

Joe Morris heads up his practice, but knows that collaboration is the way to good architecture. He answers ADF’s questions Why did you become an architect? My journey to architecture was relatively casual, without a clearly defined goal, but one... View Article
Vertical integration

Vertical integration

Architype’s Eco Business Centre brings flexible shared workspace to eco-town North West Bicester, in what ended up being the UK’s first non-residential Passivhaus Plus accredited building. Sébastien Reed reports There are 6,000 new ‘true’ zero-carbon homes planned for North West... View Article
The big reveal

The big reveal

James Parker speaks to the architect of a complex restoration project in Manchester to create a boutique hotel which enhances industrial Victorian architecture, and celebrates the city’s trading history A new adaptive reuse project in Manchester has rescued three important... View Article
Building a cultural bridge

Building a cultural bridge

Jack Wooler spoke to Antti Nousjoki of ALA architects about how Finland’s biggest library combines an inviting ‘bridge’ structure with shifting timber and glass facades The new Oodi Library in Helsinki is a modern take on the building typology, offering... View Article
Natural light

Natural light for natural learning

Jens Christoffersen of Velux looks at why natural light is so important in learning environments, and discusses various design interventions for increasing it A common antidote to the ‘winter blues’ is often a break in a warmer, sunnier climate, preferably... View Article
Students accommodation

Putting students’ safety first

David Hoyle of Hoyles Electronic Developments discusses the fire risks in students accommodation, as well the possible solutions including combatting false alarms The last thing students off to university will be thinking of is fire safety. Shared accommodation such as university... View Article
Decking

Decking decisions

Laura Keily of Accsys Group summarises three of the most common materials when planning decking and discusses some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing your preferred route In January 2019, the Global Decking Market... View Article

A lesson in underfloor heating

Mark Crowsley of Cellecta discusses the continued need for large new schools to install underfloor heating floating floor solutions that achieve excellent acoustic performance as well as efficiency Schools can be noisy environments – excessive background noise, loud corridors, and... View Article
That’s a wrap

That’s a wrap

With eco-friendly materials fast becoming rising stars in the world of interiors, Lindsay Appleton of Architextural discusses the many benefits of using architectural films and how they can refurbish existing surfaces. Gone are the days when wrapping was exclusive to... View Article
Natural remedies

Natural remedies for learning

It’s a given that schools need good quality daylight for good learning environments; Tony Isaac of Brett Martin explains why enabling natural light to enter has never been more important Good quality daylight is a readily available and sustainable natural... View Article
A breath of fresh air

A breath of fresh air

Eliot Warrington of Solarcrest explains how airtightness will affect any building, whether clients want to build a certified Passivhaus or just meet Building Regulations UK Building Regulations are really promoting airtightness and it’s now mandatory to pressure test every new... View Article
Designed to please the eye as well as the ears

Designed to please the eye as well as the ears

Architects are under increasing pressure to ensure the comfort of building occupants – particularly regarding acoustics. Will Jones of Ecophon discusses how acoustic solutions can be included within the design of the building without sacrificing the aesthetic From sales of... View Article
High rise not high risk!

High rise not high risk!

Danny Birrel of Kawneer advises on how to design curtain wall facades to accommodate building movement Land-pressed developers are increasingly turning to high-rise buildings to deliver best footprint value but the interaction between the facade of a building, particularly a tall... View Article
Concrete contrasts

Concrete contrasts

KAAN Architecten’s scientific research building for a new university campus near Paris plays with the contrasts between its no-nonsense concrete forms and the landscaped setting, while also paying attention to users. Roseanne Field reports Situated just outside a national park, 20... View Article
Circular economy

Circular economy

The new gallery building for Milton Keynes is a simple but highly effective tribute to the optimistic spirit of a 1960s New Town, reports James Parker Often architects talk about their projects being site-specific. They are rarely more imbued with... View Article

Colourful connections

The HU University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands has gained a porous and interconnected new building from schmidt/hammer/lassen, as part of a project to ‘densify’ the school’s assets. Jack Wooler spoke to architect Pim Ijsendoorn about how the design... View Article