Micro solutions to macro problems

A pioneering modular build to rent scheme, which offers young homeless people the chance to have a place they can afford in central London, has broken ground. Jack Wooler reports on the project. Developed by charity Centrepoint, Reuben House is a... View Article

There may be turbulence ahead

Brain Berry confronts some of the myriad challenges that housebuilders are facing at present, including rising prices, inflation, shortages and new regulations. Not for the first time, small, local housebuilders are facing some tough months ahead. While the industry closed... View Article

Get on top of the Part L challenge

Changes to Part L of the Building Regulations are planned to come into effect later this year as part of the Future Homes Standard, meaning a 31% reduction in new build carbon emissions. Stuart Nicholson of Marley explores why the... View Article

Avant Homes begin work on 65-home development

The construction of a 65-home development on a 10-acre site in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, has been started by housebuilder Avant Homes. The first phase of the new development, located on Round Hill Avenue, three miles from Thornaby town centre, received... View Article

Raising the standard

The developers behind an award-winning development in Wiltshire talk to Jack Wooler about how they have included higher-end features as standard, and blended with the historic context. Somerbrook is a collection of 28 private and 10 affordable homes in Great... View Article

A net gain for the nation

John Richards of Cala Homes details the company’s journey so far in achieving the increasingly essential requirement of biodiversity net gain, across its Thames region According to a 2021 study, it is estimated that the UK has lost almost half... View Article

Food for thought

Recent research into how people use kitchens shows that designs can ensure schemes play a vital role in improving the homeowners’ wellbeing, says Natalie Davenport from Häfele UK While traditionall kitchens have been relatively small spaces added onto a home... View Article

LEEDing on low impact

LEED is a new rival to BREEAM in evaluating the sustainability of industrial, office, hotel and residential buildings. Wojciech Brożyna from Aluprof UK discusses its benefits, and ways to meet the standard LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is... View Article

Raising the bar for external spaces

Caroline Birdsall from Millboard describes the recent trends in including decking for outdoor areas, from entertainment to increasingly al fresco bars and dining in domestic and hospitality settings, post-pandemic An overriding trend we have all seen in recent times is... View Article

Safety rises to the top

Representing the biggest improvements to building safety in nearly 40 years, the Building Safety Act will have far-reaching implications. Nick Mellor at LEIA explains what it means for design of evacuation lifts for all users In the wake of Grenfell,... View Article

Commercial considerations

Anil Madan of Ideal Standard details the top factors that architects need to consider when designing and creating commercial washrooms Commercial washroom design is often a tricky balance due to the many factors you need to weigh up with what... View Article

Building cultural change in London

UK Construction Week (UKCW) comes to London on 3-5 May at ExCel, with the promises of a major face to face event for the construction industry for 25,000 expected visitors The organisers have developed a key focus for UKCW London... View Article

Ask the Architect: Liz Leber

Liz Leber, managing partner of New York practice Beyer Blinder Belle, drives her firm to work with clients who have a clear “mission”, but also strives to extract their core project objectives. She explains the “creativity, pragmatism, and optimism” she... View Article

Health and wellbeing at work

Architects Saunders have designed what will be one of the most sustainable business parks in the UK, with the focus on sustainable construction and healthy lifestyles for staff. Managing director Martin Williams explains why it is an exemplar workplace Cambridge... View Article

The right rainwater system

With a varied choice of rainwater systems on the market, there should be no problem in finding the perfect product for your self-build project, says Sally Moores from Yeoman Aesthetics, though important, should not be the only thing that is... View Article

A grand affair

Selfbuilder + Homemaker have teamed up with Grand Designs Live to offer our readers 2 for 1 tickets to this year’s event, which is taking place at ExCel in London from 30 April to 8 May This year’s Grand Designs... View Article

What makes a good paving surface?

If you’re thinking of upgrading an existing paving surface or simply designing a new hard landscape area, how do you know which is the right one? Alasdair McMillan from Sureset looks at the options available Before deciding on your paving... View Article

Insulating a better future

Quentin Bassieux of Huntsman Building Solutions explains why minimising air leakage must go hand in hand with better insulation Better insulation of domestic households is seen as one of the most important ways of reducing carbon emissions and slowing the... View Article