The future is contactless

Paul Smith of Häfele discuss how remote access control is central to the future of hospitality design, in a future which has to function with Covid The announcement of a new national lockdown has added yet more strain on hospitality... View Article

Seeing a smart future beyond the pandemic

Neil McSporran of NSG Group discusses how ‘smart’ antimicrobial glass for tackling infections beyond the pandemic, and how smarter building materials will help designers to create safer environments Curbing the transmission of diseases will be a priority for those who... View Article

Multiple benefits

With different fires presenting different challenges for buildings and occupants, Barry Sargent of Nittan looks at the factors that make multi-sensor alarms a safe choice Fires come in different forms, and different alarm sensors perform different functions; in addition, false... View Article

Porcelain performs inside and out

Jamie Gledhill of Brett Landscaping looks at how porcelain paving can deliver on aesthetics and function in both domestic and public realm settings in the context of Covid When creating community or shared spaces, architects are balancing a raft of... View Article

Ask the Architect: Damien Lee of WGP Architects

Damien Lee of WGP Architects answers ADF’s questions about what drives him, and how he has tackled the challenges posed by the pandemic What made you want to become an architect? I grew up with architecture in the blood. I... View Article

The natural solution

Charlie Sharman of Cantifix discusses how the recent months have reminded us how much we need sunlight, and how glass technology innovations can help architects design for maximised natural light There are many lessons we can take from 2020 about... View Article

The visible future

Conversions from office to residential under Permitted Development Rights are becoming more commonplace as we move to widespread home working. Structura UK’s Manny Patel looks at the implications for facades Life has changed radically under Covid-19. The epidemic is changing... View Article

Multi-functional glass

The conversation around fire safety glass tends to focus on fire protection alone. However as Andy Lake of Pyroguard explains, when specified correctly, this glass can be combined with other products to create a multi-functional system that offers so much... View Article

Adding space, made easy

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Ann Boardman of Saniflo highlights how, despite the uncertainty of the past few months, homeowners have carried on investing in upgrading their properties, and drainage connections are key to how their spaces can be reconfigured or added... View Article

DfMA: the great offsite hope

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With productivity in construction a more acute problem than other sectors, Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown says that architects need to embrace offsite Design for Manufacture and Assembly as the panacea which also delivers the quality they want... View Article

Reinforcing the message

William McDowell of Hambleside Danelaw puts the case for why GRP rooflights in metal roofing systems can help solve the many problems such as light levels that face architects when designing industrial buildings Think rooflights and you might think of... View Article

Sliding versus bifold

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Edward Stobart of ID Systems looks at how recent trends in residential glazing are affecting the sliding versus bifold doors debate For the past two decades, the trends in home design and customer demand have seen significant... View Article

Architects’ activism: How we can build a better 2021

With urban areas perhaps feeling the effects of lockdown most intensely, our built environment may seem an unlikely source of optimism in 2021. However, buildings have an unrivalled capacity to reflect our values as a society, so their design, planning,... View Article

Shout about acoustics when aspiring to WELL certification

By Ben Hancock Managing Director, Oscar Acoustics ‘I can’t think in this place!’ We’ve all been there. It’s a fact, poor acoustic conditions in the workspace can negatively impact individuals, sapping productivity and testing patience. Ground-breaking 2008 research by the... View Article

The art of render

Strong colours, silicone technology, textured effects and brick slip combinations – James Ormerod of Aliva UK sets out the ‘art of the possible’ with insulated render When looking for a cost-effective cladding option that can be applied quickly and easily,... View Article

Hot and sophisticated

Steve Birch of Vogue (UK) discusses how the market for radiators and towel warmers has become increasingly sophisticated, and how greater attention is being paid to the look as well as the functionality of heating solutions In a world where... View Article

Site Lines: Affordable homes-on-sea

Lee Davies of architects Conran and Partners explores how an East Sussex council’s initiative produced an exemplar partnership which employs an innovative design solution to tackle the local housing crisis Last year marked 100 years since the introduction of the... View Article

A guide to bespoke staircases

Antonia Harding of British Spirals and Castings discusses the various factors architects and specifiers need to bear in mind when selecting a bespoke staircase A staircase provides a key focal point in a property and its design can have a... View Article

Cool ideas for waterproofing

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Victoria Ramwell of Kemper System offers specification advice on the versatile cold-applied liquid waterproofing method for residential properties A key theme throughout the roofing sector and the construction industry as a whole as we enter a new... View Article

View Point: Assael Architecture

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With plans to house the UK’s growing elderly population in new town centre developments recently making the news, Assael Architecture explains why it’s the right solution, giving a key recent example You would be forgiven for thinking... View Article