A revealing take on later life

A project in north London offers highly individualised, non-institutional retirement village design both inside and out, producing a carefully detailed brick-clad form on a challenging site. Jack Wooler reports Belle Vue is a high-end retirement community in Hampstead, London which [...]

Architects’ Choice Award

Following the announcement that the 2021 Brick Awards shortlists, the Brick Development Association (BDA) would like to invite registered architects to choose which project from the Shortlist, should win the prestigious Architects’ Choice Award. The Architects’ Choice Award is a [...]

Exercising soft power

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Designing a power station on the Italian island of Capri, famous as a luxury holiday destination, required a sensitive approach to sit a sustainable new plant gently in its setting. Enrico Frigerio speaks to Roseanne Field Capri, [...]

Light relief

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Heatherwick Studio’s first completed healthcare scheme is a new Maggie’s Centre that turns an unloved patch of city centre hospital estate into a landscape-festooned, lightweight timber refuge for cancer patients. James Parker reports. Heatherwick Studio’s first completed [...]

Liverpool loses World Heritage status thanks to waterfront schemes

Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city's waterfront, following a secret ballot by the Unesco committee at a meeting in China. A report in June by [...]

Latest Articles

It’s time to buy British

A wide range of imported timber products are now hard to come by thanks to various supply issues, but the solution is close at hand, says Tom Barnes of Vastern... View Article

Sustainability from the ground up

Catherine Helliker of Danfloor UK calls on product manufacturers to ensure they understand how they are impacting the environment, and increase their sense of social responsibility to their surroundings Product... View Article

The long road to remediation

Peter Johnson of Vivalda Group discusses the progress being made on remedying the unsuitable cladding on high rise buildings, and the complex issues which have made it frustratingly slow While... View Article

Conserving authenticity

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Lewis Proudfoot of Cliveden Conservation looks at moisture management in historic buildings, and why he believes lime should be the default material for repairing traditional structures The... View Article

Bull in the Oak

Nestled away in a hamlet just outside Market Bosworth lies what appears to be a typical Leicestershire farmstead. Except this country idyll has pushed the boundaries of design and planning... View Article

Taking the long view

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Simon Storer of the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA), explains why a fabric-first approach to design, combined with a long-term outlook, is the way forward to improve future... View Article

New arrivals

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Making an entrance has changed – door materials have developed far beyond traditional options to offer composite alternatives which provide a wide choice of styles as well... View Article

Smooth start, perfect finish

From Peter Wilson, Setcrete Brand Manager Specifying beautiful floorcoverings for a new property can transform the appearance of a room dramatically. Today there are so many options from traditional carpet... View Article

Designs taking flight

Eric Nicholls of Spiral UK explores the different options for feature staircases available to housebuilders and developers, detailing the benefits of each. Choosing a staircase sounds easy – after all... View Article
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Product & Supplier News

Home extension reaches Finish Line

A striking home extension is one of the first to be clad in an exclusive product from James Latham. Utilising the Finish Line Collection, a high performing timber cladding developed... View Article

The new stone age has arrived

Powder coatings are continually evolving with a number of aesthetic finishes demonstrating variations in colour and patination. Realistic alternatives to masonry materials such as GRC, pre-cast concrete and Portland Stone... View Article

The future is JUWO Evolved SmartWall™

Chris Dewhirst of JUWO Evolved Smartwall™  discusses the benefits of this innovative monolithic clay block system using thin joint adhesive technology, providing a structural, ecological and sustainable solution for all... View Article

Topic: Tips to buying building materials

Most people focus on the kitchen, views, location, bedrooms, and bathrooms when buying a home. Hardly do they consider building materials that were used in constructing the house. Besides the... View Article
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