View Point: Dr Victoria Hutchinson

Dr Victoria Hutchinson from AtkinsRealis’ environmental practice explores how impact assessments can help unlock value as well as greater investment in projects – in a more favourable ESG context – and illustrates what this looks like Former Prime Minister Boris... View Article

How do we close the energy performance gap?

With a UK housing stock that doesn’t fare well in comparison to other European countries on energy efficiency, what is the solution to the UK’s thermal failings? Simon Blackham from Recticel Insulation explains how the industry is playing catch up... View Article

Changing to a greener route

Arup’s design for the HS2 Interchange Station now underway near Birmingham sets new standards for sustainability as well as connectivity. Tom Boddy reports Although it was recently confirmed that HS2’s overall scope has been severely truncated, with Rishi Sunak announcing... View Article

Bringing a sense of theatre to Devon flood defences

Paul Hargreaves from Jacobs describes how the firm innovated a flood defence project in Sidmouth to create a dual-use amphitheatre for residents, as an amenity which enhanced the environment while helping protect them from future floods The Sidmouth flood alleviation... View Article

A performance-based approach to energy modelling & rating

Shikha Bhardwaj from Hawkins\Brown looks at the changing conversation around energy, and the shift from ‘designing for compliance’ to ‘designing for performance,’ as embodied in the increasingly popular NABERS approach The conversation around energy is changing. The energy crisis –... View Article

A team effort

Providing a wide range of health and wellbeing facilities, and passing the finish line five months ahead of schedule, a new leisure centre in Leicestershire is set to become a central part of the local community. Paolo Coyle from architects... View Article

Practice Profile: Space Group

This Newcastle-based practice has built a reputation around the development of digital design services alongside project commissions, with a particular focus on harnessing the benefits of BIM. CEO Rob Charlton explains its ethos to Laura Shadwell North east based architectural... View Article

A singularly caring approach

A new replacement for a 70s hospital which removed valuable parts of central Liverpool, a major new health facility for the city bridges healthcare and academia, restores urban quality, and has more ensuite single rooms than any other UK hospital.... View Article

Ask the Architect: Jerry Ryan

As co-founder of London based international architecture and urban design practice HKR Architects, Jerry Ryan shares his passion for the history of architecture, and looks forward to a technological future as the practice celebrates its 30th year What made you... View Article

Site Lines: A heritage refurb checklist

Simon Castle from Chisholm & Winch discusses the varied, but essential considerations that architects need to bear in mind when approaching listed building renovations According to Historic England, there are estimated to be around 500,000 listed buildings on the National... View Article

A blend of art & architecture

The former home and studio of renowned Pre-Raphaelite painter Frederic Lord Leighton has evolved as a museum over its long life; its latest reimagining is a sensitive and artistic refurb by BDP, as Tom Boddy reports London is renowned for... View Article

Showing how to build with stone

Many homeowners dream of including natural stone somewhere in the home. Whether it is limestone floors, granite worktops, marble in the bathroom, a sandstone patio or a slate roof, the chances are there will be natural stone somewhere. Simply put,... View Article

The rise of underfloor venting

Karl Stauss at AET Flexible Space discusses the changing face of commercial ventilation Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) may seem almost incidental when designing commercial spaces. But with changing working trends and new regulations now in force, it is... View Article

National savings

Andrew Mellor from PRP Architects wonders whether a real energy saving strategy would be more relevant than the Government’s new Powering Up Britain idea The new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently published its Powering Up Britain report which... View Article

New social value on the block

James Parker reports on MVRDV’s scheme to transform a Paris city block, which produced a scheme that visually celebrates its intertwined mix of office, library and hotel spaces, and added further value with social housing Montparnasse sits in the south... View Article

Ask the Architects: Andrew Chapman & Tim Chestnutt

ADF gets two perspectives from Leeds practice Brewster Bye Architects – residential and student accommodation specialist and newly appointed director Andrew Chapman, and recently qualified architect Tim Chestnutt What made you want to become an architect? Andrew: From an extremely early... View Article

UKCW London makes its return this May

A host of famous faces, interactive demos, new features and ground-breaking products await visitors to the UK’s largest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW), when it makes a welcome return to London’s ExCeL from 2-4 May 2023. Registration... View Article

Highlighting reasons to come to Clerkenwell in 2023

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), now in its 12th edition, will return to EC1 London between 23-25 May. Taking place across the whole of Clerkenwell, the festival is set to offer its biggest programme yet. Featuring more than 600 events and,... View Article

Discreetly ecological, on a grand scale

Nottingham-based CPMG Architects spoke to ADF’s Tom Boddy about their phase of an extensive hotel and spa complex under construction west of Shanghai, which is driven by sustainability and embedded into the landscape Situated two hours west of Shanghai and... View Article

Robust insulation remedies

Paul Barrett from ROCKWOOL UK outlines the importance of robust installation methods when specifying insulation, and why a more holistic approach is needed Until very recently, the UK’s net zero strategy has been dominated by discussions on how we can... View Article