Brick Awards 2023: The Winners

The Brick Development Association is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the annual Brick Awards. Category: Supreme Winner Project: Shrewsbury Flaxmill Location: Shrewsbury Brick Manufacturer: Northcot Brick Brick Name: Brickfield Orange, Weathered and Stratford Mellow Weathered Architect: Fielden Clegg... View Article

Surface Design Awards 2023 Finalists Announced

The Surface Design Awards Finalists have been revealed with judges praising the high standard of innovation and sustainability in entries received from around the world. After a stringent judging process, the Finalists for this year’s Surface Design Awards have been selected,... View Article

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen has died at the age of 96 after a reign of 70 years. A statement from the King said: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me... View Article

The False Banana Pavilion by FleaFollyArchitects

Designed and built by FleaFollyArchitects, The False Banana Pavilion has taken up residence within the grounds of Kew Wakehurst National Trust site in West Sussex, England. The pavilion is one of five temporary installations that are located across 500 acres... View Article

A concrete idea for efficient builds

Chris Stride from the Insulating Concrete Formwork Association explains why this type of modern method of construction could provide the answers for your self-build when it comes to speed, efficiency and air-tightness Building your home can be a challenging task.... View Article

Timber – the net zero hero?

The road to net zero is now set, and pressure is mounting on the construction sector to deliver. For housebuilders, choosing to use sustainable materials such as timber should be an easy decision; Andrew Carpenter of the Structural Timber Association... View Article

Bringing glass back 
into balconies

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Andy Lake of Pyroguard explores how glass can be used safely in balcony applications, as well as the various factors for housebuilders and developers to consider to ensure the right solution is specified. It’s no secret that... 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

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

Aluminium: The best for balconies?

With combustible materials banned in the external walls of high-rise buildings, the industry has had to adjust to a new design environment, however as AliDeck’s Richard Izzard explains, it hasn’t always been a smooth transition for balconies. In the wake... View Article

The levelling-up agenda

Neil Sanders of F. Ball and Co talks through the steps to ensuring a flawless finish when installing floorcoverings using Luxury Vinyl Tiles. The increasing quality and variety of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) and their suitability for a wide range... 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

A heart of oak

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Already in receipt of several awards, Hornsey Rise in Leicestershire was developed to meet strong demand for luxury detached homes with a more ‘intimate’ community feel. Lee Harris of developer Springbourne Homes explains to Jack Wooler how... View Article

The outlook for glazing trends in 2022

LISTEN HERE 🔊 After some significant recent industry impacts including Covid and net zero targets, John McComb from Reynaers Aluminium uk looks at five key glazing specification trends and how it’s responding to them. During these undoubtedly uncertain times, it... View Article

A new curving copper home in New Zealand

A family based near Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island gave a local architect full freedom in designing their new home in picturesque Cass Bay. The result is a dynamic curved and copper-clad structure that emulates the surrounding landscape, while... View Article

Home counties overturn plans for new housing on green fields

A swathe of councils could follow two Hertfordshire authorities who rejected their local plans in the wake of the government’s decision to reverse proposed planning reform. The construction industry fears Conservative-run Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield borough councils’ move to revise their... View Article

Ask the Expert: Cut your losses and save CO2

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Improving insulation is at the heart of the country’s mission to reduce CO2 emissions in new homes. Matthew Evans of Kingspan Insulation answers key questions around the materials and details to consider to avoid heat loss in... View Article