A visit to a volcano

A redesigned visitor centre in a remote part of Iceland saw a collaboration between British and Icelandic practices to immerse visitors in the landscape, provide an engaging exhibition, and protect users from a harsh climate. Roseanne Field reports. The volcanic... View Article

Commercially sensitive

Jemma Saunders at Crown Paints says colour has long been seen as a ‘finishing touch’ in commercial settings, but it is key to get it right for increasingly multi-purpose spaces. Colour shapes how a space feels and how well it... View Article

Practice Profile: Nissen Richards Studio

Since establishing their ‘wife and husband’-led practice in 2010, Pippa Nissen and Jim Richards have cemented a reputation for translating narrative into spatial experience. Kim Neville spoke to them about their creativity, collaboration and continual learning. Nissen Richards Studio was... View Article

Commercial cool comfort

Steve Molloy from Daikin explores how well-designed HVAC systems can contribute to thermally resilient commercial buildings as the Earth continues to warm. With four of the UK’s hottest years on record occurring between 2022 and 2025, the conversation around climate... View Article

The case for an evidence base

Adam Boumnaia from product testing laboratory Attain RTC details the exhaustive methods used to help translate fire test results into reliable, evidence-based applications under the UK’s evolving standards framework. In recent years, the UK construction sector has transitioned from historic... View Article

A different view of durability

Manuela Fazzan at wienerberger UK explores why adaptable as well as durable housing design is essential for future resilience in the housing sector, as demands evolve. Current housing specifications are often driven by immediate compliance targets, but the future of... View Article

Entering a safer future

Darren Hyde at the Automatic Door Suppliers Association says architects can balance architectural vision with the competing demands of safety, security and accessibility when designing modern building entrances. Entrances are among the most defining elements of architecture. They frame the... View Article

Designing out water waste

Washrooms are a significant source of water waste; early design decisions can determine how buildings perform for decades, so specifications must tackle both usage and leakage to reduce consumption. Richard Braid at Cistermiser explains. Energy performance has long dominated design... View Article

Hybrid education theory

Louise McHugh at Breathing Buildings puts the case for hybrid natural/mechanical ventilation to balance air quality and energy efficiency, to support school learning. The publication of updated Government guidance in February 2026 has reinforced the importance of ventilation in education... View Article

Going underground

Jon Whittingham at T-T Pumps explores how below-ground drainage and pumping strategies need to influence early architectural decisions, particularly where adoptable and package systems are required to manage site constraints, flood risk, and complex water movement on constrained urban sites.... View Article

Ask the Architect: Christopher Gray

Christopher Gray, director at SLR Consulting, tells ADF how he has nurtured the importance of landscape-led masterplanning in his career, and why resilient green infrastructure including sensitive SuDS has to sit at the heart of future development. What made you... View Article

Ask the Expert: Jonathan Lowy

James Parker speaks to Jonathan Lowy, operational marketing manager at VM Building Solutions UK, about changing perceptions of zinc; exploring its growing use in architecture, sustainability credentials, long-term value, and enduring misconceptions. How has architects’ perception on using zinc evolved... View Article

Conquering the castle

Transformed from a forbidding symbol of Norman power to an accessible heritage destination, Norwich Castle has undergone one of the UK’s most ambitious historic refurbishments. Stephen Cousins reports When William the Conqueror laid siege to England in 1066, ravaging vast... View Article

A strong footing for learning

Flooring in education must balance safety, durability and acoustics over time. Melissa Heath from leading manufacturer Amtico explores why long-term performance needs to be more effectively considered during specification. Education environments are among the most demanding interior settings. From primary... View Article

Safeguarding school doors

Kate Jones of Ahmarra outlines the key pointers for safe specification of fire doors for education settings – balancing life safety, compliance and performance with the practical demands of busy learning environments. Specifying fire doors can be one of the... View Article

Inverting perceptions on roofing design decisions

Rob Firman at Polyfoam XPS looks at new recommendations for inverted roof buildups under the revised British Standard, and reflects on how specifiers’ decisions on roofing systems have ramifications through a building’s life. The revised code of practice BS 6229:2025... View Article

Design, decarbonise, deliver

Richard Brown at Ideal Commercial Heating explores key pointers for specifiers looking to transition projects from gas boilers to heat pumps. The electrification of heat is now firmly embedded in the future of the UK’s built environment. Yet successful deployment... View Article

The commercial case for building with timber

The industry has focused on the speed and sustainability credentials of building with timber, but some of its most compelling advantages are commercial, as Paul Newman at the Structural Timber Association explains. The Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new... View Article