High rise not high risk!

Danny Birrel of Kawneer advises on how to design curtain wall facades to accommodate building movement Land-pressed developers are increasingly turning to high-rise buildings to deliver best footprint value but the interaction between the facade of a building, particularly a tall... View Article

Concrete contrasts

KAAN Architecten’s scientific research building for a new university campus near Paris plays with the contrasts between its no-nonsense concrete forms and the landscaped setting, while also paying attention to users. Roseanne Field reports Situated just outside a national park, 20... View Article

Break out of the white box

With the demand for quality rising, it is increasingly hard to stand out as a developer. Lulu Greenhalgh-Jones of Carpenter Oak explores how housebuilders can use timber to break out of the new development ‘white box.’ The market is not... View Article

Clearly beautiful

Tanzeela Yasin of IQ Glass explains the aesthetic benefits of including frameless glass balustrades in your project, but also the safety considerations that you need to take into account. Frameless glass balustrades are becoming a popular glazing feature across many... View Article

Small ceramic facade elements, great effect…

The municipal site between the Jewish Museum, the new TAZ building and the former flower wholesale market hall at Kreuzberg was not simply awarded to the highest bidder, but to the one who submitted the best concept for a development.... View Article

Arup report encourages the use of timber to help tackle climate change

Arup today (19th March) launches its ‘Rethinking Timber Report’ aimed at accelerating the construction industry’s response to reducing global emissions and achieving net zero carbon buildings by using sustainable materials. The report highlights the time and efficiency savings that can result from... View Article

Mjøstårnet Becomes World’s Tallest Timber Building

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has verified the completion of Mjøstårnet, a mixed-use building in Brumunddal, Norway that now holds the unique title of the “World’s Tallest Timber Building.” At 85.4 meters, it is also the third-tallest... View Article

Take a fresh look at stone and hard surfaces

As a cladding material, architectural detail, hard landscaping, interior, or even roofing material, stone has it all. Architects will be able to see for themselves at the Natural Stone Show, which is taking place in London’s ExCeL from 30 April... View Article

Opening the envelope

Simon Wild of Formica group discusses how the application of cladding using traditional building methods has evolved, and explores the modern materials now on offer. Traditionally, housebuilding techniques in the UK relied upon the use of local materials typical of... View Article

A vital force

Steven Holl Architects’ Maggie’s Cancer Centre at London’s oldest hospital is wrapped in a translucent facade, which takes historic musical design cues to enliven its interior and exterior. Sébastien Reed reports St. Bartholomew’s hospital (‘Barts’) in the City of London... View Article

The no compromise composite door

John Whalley of Nationwide Windows & Doors discusses the advantages of composite doors for social housing Specifiers and asset managers have lots of choice when it comes to the different types of materials on the market for doors. Naturally, product... View Article

Why concrete remains a rock-solid design choice

Dr Bill Price of Tarmac Cement discusses why concrete is increasingly popular with architects for its aesthetic as well as practical characteristics An ever-popular material for construction, concrete is seeing a new wave of usage and innovation, thanks to both... View Article

Expand your mind

Adrian Walker of Sundolitt discusses why specifiers should consider expanded polystyrene as a versatile as well as sustainable material for landscaping applications Weighing only 1 per cent of the weight of traditional fill, expanded polystyrene (EPS) is continuing to prove... View Article

Getting the balance right

Jon Sheaf of AluK discusses the considerations that must be taken into account when specifying curtain walling, alongside achieving the right aesthetic results Once a glazed facade has been chosen as part of your building envelope, the first stage in... View Article