More Comment – Page 6
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Opinion
Retrofit’s role in the heritage sector
Historic England’s chair Lord Mendoza’s comments on the role the heritage sector has to play in addressing housing and environmental needs have placed a renewed focus on retrofit’s role in reducing the sector’s carbon emissions. Emma Wells believes that this is a step in the right direction
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Opinion
Why I’m objecting to the Sellar development at Liverpool Street Station
The developer has failed to learn the lessons from the successful London Bridge redevelopment and risks destroying a precious piece of the City’s heritage, writes Ben Derbyshire
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Opinion
While Sheffield embraces its rich heritage, Birmingham once more shoots itself in the foot
Reuse of once unfashionable modernist buildings is increasingly favoured by developers, but one British city persists in demolition and rebuild, writes Joe Holyoak
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Opinion
We’re seeing a return to a more balanced jobs market
Many sectors are growing and job seekers have plenty of opportunity to explore their career options, writes Jimmy Bent
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Opinion
Engineering the future: Why we need a better way to measure carbon emissions today versus carbon in the future
Demolition and rebuild is often justified through predictions of carbon savings in the future, but such calculations are often misleading, writes Liam Bryant
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Opinion
Turning housebuilders into town-builders: why we need streets for humans instead of roads for fast cars
Our approach to designing new housing remains wedded to outdated attitudes to cars and roads, writes David Milner
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Opinion
When specifying drainage components for balconies, non-combustible should be non-negotiable
With outdoor space at a premium, residential balconies are an important amenity. Kevin Wallis, head of sales at Marley Alutec, outlines the key pieces of legislation regarding fire safety for balconies and the implications for rainwater drainage
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Opinion
It’s probably going to take a year for industry to get familiar with the new Building Safety Act regime
Industry has been working hard to get up to speed with the new regulations, but there’s still much to learn, writes Andrew Mellor
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Opinion
Why we need to learn to love the two storey building again
Architect Dorian Moore shares lessons from Detroit on how low-rise buildings have a vital role to play in helping Midwest cities adapt and survive
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Opinion
Co-living is an important tool in addressing the housing crisis
The current interest in co-living reflects a welcome shift towards high-quality provision of housing for an underserved demographic, writes Craig Sheach
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Opinion
My meeting with Álvaro Siza
In early September 2023, Graeme Nicholls travelled to the northern Portuguese city of Porto, where he was honoured to have the opportunity to meet the internationally renowned Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza
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Opinion
Mæ’s winning project revives medieval tradition of treating older people with the dignity they deserve
This Stirling Prize winner places a much-needed focus on how we house and support people later in their lives
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Opinion
Change requires designers to stick their necks out and propose what a better future might be
Having put out a call for an alternative to the term ‘master plan’ David Rudlin reviews some of the many suggestions
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Opinion
Why ARB’s education reforms don’t ‘abolish’ Parts 1, 2 and 3
ARB’s reforms invite new routes to registration, but don’t mean the end of the tripartite system for those who still wish to pursue it, writes Hugh Simpson
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Opinion
Starmer’s speech was a reminder that we need to overcome barriers to opportunity, as well as to building
The Labour leader’s speech provided a timely reminder of the complex challenges Britain faces, as well as the hope that they can be overcome, writes Chris Williamson
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Opinion
What’s stopping us from reusing concrete?
Concrete presents challenges when it comes to reuse but this should not stop us trying, writes Anna Beckett
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Opinion
Sunak’s speech revealed the Tories are bereft of ideas, but what does Labour have to offer?
All eyes will be on Labour during the coming week, but there is little so far to get architects and built environment professionals excited, writes Ben Flatman
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Opinion
Why we need a new culture of collaborative city planning
To build an optimistic and robust vision for the future, cities need to mobilise the energy and enthusiasm of all their citizens, writes Dav Bansal
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Opinion
In praise of contractors
Contractors deserve the respect and admiration of architects, writes Matthew Lloyd
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Opinion
HS2: should it stay or should it go?
As well as squandering huge investment made to date, proposed government cuts to the project also miss the national economic benefits of connecting our major cities, writes Glenn Howells