Realistic rainwater storage

Ian Crickmore of Polypipe Terrain explains how adopting rainwater harvesting systems can provide sustainable drainage solutions in space-constrained urban areas. Obsessing over rain is something of a national pastime, but capturing rainwater could help meet sites’ increased drainage demands, particularly... View Article

Get smart, get control

Edward Lees of Feilo Sylvania shines the light on how sophisticated smart lighting control systems can offer efficiency benefits as well as design flexibility. The industry is now well versed in the benefits of LED technology and the energy savings... View Article

Slate in demand

According to industry reports, demand for roof tiles is considerably higher than supply. This causes projects to be delayed, which also impacts overall costs. In this article, Nigel Tozer of Cupa Pizarras explains how careful specification can avoid these issues.... View Article

Rock-solid insulation credentials

With clients demanding versatility as well as robust credentials from insulation, Paul Barrett of Rockwool puts stone wool under the microscope. The ingredient of stone wool insulation is a hard, dark volcanic rock – basalt – that is formed when... View Article

Timber covers all the bases

Stephen Toone of canopy manufacturer Fordingbridge describes how timber’s versatility of application and lasting appeal is increasingly seeing it specified. There is no doubt that timber’s strong sustainability credentials are the material’s key advantage when compared to mainstream building materials... View Article

Breaking the thermal mould

Heat lost through conventionally-wrapped parapets is a common complaint among architects, so an efficient space-saving alternative is welcome, says Schöck’s Chris Willett. In a similar way to the thermal insulation issues manifested with balconies, in the case of parapet connections... View Article

A tax guide for architects

Sumit Agarwal, a specialist accountant and tax adviser for freelancers, contractors and small businesses, shares some pointers about tax for architects and interior designers. In the past, architects used to work as unincorporated partnerships, but in 2000, the Limited Liability... View Article

Designing a home for life

Inclusive design can help adapt homes to cater for the needs of an ageing population, writes Barry Eagle of anti-slip flooring solutions supplier GripClad. According to a YouGov poll, more than four in 10 Londoners aged over 55 believe they... View Article

Offsite for sore eyes

Often seen as the panacea for the housing crisis, is offsite construction methodology able to live up to its potential in terms of design quality as well as volume? Teo Lyubomirova spoke to four architects to hear their views. Imagine... View Article

Future-proof buildings now

Jim Lowther assesses how we can future-proof a new generation of buildings through the specification of the latest rooflights and fire protection products. Specifying products for domestic and commercial building projects can be a daunting process, one which has to... View Article

The energy revolution underway in glass extensions

Christian Wiegel at Solurlux discusses glass as a construction material in the context of a research project on the development of ‘energy self-sufficient’ glass extensions. Constructions made of glass have their own special charm. As a trained architect and engineer,... View Article

Don’t break the chain

Phil Savage of Pilkington United Kingdom explores the use of structural glazing in modern building design and explains why the ‘value chain’ is integral to successfully fulfilling an architect’s vision. Structural glazing is a common feature of architectural projects across... View Article

Practice Profile – Märraum Architects

James Parker spoke to an emerging young practice to find out how they got off the ground in Cornwall, including putting a focus on using virtual reality to give clients exactly what they want. Märraum Architects is an exciting new... View Article

The natural alternative: healthy results

With greater focus placed on healthier environments in addition to performance and sustainability, there has been increasing interest in lesser-known technologies. Mark Lynn describes the compelling benefits of natural insulation. We have long been familiar with the use of natural... View Article

Vinyl is back in fashion

From music to flooring, vinyl has made a comeback, and it is more versatile than ever. Flooring specialists Gerflor examine the trends . Bold design statements can either pay off stunningly well or, much like the derided 1970s pebble-dash, backfire... View Article

Future Watch – Teodora Lyumbomirova on acoustics

With the housing crisis forcing developers to build homes at higher density, Teodora Lyubomirova examines how architects and clients need to look beyond the limitations of current regulations to achieve good acoustics Since the last substantial change to Approved Document... View Article

View Point – Sonal Rathod from PLP

Sonal Rathod from PLP comments on the impact that Brexit is having on the firm, which currently employs a large number of EU staff. Employees from the EU bring a breadth of international experience and different schools of thought to... View Article