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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
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More Opinion
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
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
Unlocking MMC housing: why digital transformation and industry standardisation are essential
Anne Daw and Katie Rudin make the case for how digitisation, through the new Digital Kit of Parts, can unlock the potential of MMC
Rural America offers a warning on planning that Britain should heed
Chris Fogarty argues that Britain’s planning system, however frustrating, has helped prevent the rural decline visible across much of the United States
Why building a culture of viability is key to safeguarding quality in major housing programmes
Alison Coutinho argues that by prioritising viability from the outset, housing schemes can avoid delays and achieve better outcomes
Finding glory in the everyday process of architecture
From site meetings to snagging lists, Eleanor Jolliffe explores how the ordinary grind of construction can still reveal moments of beauty
Heritage and post-conflict reconstruction in Mosul
Drawing on her years of experience in Iraq, Tanvir Hasan considers how Mosul’s recovery depends not only on iconic heritage sites but also on sustaining the living culture of the city
The rise of single-family housing: Why BTR’s future is suburban
Emily Newton explores how Single Family Housing is reshaping Build to Rent, with new investment, suburban intensification and the chance for better placemaking
How we live: reconnecting architecture with sociological thinking
Félicie Krikler calls for housing design to catch up with the realities of modern life
The Housing Forum CEO role is a chance to shape the future of housing
As it seeks a new boss, the Housing Forum is well-placed to become a powerful voice for change, writes Ben Derbyshire
Unpacking the Building Safety Regulator reforms that aim to unlock high-rise delays
What operational changes are being made to help the Building Safety Regulator tackle the excessive gateway approval waits on high-rise residential schemes?
Reimagining architecture: a movement for structural change
Sabrina Klor steps into her role as chair of Women in Architecture UK with a mission to rebuild the profession on more inclusive foundations
Designing tomorrow’s housing: why lived experience must shape our drive for new homes
On the day QOLF Consulting publishes its new report on the importance of post-occupancy evaluations in shaping design and placemaking, Emma Cooke sets out what residents say really matters — and why it should guide the homes of the future
Why cutting corners in specification is costing you more
Cris Francis warns that swapping specified products for cheaper alternatives can jeopardize safety, compliance and long-term value
In the face of increasingly extreme weather, developers, design engineers, architects and policymakers must take the lead
The recent heatwave presents yet more evidence that we face a challenge – and a huge opportunity – to construct buildings that are thermally comfortable, energy-efficient and wellness-led, says Abhishek Parmar
Reinstating Level 7 apprenticeship funding is essential for architecture’s future
Tracy Meller argues that the government’s plan to withdraw funding for Level 7 apprenticeships will dismantle a pathway that works
Planning for both people and nature is not a contradiction
As new legislation threatens to weaken habitat protections, Sophie Thompson asks what it would take to plan with respect for both people and the natural world
Unlocking housing delivery: can we build better, faster, and fairer?
Hien Nguyen outlines the delivery barriers that must be tackled if the UK is to meet its housing ambitions without sacrificing quality
What’s stopping us from designing for deconstruction?
In a throwaway culture, Anna Beckett argues that architects must take greater responsibility for how buildings are eventually dismantled and their materials reused
Gateway 3 raises the stakes for project teams under the Building Safety Act
With gateway 2 in the rearview mirror for an increasing number of projects, it is essential to shift focus to gateway 3 and the challenges that this poses to clients, design teams and contractors alike
Don’t defund thinking: why architectural education needs space to question, not just produce ‘practice ready’ graduates
As pressure mounts to streamline architectural education, Emily Crompton and Sam Higgins argue that universities remain essential spaces for reflection, critique and experimentation – and should not be reduced to training centres for industry
