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The government is right to be more interventionist on planning
Governments have tried assuming every council will plan maturely and conscientiously. But this hasn’t worked so Matthew Pennycook’s more robust approach is needed, writes Paul Smith.
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Retrofitting starts below ground
UKGBC’s April 2026 report highlighted that most buildings are set to remain in use until at least 2050. Retrofit is therefore critical and Jon Chevin explores why ground stability should be considered from the outset
Why architects need to rethink door specification under Martyn’s Law
Rob Mottram, head of product and compliance at steel door manufacturer Robust UK, explains how Martyn’s law impacts door specification
Class L confusion – why a label isn’t a standard when it comes to battery storage
Matt Partridge argues you shouldn’t take a fire rating at face value when it comes to battery storage. He says a “class L” label on a battery storage cabinet tells you very little about how it will perform in a real lithium-ion fire – and explains what to look for ...
The impact of two world wars and the ‘golden era’ of the public sector architect: A history of building regulations (part II)
Eleanor Jolliffe considers the social trends and events of the past millennium that led to the development of rules which dictate the way we build
What does your building say about the place it’s in?
Janie Mullaney argues the best way to avoid flat, featureless facades with all their character value engineered away, is to talk to facade manufacturers early in the design process
Why solar-control glass should be part of the UK’s overheating debate
Phil Brown says recent heatwaves should be a wake-up call about the overheating risk in our housing stock and that solar-control glass must be part of the solution
Where do I start with AI?
Tools like Claude and Chat GPT are the solution to architects’ woes, but we are using them the wrong way, says Oliver Lowrie
The real planning problem starts after permission is granted
Securing consent faster is only part of the challenge. If contractors are appointed too late, projects can inherit the most expensive version of the approved scheme, writes Beth West
The Old Truman Brewery taught me that great places can’t be rushed
The success of the Brick Lane complex was realised through organic evolution and experimentation, not chasing a quick return, writes Martyn Evans
The Old Truman Brewery taught me that great places can’t be rushed
The success of the Brick Lane complex was realised through organic evolution and experimentation, not chasing a quick return, writes Martyn Evans
Choosing natural stone for swimming pools – what you need to know
Ellie Parker explores the challenges of specifying of natural stone for swimming pool environments – and explains why picking the right stone is more tricky than it might appear
Paul Morrell: The problem with reforming construction professions is knowing where to start
Former government chief construction adviser examines MHCLG’s call for evidence on professions, trades and occupations - and argues progress will stall unless government is clear about what it can fix
Thermal comfort – the missing piece of urban mobility
Federica Buricco says that, in the face of climate change, we need to change the way we design our cities to make active travel more appealing in the heat and outdoor living comfortable all year round
Meeting SEND demand through design
Traditional design and construction approaches are struggling to keep up with a surge in demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities facilities. We need to rethink how we deliver these places for those who need them, writes John Edwards
So comprehensive and yet so lacking, so controlling and yet so silent: A history of building regulations (part I)
Eleanor Jolliffe considers the social trends and events of the past millennium that led to the development of rules which dictate the way we build
An Olympics in the North should embrace the region’s polycentric DNA
The possibility of the UK hosting an Olympics outside London appears more real than ever. The North’s strength lies in its plurality, which makes it an ideal location
Into the wilderness? Or just an alternative view of the landscape?
The story of human culture is about taming the wild and making it home, but a new book has David Rudlin questioning how best to conserve the natural world that surrounds us
Beyond the ceremony: My reflections on RIBA’s big award anniversaries
Each project recognised this and every year tells a story about what architecture can achieve and reinforces the value of architects in shaping places to which everyone can relate. That is something worth celebrating, writes Jack Pringle, chair of the RIBA board
When everyone is responsible, noone is – the accountability gap in construction products reform
Brittany Harris argues that the government’s proposed reforms to the construction products regime will only succeed if accountability is clearly defined and backed by reliable digital evidence throughout the supply chain
Why national recognition changes everything for recycled kerbs
Phil Sutton welcomes a change in the rules that will allow the easier specification of more sustainable kerbing
What a successful landscape-led urban framework looks like for future communities
The key to bringing beneficial change through public space design to densely populated, multi-generational urban areas, such as Central Somers Town, is demonstrating a people-first approach that centres residents’ voices and uses green spaces to strengthen community and access, argues Anne Wynne at DSDHA
Could composites be the future of high-performance building systems?
Guillaume Klein argues that a new European standard for composites should prompt architects and specifiers to rethink material choices
Will Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ be a lifeline for housebuilding?
The next prime minister must resist the temptation to unpick everything and instead build on existing progress, writes Ben Derbyshire
The time is now for reserved activities, and RIBA is leading the charge
We need to make sure that those responsible for the critical decisions in delivering buildings have the specific and assessed skills and competencies required for the task, This is how, rites Jack Pringle, chair of the RIBA board
What if creativity was the value all along?
When people choose where to live, work or invest, culture is often the decisive factor. The smartest developers appreciate that, writes Martyn Evans
Specifying flooring to meet the challenges of contemporary healthcare settings
Donna Hannaway offers practical advice for anyone specifying floor coverings for healthcare settings
We are at a turning point for heritage skills – and action is needed now
Adrian Attwood argues time is running out to save Britain’s heritage craft skills and says urgent action is needed to ensure the future of the trades that conserve our historic built environment
Engineering the future: Public toilets are the invisible infrastructure our cities still badly need
A lack of amenities may be just a minor inconvenience for some, but for others it means they cannot leave home. Elisa Sartori says public toilets may be ‘the most honest spaces in architecture’
The danger of building homes at any cost
Delivering 1.5 million homes means little if quality is sacrificed in the process. Without strong design leadership and long-term thinking, today’s solutions could become tomorrow’s regeneration failures, says Satish Jassal
How heritage can shape the future of new communities
A former RAF airbase in Oxfordshire lies at the heart of a unique and exciting new residential neighbourhood, writes Harrison Symonds
A good architect should be a polymath more than a specialist
If we lose our wider intellectual curiosity, we loss the essence of what it is to be in this profession, Eleanor Jolliffe writes
From brief to build – the process behind delivering a high-performance office
Sarah Edwards says designing the “perfect” office is a complex process that often requires proactive, strategic – and early – engagement with specialist workplace designers
From promises to proof – what the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard expects
Jeremy Douglas says that the built-environment sector has spent years making net zero carbon promises. However, with version 1 of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS V1) now in effect, the industry must start keeping them
