VE may still have its day

Uncontrolled value engineering has rightly been criticised for its focus on cost cutting and poor-quality construction outcomes. Adam Sumner of Pura Facades thinks the time is now right to re-assess the potential of VE in the industry as part of... View Article

Illuminate sustainability

Incorporating natural daylight for sustainable design Natalie Goodridge of LAMILUX UK explains why incorporating daylight into architectural designs has become a central focus in sustainable designs. Integrating rooflights or roof glazing into a building design not only enhances aesthetic appeal... View Article

View Point: Magdalena Arent

Magdalena Arent, building performance consultant at architect Holmes Miller, discusses strategies for when a low energy building is required, but Passivhaus ‘doesn’t quite fit the bill,’ and something else on the sustainability standard menu is called for. Passivhaus certification has... View Article

A sensitive approach

Alongside the particular goals of a housing scheme for the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, its proximity to Grenfell Tower intensified the need for extensive collaboration with local stakeholders. Roseanne Field reports on how HNW Architects successfully delivered PRP Architects’... View Article

An electric shock

David Barrett of EHC discusses the major change coming in June which will affect over 900,000 electricity meters in UK homes with night storage heaters, and what this means for landlords. The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is a nationwide system... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Home Office

Whether you’ll be working from home full time or only part, creating a cosy dedicated nook or designing a whole room, we’ve compiled products from desks and chairs to storage and lighting solutions to provide all the inspiration you need... View Article

The skinny on insulation

The growing demand for thin internal wall insulation (‘Tiwi’) addresses space constraints in retrofit projects, offering effective solutions for condensation and mould while meeting low U-value requirements, as James Erskine of CorkSol explains. Aterm many may have been hearing more... View Article

Clay brick: A timeless material

With clay bricks capable of retaining structural integrity for more than 150 years, Rob Flello of the Brick Development Association (BDA) explains why self-builders are increasingly viewing them as a long-term investment.   Whether you consider buying or building, a... View Article

Design for the future

Complying with legislation to create future-proof, carbon-neutral buildings is key. Andrew Watkins of wedi Systems explores sustainable, long-lasting solutions for bathroom and wet room design amid evolving regulations. Andrew Watkins, Technical Manager at wedi Systems (UK) Ltd, discusses how to... View Article

How much do ‘U-value’ insulation?

Matthew Evans of Kingspan Insulation GB discusses what to think about when it comes to insulating your self-build. Ensuring your new home is effectively insulated is an important consideration for all self-builders. It can help to significantly reduce your long-term... View Article

A future driven by data

As the UK Government confronts a colossal £49bn maintenance backlog, Ryan Donoghue of AJ Digital explores how ‘retrospective digitisation’ aligned with digital twin technology can revolutionise building management and prevent future problems. Retrospective digitisation offers a powerful solution for tackling... View Article

Why Futurebuild 2025 is a must-attend for housing professionals

As the push towards net-zero accelerates, the refurbishment and retrofit sectors stand at a pivotal point of sustainable transformation in the built environment. Futurebuild 2025, taking place from March 04-06 at London Excel, offers an unmissable opportunity for housing professionals... View Article

Turbocharging housing or hitting roadblocks?

Despite planning reforms aimed at delivering 1.5 million homes by 2029, challenges persist. Lawrence Turner of Boyer explores the impact of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent announcements. In her high profile January speech the Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined plans to go... View Article

How to navigate remediation orders & access the right support

Lewis Couth of Walker Morris discusses how local authorities can leverage crucial legal tools such as remediation orders under the Building Safety Act, to help them address unsafe cladding. Local authorities continue to face the challenge of ensuring that building... View Article

Fans of efficiency

Mechanical extract fans are essential for home ventilation, yet often overlooked. Paul Williams of Domus Ventilation explores how choosing the right fan for a property – and ensuring proper installation – will aid efficiency, performance, and regulatory compliance. The humble... View Article

Mediterranean tranquillity

Behind the traditional stained-glass front door of an Edwardian terraced house in Southfields lies a remarkable renovation inspired by bright and airy Mediterranean living. TEXT JAYNE DOWLE IMAGES HATCH + MASON / CHRIS SNOOK Belonging to 32-year-old yoga teacher Molly... View Article

Beyond boilers

As energy efficiency standards tighten, Barry Fentem of Altecnic explores the alternatives to gas boilers which are available to help housing upgrades meet regulations while futureproofing homes with sustainable heating solutions. As energy efficiency standards become more stringent, the housing... View Article

A modern approach

With the controversy over wood burning stoves, BFCMA’s Dennis Milligan explains why it is worth looking at the benefits of modern stoves.  Combined with quality wood, modern stoves offer significant benefits that align with reducing carbon emissions and improving air... View Article