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Building Safety Regulator spells out timetable to clear gateway 2 backlog
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Latest Opinion
Why botched retrofit work risks undermining public trust in the industry
The shock findings of last week’s NAO report into botched external wall insulation installations has damaged public confidence in the benefits of retrofit. Decisive action is needed to restore faith and prevent future waste, says Thomas Lane
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New towns. Old wisdom?
Nicholas Boys Smith celebrates the strengths and examines the flaws of the new towns task force’s recommendations and site list
Fragmented by design: what happened to joined-up construction?
As the industry splinters into ever smaller specialisms, Eleanor Jolliffe asks how we can foster more effective collaboration and greater honesty about learning from mistakes
This Stirling Prize winner is a model for how we can all live better
Witherford Watson Mann’s Appleby Blue scheme shows how thoughtful design can help us age well, strengthen communities and rethink how generations live together, says Ben Flatman
The power of mentoring for women in architecture
As the Women in Architecture Mentoring Programme opens for its next cohort, Eleni Stathi shares how women supporting women is shaping a more inclusive future for the profession
Now is not the time to panic about low planning approvals
As poor statistics continue to roll in Steve Reed and Matthew Pennycook must hold their nerve, stick to their plan and be patient, argues Paul Smith
Architecture in crisis: a profession undermined by its own structures
Hien Nguyen on how years of falling fees, mounting liabilities and weak institutional support have left architects struggling to sustain viable practices
Why Industry Foundation Classes is the future of construction collaboration
Andrew Norrie makes the case for open data standards, and argues Industry Foundation Classes has a vital role to play in data sharing, workflow streamlining and the shift to automated, model-driven 4D planning
The role of cladding in navigating fire safety in modern building design
Simon Buckmaster explores how Gateway 2 bottlenecks and evolving Building Safety Act requirements are reshaping external wall specification
Building communities: why the Neave Brown Award matters
Mellis Haward considers what it means to design homes that foster connection and community life
Building communities: why the Neave Brown Award matters
Mellis Haward considers what it means to design homes that foster connection and community life
Regeneration of overlooked communities alongside new towns will be vital if UK is to hit homebuilding target
Only by adopting an ambitious, long-term mindset and working in partnership will we manage to build those 1.5 million homes, writes Sir Michael Lyons, chair of the New Towns Taskforce
Insights from tomorrow’s architects: towards zero-waste design
In the final article of this current series by recent Bartlett Part 3 candidates exploring the future of architecture, Robert Serman considers how circular design and material reuse could help create a zero-waste built environment
Inside the party conferences: why architects need to be in the room where housing policy is made
Félicie Krikler examines why architects and built environment professionals must make their voices heard in policymaking circles
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw: beyond the buildings and accolades
Mark Middleton pays tribute to Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, remembering a leader and mentor whose clarity, curiosity and belief in others defined his approach to architecture and practice
There is no need to panic about new fire door regulations
Jim White explains what the change means for specifiers, why BS-certified doors remain valid, and how proactive collaboration with suppliers will smooth the transition
From AI to retrofit: how RIBA’s Future Business of Architecture programme is helping practices navigate change
As economic uncertainty tests the industry, Helen Castle, director of publishing and content at the RIBA, explains why practices mustn’t let up on their longer-term business thinking
The architecture of dignity: why the disappearance of public toilets is more than an inconvenience
Eddie Blake considers how the loss of public toilets has left cities less inclusive, raising issues of access, safety and civic pride
Think local: why Scotland’s climate should shape its architecture
Scotland already meets much of its energy needs from renewables – now, says Rab Bennetts, its buildings must reflect the realities of its climate, with a focus on mass retrofit and upgrading the housing it already has
Break down the silos – young people won’t see the range of careers our sector offers unless we show them
If we want young people to join our industry, we must show them an industry worth joining, says Ashley Wheaton, vice chancellor at the University of the Built Environment
Rethinking urban lighting design
Gary Thornton explores how current standards and approaches to urban lighting are falling short and argues for a more human-centred, restorative approach to illumination in the public realm
Why the humble window is at the centre of construction’s next challenge
Andrew Mellor considers the technical, social and environmental pressures driving the next stage in window design
Is the title of ‘architect’ still fit for purpose?
From fee erosion to the rise of AI, Satish Jassal argues that the pressures reshaping practice demand a rethink of what it means to be an architect
The circular logic still distorting housing targets
Looking back at research from the 1990s and comparing it with today’s data, David Rudlin explores the persistent failure of site allocations to deliver housing
Stop faulting the Stirling Prize for regional disparities and start questioning where Britain invests
Critics say the Stirling Prize ignores architecture beyond the South East, but as Eleanor Jolliffe points out, the shortlist reflects where the money is
Nicholas Grimshaw and the optimism of British high tech
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, who has died aged 85, helped shape British high tech with buildings that embodied structural clarity, adaptability and a spirit of optimism
Raising the bar: How the government’s green paper will transform timber specification
Andrew Orriss explains how the UK government’s 2025 Construction Products Reform Green Paper will reshape timber specification – from risk-based regulation and strengthened certification to digital product data and sustainability reporting
How Britain squandered its nuclear lead, surrendered energy security and betrayed the environment
Jason Boyle argues that Britain’s 35-year halt in nuclear construction was a catastrophic, self-inflicted blow to the nation’s climate, economy and energy security
Marketing your architecture practice: why it matters and how to do it well
Stephen O’Reilly sets out what effective marketing really looks like
What’s stopping us from designing the most sustainable building?
For structural engineer Anna Beckett, the challenge of sustainable building lies not just in materials and construction methods, but in questioning the assumptions we start with
Vacant to valuable: unlocking stranded assets for much-needed homes
Miranda MacLaren highlights how architects are uniquely positioned to work with councils and private developers to reimagine stranded assets as places to live
More striking for what is missing: the Stirling shortlist 2025
Ben Flatman, BD’s architectural editor, reviews a Stirling shortlist of solid projects, but considers it one that lacks excitement and has some glaring omissions
Things fall apart; the centre cannot build
Austin Williams explores the gap between official optimism and the everyday experience of citizens navigating crumbling services and a deepening housing crisis
Architecture in Scotland: micro-businesses, major challenges
Rab Bennetts begins his new column for BD with a look at Scotland’s architectural landscape, shaped by small practices, challenging procurement and a tough economic climate
