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Planning at the edges: What awkward urban sites can teach us about better design
Awkward, overlooked and often written off, small urban sites demand a more careful and creative design approach – and they can reveal much about how we plan, consult and build in our cities, writes Satish Jassal
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Trainee architects have been failed for too long, ARB’s report demands better
From exploitative placements to toxic workplaces, architecture has ignored the failings of professional experience for too long. ARB’s independent report marks a long-overdue reckoning, argues Ben Flatman
Heat networks: The low-carbon design solution
The UK’s social housing sector is undergoing a significant transformation as it works to decarbonise its heat and hot water provision. This is about more than just supporting the country’s net-zero 2050 target – energy efficiency is essential to tackling fuel poverty and addressing rising operational costs.
Turning on the housing tap
David Rudlin explores how a tangle of regulations, rising land costs and policy overload could be holding back the housing the country needs
What’s stopping us from better understanding our emissions?
As new figures show building emissions on the rise, Anna Beckett argues that without consistent embodied carbon data, the construction industry is flying blind – and risking failure on climate targets
The crit is stressful – and still essential
As some schools make crits voluntary, Eleanor Jolliffe asks whether kindness in education is coming at the cost of developing key communication skills
Are property events worth the cost? Only if you have a plan and follow through
Oliver Lowrie shares lessons from the frontline of property event season – and why success depends on more than just showing up
How the principles of B Corp help us perform better as a business
As the backlash against ESG and EDI grows – especially in the US – Rachel Bell explains how a values-driven approach is strengthening Stride Treglown’s culture and improving the service it offers clients
Architect of optimism: remembering David Childs and his America
Chris Fogarty reflects on the legacy of his former colleague David Childs, a mentor and ambassador of American architecture
Stations with soul: rethinking transport hubs as urban anchors
Colin Bennie argues that today’s stations should be more than places of transit – they must inspire, connect, and offer permeability that embeds them meaningfully in the life of the city
Stations with soul: rethinking transport hubs as urban anchors
Colin Bennie argues that today’s stations should be more than places of transit – they must inspire, connect, and offer permeability that embeds them meaningfully in the life of the city
Council housing, conversions and the green belt: rethinking London’s future
What should Sadiq Khan’s next spatial development strategy for Greater London consist of? Ben Derbyshire looks at the key issues of debate
A new kind of line in the sand: Southsea’s sea wall that welcomes everyone
Can ‘hold the line’ infrastructure bring people together? You bet it can, says LDA Design director Sophie Thompson
Exempt from the chaos? What Trump’s tariff carve-out means for architects working in UK life sciences
Michael Walters sets out how the Trump administration’s apparent tariff exemption for pharmaceuticals could offer a unique opportunity for the life sciences sector
Why ESG and EDI must stay in architecture’s vocabulary
Rob Bearyman argues that equality, sustainability and inclusion remain central to how we design
Hiring in the age of AI: proceed with caution
Jimmy Bent explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping recruitment, and why authenticity and human judgement matter more than ever
The 18-metre effect: housing delivery at risk from regulatory gridlock
Félicie Krikler points to a growing move towards mid-rise housing, as developers grapple with the compounded risks of high-rise delivery under the current regulatory regime
AI and advanced materials are shaping sustainable, safe structures
Architects must embrace innovation to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability and safety in building design, argues Elisabeth Montgomerie
The quiet revolution in built environment education and engagement – starting with children
As universities widen participation, Rosie Parnell explores how early engagement is opening new pathways into the built environment professions
Intervention Architecture turns 10: how the community-focused practice is shaping Birmingham’s future
Joe Holyoak examines the practice’s decade-long influence on Birmingham’s urban landscape, highlighting transformative projects like the Smithfield redevelopment and efforts to save Station Street as a cultural destination
Architecture needs hope and innovation – not nostalgia and retreat from social responsibility
David Storring calls for a bold, future-facing architectural agenda – one grounded in resilience, collaboration, and the material realities of the 21st century
Beyond sustainability: what we need now is regenerative design
The industry’s focus has to move from just trying to conserve natural resources to building in a way that actually repairs the planet, Philip Watson at HLM Architects says
The land banking myth housebuilders can’t shake
Despite numerous reviews finding no evidence of housebuilders deliberately withholding land from the market, we are again having to talk about ‘unbuilt’ homes, writes Paul Smith
The Coach: Why age isn’t the issue – it’s the life stage that counts
Louise Rodgers challenges the idea that age defines us at work – pointing instead to the impact of what’s happening in our wider lives
Retrofitting social housing is the real challenge we can’t ignore
Britain’s retrofit push needs strategic vision – Chloe Phelps calls for co-produced mini-masterplans over ad-hoc upgrades
Why architects must confront the changing political landscape
Austin Williams argues that architecture has embraced an ideological rigidity that limits open debate and inhibits engagement with large sections of the public
2,000 young people, one mission: Rethinking access to architecture at the Festival of the Future
Mary Richardson reflects on how last weekend’s Festival of the Future brought over 2,000 young people to RIBA’s 66 Portland Place, aiming to break down barriers to built environment careers
More women are becoming architects – but will they stay?
Eleanor Jolliffe explores shifting gender dynamics in architecture, from changing career paths to the impact of flexible working and maternity provision
Postcard from Cannes: Reflections on Mipim 2025
Félicie Krikler shares her thoughts on the world’s largest gathering of real estate professionals
Are the culture wars distracting us from architecture’s real challenges?
Jay Morton responds to Patrik Schumacher’s recent article condemning what he calls the ‘woke’ takeover of architectural discourse, arguing that the real barriers to innovation lie elsewhere
Insights from tomorrow’s architects: Appreciating women in architecture and driving change
Molly Harper examines the persistent gender inequalities in practice and the barriers that continue to prevent women from securing senior roles
The built environment belongs to everyone – so why are young voices so often excluded?
As the Festival of the Future takes place at Portland Place, Neil Onions challenges the industry to break down barriers and give young people a meaningful voice in architecture and urban design
Norman Foster and the Theatre of Dreams – a perfect match?
Manchester United is betting on Foster to create a world-class stadium – but will ambition and reality align, asks Ben Flatman
A new era for housing? Why co-design is a critical tool for inclusive development
Tom Greenall and Jane Wong introduce a new online co-design resource intended to support more inclusive and meaningful community participation in the development process
