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How cities are redefining the meaning of Olympic legacy
As Olympic venues evolve from fleeting showcases to lasting urban assets, how we design for these huge international events reveals profound societal shifts, writes Eleanor Jolliffe
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Historic England’s decarbonisation advice is a missed opportunity to fully embrace the climate crisis
The heritage advisor’s new guidance on how to retrofit historic buildings without harming them includes some welcome details but leaves too much to interpretation, writes climate and heritage specialist Chris Procter
Why we should be transforming struggling shopping centres into sustainable urban hubs
Could large shopping centres become dynamic, vibrant, mixed-use, live-work communities in the future? What are the factors that could drive this transformation, and why might it be desirable, asks Matt Bowker
Historic buildings are never in stasis. Why would it be any different for landscapes?
We need to approach landscape conservation with the same nuance and care that we show to buildings, write Patrick James and Dorian Proudfoot
Are we asking the right questions about profit?
Paul Vick on why we need to rethink the meaning of profitability and value to better reflect the real challenges of the environmental crisis
Will Labour backbenchers turn out to be YIMBYs or NIMBYs?
The election result means many traditionally anti-development constituencies now have Labour MPs with small majorities. Will they oppose Starmer’s green belt plans? And if so will he stand up to them, asks Paul Smith.
‘Green’ places are not always the most sustainable. Can Labour square the circle on green space and urban density?
Labour’s pledge to release green belt for new housing raises important questions about the balance between density and sustainability, writes Joe Holyoak
From Miesian cool to urban discord: Why the new 1 Undershaft scheme misses the mark
As developers push for more floorspace at 1 Undershaft, the historic St Andrew Undershaft church and St Helen’s Piazza face significant disruption, writes Ben Derbyshire
Howard Bernstein: The visionary who saved Manchester
David Rudlin celebrates Howard Bernstein’s strategic foresight and the transformative projects that underscore the enduring impact of his civic leadership
What’s stopping us from losing our skills?
Has the centrality of two-dimensional representation in the built envirionment professions had its day, asks Anna Beckett
What’s stopping us from losing our skills?
Has the centrality of two-dimensional representation in the built envirionment professions had its day, asks Anna Beckett
What makes a successful new town?
Samuel Hughes explores the key elements of successful new towns through history and how these lessons might inform the new government’s housing strategy
Above and beyond: The sea change in construction runs deeper than regulation
As we await the report from phase two of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Ryan Ferguson reflects on how much the industry has learned since the tragedy
Swimming in the Seine: ‘What a wonderful, romantic ambition’
The Paris Olympics has had to tackle political, environmental, and urban planning challenges, writes Sophie Thompson
Why I’m backing Funmbi Adeagbo for RIBA president
With just hours left for members to cast their votes, Annette Fisher explains why she believes Funmbi Adeagbo is best qualified to lead the institute
The next government must address the green skills shortage for a greener economy and more sustainable built environment
The Landscape Institute is calling for a pragmatic and integrated skills policy to grow the economy and tackle emergencies in climate, nature, health and housing, writes Ian Phillips
Techno Deco: AI and the revival of ornamentation in architecture
AI and digital fabrication are revolutionising architecture, blending tradition with innovation
Grenfell’s aftermath: How fire safety diverges between the US and UK
To a New Yorker, the idea that the UK would even need to discuss the merits of a high-rise having two exit stairs would be ludicrous, writes Chris Fogarty
Are you like a rabbit caught in the headlights when it comes to the design of low carbon buildings?
Duncan Baker-Brown on how to embrace sustainable practices, reduce material consumption, and help drive the transition to a circular economy
Carlos Moreno’s 15-Minute City: Visionary urbanism or just recycled ideas?
Carlos Moreno champions the 15-Minute City as a revolutionary approach to urban living, but is it truly innovative or simply a repackaging of familiar ideas, asks David Rudlin
How suburban intensification could hold the key to delivering Labour’s 1.5m homes target
Labour’s new towns plan won’t deliver the homes we need anytime soon. To boost sustainable housing sooner, we should look to our suburbs, writes Russell Curtis
A fully engaged membership could make RIBA a true force for good
If you believe in collective action for the profession, then make sure you vote in the RIBA presidential election, writes Eleanor Jolliffe
How the new Approved Document T addresses the contentious issue of single-sex toilets
New regulations mandate single-sex toilet provisions in workplaces and public buildings, writes Andrew Mellor
Can Labour finally deliver good homes for all in beautiful, walkable places?
Labour’s New Towns vision needs to overcome past failures by addressing the complex challenges of land assembly, funding, and sustainable development to create integrated, low-carbon communities
If the RIBA is going to survive its existential crisis, we need Chris Williamson as the next president
Stephen Drew on why he believes Chris Williamson is best placed to help the RIBA keep pace with a rapidly changing professional landscape
Julia Barfield: Why I’m backing Duncan Baker-Brown for RIBA president
Julia Barfield argues that Duncan Baker-Brown is best placed to provide the leadership needed to shift from sustainable design to circular and regenerative models of practice
Biodiversity net gain: A crucial but complex step towards nature recovery
The final part of the government’s biodiversity net gain legislation came into force earlier this year. Martin Jones, looks at what this means for developers and designers
What’s stopping us from reducing carbon on every project?
As global warming surpasses 1.5ºC, Anna Beckett looks at how sustainable design can still make a difference, even on the margins
What we need from the next government
As the election looms, Jack Pringle reflects on how, as a nation, we find ourselves with a lot to do and little money to do it with – not least in terms of housing, planning and sustainability
To shift from a NIMBY to YIMBY spirit, we need to stop framing development as a battleground
Achieving the UK’s housing and net zero goals demands inclusive community engagement and innovative, cooperative planning, not divisive rhetoric, writes Ed Houghton
London’s underutilised spaces show us what true sustainability is (hint: it’s not a certification)
Adam Strudwick on why we need a radical rethink in how we conceptualise sustainability
Cambridge North and the challenge of retaining a sense of the ‘local’ in a globalising world
The rise of a homogenising corporate urbanism is creating places that increasingly look the same, writes Hien Nguyen
How the architect’s social benefit toolkit can deliver real impact for charities
Architects possess unique skills that can help charities unlock social and commercial value through innovative design, strategic planning, and effective use of resources, writes Jonathan Mitchell
Birmingham’s vision for its future is already looking out of date
The city’s fixation on demolition and failure to embrace retrofit risks repeating the failed planning policies of the past, writes Joe Holyoak
