The Warm Homes Plan – Building fabric in the age of high-tech homes

The Warm Homes Plan has arrived to replace the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). It represents a shift in focus away from a fabric first approach to instead prioritise high-tech solutions such as PV, battery storage and heat pumps. This change [...]

Are Your Washroom Designs Part T ready?

Taking into account Part T and Approved Document T in the design of accessible WC facilities What does Part T of the Building Regulations change for accessible washroom design? In short, it doesn’t replace Approved Document M. However, it does [...]

Future Homes Standard published including 40% of floor area PV requirement

The Future Homes Standard (FHS)' secondary legislation has been published by the Ministry of Housing, detailing requirements for designs of new homes that housebuilders must adhere to from 2028. The delayed full consultation response has been published in the hope [...]

New report from Cedral: How residential facade design is changing to meet the demands of the climate crisis

According to a new report from Cedral UK, 48% of architects admitted that they expect sustainability measures they are introducing on current new builds to be out of date within 15 years. Architects’ and specifiers’ eagerness to embrace more sustainable [...]

Wates Wildscape: Reimagining the balance between housing and habitats

Turning BNG from Burden to Opportunity As England accelerates plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029, developers face a difficult challenge: balancing the demand for housing with the urgent need to restore our natural environment. Wates Land and [...]

Latest Articles

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... 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... 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... 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... 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,... 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... 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... View Article
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Product & Supplier News

One Equity Partners Acquires Leviat

Leviat, a global leader in engineered connection, fastening and anchoring solutions for the construction industry, today announced that it has been acquired by One Equity Partners (“OEP”). The transaction marks... View Article

Cast iron radiators….from Stelrad

Stelrad is expanding its cast iron radiator offering with two new products, in addition to the current cast iron product that has been well received, giving customers more choice within... View Article
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