All Buildings, design and specification articles
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FeaturesCan architecture help the built environment understand its purpose?
The built environment is being pulled in many different directions. Earlier this year the government proposed a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as part of its ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over the next several years. The goal of this bill was to streamline the country’s complex planning ...
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OpinionDesigners should welcome proposed construction products reform
With projects stalling due to insufficient product testing data, Andrew Mellor sets out how government reforms seek to strengthen regulation and support designers through clearer technical information
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NewsNew pre-assembled heat pump unit claims £2,000 installation savings
Hewer, a sustainable heating solutions provider, has launched Heat Saviour, a pre-assembled unit designed to simplify the installation and maintenance of heat pump systems. According to the company, the technology could save up to £2,000 per installation by reducing the need to overhaul existing heating systems.
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OpinionIt’s time to see more recycled products in the fabric of our buildings
Nobody needs to be told the planet is in trouble and unfortunately the construction industry is a major contributor to both carbon emissions and waste. Our default approach of using virgin materials over recycled options is a key driver in global warming. As such, we are exhausting our planet’s resources ...
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NewsSerpentine Pavilion 2025 revealed ahead of public opening this Friday
Marina Tabassum’s design inspired by arched garden canopies
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NewsTwo-thirds of material and waste data unusable, report warns
A new report from construction data platform Qflow has found that 91% of construction material delivery and waste removal records fail to meet quality standards, with only 34% accurate enough to support embodied carbon calculations. Based on six years of analysis covering over 1 million deliveries and removals, the study ...
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NewsAllies & Morrison submits first phase of £1.7bn Manchester office district
Two blocks of 12 and 20 storeys sent to planners
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Information - BDCPD 06 2025: How glass mineral wool insulation supports net zero building design
The built environment is facing a defining challenge. As of 2021, buildings and construction activities accounted for approximately 42% of annual global CO₂ emissions, underscoring the industry’s significant share of the climate crisis. In the UK alone, construction processes were responsible for over 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions ...
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Information - BDMastering the detail: Episode 3
Attention manufacturers: What does it take to become a preferred supplier for leading architects? Episode 3 of our essential webinar series gives you the inside track. Hear directly from Etain Fitzpatrick and Andy Thomas at John Robertson Architects (JRA). They will reveal what architects prioritise when specifying products and partners ...
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NewsManalo & White’s Bangor theatre wins 2025 RSAW Building of the Year
Source: Morgan ODonovan Nyth by Manalo & White
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FeaturesVelux repurposes timber warehouse into low-carbon innovation hub
A 30-year-old timber warehouse in Østbirk, Denmark, has been converted into Velux Group’s new innovation centre, now known as LKR Innovation House. The facility, which reuses over half of its original materials, will host around 500 employees working on product development, including roof windows and accessories.
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NewsPAS 24 update introduces stricter security testing for windows and doors
The PAS 24 standard, which defines enhanced security performance criteria for windows and doorsets, has been updated to reflect modern burglary techniques. The latest revision, PAS 24:2022+A1:2024, includes a new test method designed to evaluate resistance to current attack strategies, with a specific focus on lock cylinder vulnerabilities.
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NewsRepairing the urban fabric: Chris Dyson Architects restores Shoreditch weavers’ houses
Grade II-listed 18th-century property to be removed from Heritage at Risk register following extensive structural repair and conservation works
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NewsMoxon Architects completes composite timber bridge in Germany
Source: Simon Kennedy Design aims to demonstrate sustainable bridge-building methods using timber and concrete
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NewsModular Scottish holiday home showcases Querkus veneer in low-carbon timber interior
A new modular holiday home in northern Scotland has used Decospan’s Querkus veneer extensively across its interiors, in what is believed to be the largest residential specification of the product in the UK to date. Taigh na Coille, designed by Edinburgh-based WT Architecture, is located in the remote landscape of ...
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Building StudyBennetts’ timber and straw robotics lab pilots new net zero carbon building standard
A small research building at Manchester Metropolitan University, constructed using low-carbon materials, is among the first to be assessed against the new NZCBS. Thomas Lane reports
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Information - BDCPD 05 2025: Enhancing thermal performance
Despite decades of innovation in building materials, energy modelling and regulations, one stubborn truth remains: too many buildings still underperform. The design promises one level of energy efficiency – on paper – but the built reality often tells another story. This so-called performance gap is not just a technical oversight; ...
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FeaturesHas the government sold out on construction products regulation?
As the consultation on the government’s proposals to reform construction product regulation draws to a close, Tom Lowe talks to industry experts about what compromises the government might be making
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NewsCouncil signs off Grimshaw’s HS2 Curzon Street design changes after fire fears see timber roof ditched
Maintainence to keep wooden roof casettes fire safe would have been ’too onerous’ for HS2
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NewsAllies and Morrison completes School of Public Health building at White City
Newly completed School of Public Health building is the latest addition to Imperial College London’s White City campus