Integrating aesthetics and sustainability

Dan Redfern of Marley predicts that integrating renewable technology on the roof will a key solution for self-builders seeking the balance between sustainable yet still aesthetically pleasing homes Of the 200,000 new homes being built in the UK, around 10%... View Article

The current outlook for innovation in daylighting

Joanna Vaiou of Sunsquare explores current glazing trends and discovers how evolving technologies are enhancing light and fluidity of space, as well as sustainability and aesthetics in contemporary architecture Step into the summer of 2024, where home design embraces a... View Article

Staying power

The seemingly humble door limiting stay is a key component which enables functionality and safety in entrance design in a range of sectors. Craig Fox of Strand Hardware outlines how architects might apply these little problem solvers Architects strive to... View Article

A calculated risk

Despite the risks associated with buying a dated bungalow in the South Downs National Park over 200 miles away from his home, Philip Westcott was prepared to take the chance thanks to the advice of his building-savvy son TEXT: Jayne... View Article

Selfbuilder Diaries

Completing a full home renovation a few years ago gave Wayne and Kandi the urge to take on a bigger project, but spending three years and counting living in two caravans with their four children and dog hasn’t been plain... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Living Rooms

Being the space where most of us head to at the end of a busy day, the living room is one of the key spaces where you’re going to relax and enjoy the home you’ve created. Find inspiration for how... View Article

A fusion of function & art

Far more than a functional necessity, Best Heating’s John Lawless explores how ‘designer’ radiators can allow you to combine creativity with common-sense heating functionality Home is where the heart is, and every element within it should resonate with a homeowner’s... View Article

Steel windows at the core of sustainable design

Russel Ager of Crittall Windows explores how a historic window design continues to find favour for countless commercial and residential projects prioritising sustainability As we edge closer to the launch of the Future Homes Standard, sustainability-focused design has become a... View Article

Flushed with savings success

Increased awareness of water scarcity has prompted innovations in rainwater capture and a rethinking of toilet flush design. Delabie UK’s Eve Wellard looks at alternatives to cistern flush WCs which prevent unnecessary waste of potable water We are all aware... View Article

View Point: Gareth Abrahams of Changing Streams

A new ‘independent’ database of products has been designed to help specifiers substitute and reduce the use of plastic in buildings they are designing, and thereby tackle a major sustainability challenge. Architect Gareth Abrahams explains how the Changing Streams initiative... View Article

Hertford hub’s second act

A renovation of a theatre and cinemas complex in Hertford by cultural sector experts Bennetts Associates has created a riverside hub with new openings both theatrically, and for the community. James Parker reports Opening this summer, BEAM transforms Hertford’s existing... View Article

High performance in the frame with OSB

With the need for more sustainable building materials currently critical, Rebecca Goldsmith of MEDITE SMARTPLY explains why OSB structural panels can streamline the fabric-first approach for high performance building envelopes The updated Part F and Part L requirements of the... View Article

The wow factor of bathroom wall panels

Have you ever thought about using decorative wall panels for shower spaces, utility rooms or cloakrooms? Amanda Mills of Kinedo presents the case for using wall panels to create stunning bathroom spaces in particular. Wall panels are one of the... View Article

The battle against mould and damp

Are we doing enough to prevent mould and damp, David Bly of Cornerstone is of the opinion more can be done With constant year-on-year damp, condensation and mould in many homes it could be argued there needs to be ‘reset’... View Article

Breaking barriers to sustainable drainage

In the face of escalating urban flooding challenges across the UK, Richard Eddy of Polypipe Building Products looks how to break down the barriers to introducing sustainable drainage systems in housebuilding projects. With the UK’s sewerage infrastructure straining under the... View Article

Future Homes Standard is a starting point

The upcoming Future Homes Standard represents an important step towards more sustainable housing but should be viewed as a foundation rather than a ‘ceiling’ according to Simon Garbett of Wienerberger There’s little doubt that the homebuilding industry still has a... View Article

Retrofit for zero carbon

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund provides one way for social housing providers in England to improve the quality of homes for their tenants although bidding teams may need support in working out the best way to treat older properties –... View Article

Social strength

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine asks ‘has the case for an expanded social housebuilding programme ever been stronger’? During the height of council house building in the 1950s, councils built on average... View Article

What is happening with the Future Homes Standard 2025?

Victoria Brocklesby, COO at aluminium windows and doors specialist, Origin, discusses how the Future Homes Standard legislation could impact housebuilding and offers her advice to self-builders and renovators The UK is placing more onus on ‘green building’ than ever before.... View Article