Pushing the envelope

John Nolan of Generix Facades looks at the importance of a robust approach to testing the structural integrity and capability of facade systems Having a solid understanding of how a facade system will perform prior to construction is crucial for... View Article

Pump priming

Darren George of Willow Pumps looks at recent developments in pump station design, to provide ease as well as efficiency It’s safe to say the aim at the outset of any project is the completion of a build on time... View Article

The air quality route to net zero

With the deadline looming for net-zero carbon, buildings are being designed to be ever more airtight. Richard Paine of Vent-Axia explains how MVHR combines energy efficient ventilation with good indoor air quality The road to net zero carbon has led... View Article

Insulation creates healthier buildings

Matt Prowse of Knauf Insulation discusses how insulation can help combat the problems of sick building syndrome, including noise and indoor air quality, sustainably The average adult spends 90 per cent of their time indoors – and this percentage has... View Article

Top decking choices

Stefan Holmes of Millboard Decking discusses the main considerations for choosing between materials when it comes to specifying decking While timber was once the default option when it came to choosing decking material, that is now far from the case.... 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

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