2019 Brick Award Winners

The night of Wednesday 13th November saw the crowning of the 2019 Brick Awards winners, a ceremony that for 43 years has celebrated the best use of brick in the built environment. Projects of the highest calibre are routinely entered... View Article

Fast and fabulous

The Jaffreys wanted a home that would look good, be energy efficient, was future-proofed and importantly, could be built quickly, and a timber kit was the answer When the Jaffrey family set about building their own home near the village... View Article

SIPs vs traditional construction

Ian Clay of SIPS@Clays offers a few points to consider when choosing the build method for your new home and why SIPs deliver the perfect solution compared with traditional brick and block construction With so many decisions to be made... View Article

Site Lines: Low impact, high materiality

Gavin Maloney of Arup looks at how a house made of expanded cork combines impeccable sustainability credentials with a high degree of tactile beauty Never has public opinion been more interested in how we dispose of the things we produce... View Article

Grand central viewing station

As part of creating a bespoke structure in the centre of a major New York development to offer unique public space, Heatherwick Studio utilised a revolutionary technique to create a copper finish in steel that wouldn’t degrade over time, as... View Article

Domino effect

An addition to the University of Massachusetts displays a composition of staggered copper and glass elements to create a dramatic entranceway. Jack Wooler spoke to architects BIG about how and why this domino effect was created The Business Innovation Hub... View Article

Zinc’s lasting sustainable appeal

Jonathan Lowy of VMZinc looks at the lasting appeal of zinc as a sustainable solution for the building envelope, as shown on projects from the 19th century to the present day The Parisienne rooftops adorning Hausmann’s famous 19th century buildings... View Article

A strong & secure story

Whether it’s building bridges or delivering homes, there’s plenty of scope for structural steel across the construction sector. Chris Holleron of Hadley Group details the material’s uses, from its invention to its current application in the offsite construction sector The... View Article

Extending design perspectives with aluminium

Richard Besant of Powdertech Corby discusses why powder coating on aluminium presents a convincing alternative for creating a wide variety of architectural features and designs Recent advances in powder technology and application now mean that aluminium and steel can be... View Article

The enduring appeal of metal ceilings

Here Peter Symons of Knauf AMF explores why metal ceilings are seeing a renaissance, encompassing robustness and efficiency as well as aesthetics The mainstream use of metal ceilings originated in the late 19th century when they were more commonly known... View Article

Sustainable and diverse: architectural copper

The last few decades have seen copper and its alloys grow in popularity as modern architectural materials, but the sustainability and performance characteristics of copper should also not be forgotten. Graeme Bell of Aurubis explains more Copper’s unique architectural qualities... View Article

An internal monologue on copper

Copper has seen a dramatic change in use from its historic place roofing prestigious buildings to being a thoroughly modern external skin for contemporary architecture. But its role as an interior surfacing material is also growing, presenting new opportunities and... View Article

ICF – sense and sustainability

Robin Miller of Beco Wallform gives his views on why insulating concrete formwork (ICF) is the ideal practical choice for self-builders concerned about sustainability and climate change There is growing recognition – now almost universal – that unless significant action... View Article

Natural stone, ethically sourced

Matt Rob of the Stone Federation discusses the rising trend of buyers searching for ethically sourced natural stone, and the systems that are in place to prove the authenticity of such products. In 2015, The Modern Slavery Act was created... View Article

A clear set of options

When looking to create a unique home, glass gives you a wide range of options, especially when it comes to balconies and even atriums, as Susan Sinden of glass processor ESG Group explains One of the most common themes we... View Article

The brick essentials

With an increasing number of homeowners choosing to pursue self-build or embark on self-renovation work, Simon Taylor of Ibstock examines one of the key considerations for any self-builder – the aesthetics as well as function of the bricks they will... View Article