Bridge the thermal gap

Improving the thermal performance of building envelopes has become increasingly  important, and designers need to be aware of how significantly thermal bridges can compromise the value of insulation, says Simon Hill of Schöck A thermal bridge is a localised area of... View Article

Site Lines: A renewed focus on resilience

With demolishing structures being a carbon-intensive pursuit, Trevor Morriss, principal at architects SPPARC, explains why buildings must be constructed to stand the test of time as we race to reach carbon goals The embodied carbon released when a building is... View Article

Looking into timber

Richard Dollar from The Sash Window Workshop discusses what self-builders should consider when choosing wooden framed windows for their home, in order to ensure that the windows not only look right, but also help make it more comfortable to live... View Article

Laying out the options

With flooring being the first thing you feel underfoot every morning, it’s important to consider all factors when specifying a floor that works within your home. Here, leading suppliers Quick-Step and Abingdon Flooring provide their insights into the options when... View Article

Seeing the light of day

Choosing the most suitable rooflight for your build can be anything but straightforward, with a variety of important aspects to consider including shape, size, and the materials it’s made from. Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers some practical advice to... View Article

High-quality student accommodation on the rise

Nicola Ball of architects KKA says that as universities face greater competition to attract students from both home and abroad, accommodation has become an important differentiator, which has led to standards rising across the country Student accommodation is not what... View Article

Sound advice for educational settings

Nigel Watkins of Rockfon shares some thoughts and guidance on specifying acoustic ceiling and wall solutions to help create the ideal conditions for successful study Schools and places for education are no longer where students simply sit in rows in... View Article

Flexible rooms for future learning

Neil Miller from QIC Trims looks at how the flexibility needed in modern education environments can be achieved by specifying glass partitions, meaning that teachers can be relieved of the need to alter the contents of a space A glass partition’s... View Article

Ask the Manufacturer – The building blocks of success

To celebrate the family firm’s 75th anniversary, Jack Wooler of Housebuilder & Developer talks to Giles de Lotbiniere, Chairman of Lignacite, about the company’s foundation, and what makes it special In 1947, retired ex-serviceman and engineer, Sir Edmond de Lotbiniere,... View Article

Turning up the heat in the classroom

Heating is always a key consideration in any educational setting. Chris Harvey at Stelrad Radiator Group looks at the benefits of low surface temperature radiators as a safe and effective heating option In recent years funding has been available for... View Article

Natural choices for education ventilation

Karen Scrace of Passivent helps specifiers of education environments to choose between a natural or hybrid ventilation strategy in order to provide the right healthy environment for students Maintaining a good supply of fresh air within any communal space is... View Article

Ask the Manufacturer: The building blocks of success

To celebrate the family firm’s 75th anniversary, ADF contributor Jack Wooler talks to Giles de Lotbiniere, Chairman of block manufacturer Lignacite, about the company’s foundation, and what makes it special In 1947, retired ex-serviceman and engineer, Sir Edmond de Lotbiniere,... View Article

Learning through design

Rainscreen cladding systems are enabling architects to move away from the traditional school building design to create structures that inspire a new generation of students. Simon Gregory from Proteus Facades looks at the issue in detail School buildings have evolved... View Article

Access all areas

A kit home has plenty of benefits – including its price tag – but buying a ‘house in a box’ doesn’t mean sticking to the plan, as this wheelchair-friendly redesign near Cornwall’s Atlantic coast illustrates TEXT CAROL BURNS IMAGES EWEN... View Article

Breaking down barriers

For Patsy Parr, getting approval and building her first home in her native rural Staffordshire meant overcoming countless hurdles, but project management experience, plus a bit of family knowledge, resulted in an award-winning build TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES IZAAK CAAN... View Article

Practice makes perfect

Serial self-builder Mark Young’s fourth project, an ICF-built family home, has scored so many hits on his family’s wish list that it might be his last project TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES MARK YOUNG Back in the November/December 2018 issue of... View Article

Maintenance in mind

Choosing the right decking material can be the difference between enjoying your outdoor space and spending all your spare time maintaining it. Caroline Birdsall from Millboard gives some practical advice on picking a long-lasting decking area for your property One... View Article

View Point: Alex Thomas

As the gaps on our high streets grow, it’s time to future-proof them for the growing cohort of tech-enabled and eco-conscious customers by harnessing the potential of digital venues, says Alex Thomas from HKS Architects There is no doubt we... View Article

Ask the Architect: Melanie Jacobsen Cox

The new head of healthcare at HLM, Melanie Jacobsen Cox, answers ADF’s questions on what makes her tick What made you want to become an architect? I have construction in my blood through my grandfather and dad, but my subject... View Article