On a mission

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A sensitive restoration of a dilapidated but listed ‘Mission Hall’ in west London posed a series of challenges, not least ensuring that external fixtures such as rainwater goods met strict authenticity criteria. Neil Davies Architects report on... View Article

A fresh appreciation

LISTEN HERE 🔊 The pandemic has increased appreciation for fresh air as well as natural light; Tracey Jackson of Howells Patent Glazing explains how rooflights can be the practical answer The pandemic has changed the way owners feel about their... View Article

Conserving authenticity

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Lewis Proudfoot of Cliveden Conservation looks at moisture management in historic buildings, and why he believes lime should be the default material for repairing traditional structures The challenge of maintaining and repairing historic or traditional buildings often... View Article

Critical path to success

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A new critical care hospital in south Wales has been designed by BDP for optimum efficiency to attract the best staff, while achieving an accelerated programme to meet the challenge of Covid. Adrian Hitchcock takes Jack Wooler... View Article

Taking the long view

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

New arrivals

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Drawn into nature

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Georgian contemporary

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Elevated aspirations

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A rare speculative office scheme in Sunderland faced a host of challenges, from the demise of Carillion, to a tough local commercial market. As such, Feilden Clegg Bradley (FCBStudios) produced a distinctively attractive, lean building, reports James... View Article

Statement architecture

LISTEN HERE 🔊 An award-winning mixed-use project in Munich features 5 metre high LED lettering and an industrially-inspired design that reflects the site’s heritage. Jonathan Schuster, project leader at MVRDV, speaks to Jack Wooler WERK12 is a mixed-use office, culture and... View Article

Get it right on the tiles

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

View Point: Richard Hill of Arup

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Physical connections

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A new sports and swimming pool addition at King’s College School in south west London was designed around visual connections between old and new, and marked the culmination of the school’s masterplan. Roseanne Field reports Designing a... View Article

Driving green collaboration

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A cutting-edge facility designed to keep future vehicle innovation firmly on the map, with the emphasis on sustainability, has completed at the University of Warwick. Roddy Langmuir from Cullinan Studio tells Jack Wooler how it combines collaboration... 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

The art & craft of conservation

LISTEN HERE 🔊 An Arts & Crafts Fire Station in North West London kept its original features in a sensitive residential conversion that saw architects Tate Harmer working adeptly within a strict conservation remit. James Parker reports Built in 1915,... View Article

Swiss movement

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A new addition to a prestigious lakeside wellness resort in the Swiss Alps produced a dynamic but discreet form, as part of a landscaped composition that gently enhances its setting. James Parker reports Sitting on the shores... View Article

View Point: Neal Maxwell of Changing Streams

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Neal Maxwell explains how a trip to the Arctic led him to found Changing Streams, with a mission to persuade the construction industry to end its ‘plastic pandemic’ You cannot solve the climate crisis unless you address... View Article