More Comment – Page 2
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OpinionUnpacking 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?
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OpinionReimagining 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
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OpinionDesigning 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
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OpinionWhy 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
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OpinionIn 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
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OpinionReinstating 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
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OpinionPlanning 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
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OpinionUnlocking 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
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OpinionWhat’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
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OpinionGateway 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
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OpinionDon’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
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OpinionThe great allocation myth: why so few homes are actually built where we plan them
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
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OpinionEngineering the future: Rethinking systems, reducing carbon
Elisa Sartori explores how low-carbon solutions are often as much about what we leave out as what we choose to specify
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OpinionOne year on from the general election, how much closer are we to delivering 1.5 million new homes?
This month marked a year since Labour won a historic landslide in the general election. Paul Smith assesses how the government has fared against its key housing delivery pledge
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OpinionIt’s time to stop letting bad data undermine good design
Despite significant investment in digital innovation, the industry remains hindered by fragmented, inconsistent data
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OpinionIf architects want to lead the housing debate, they must relearn the vernacular
As part of BD’s Designing Tomorrow’s Housing campaign, James Soane explores how architects can reclaim relevance in the housing debate by rethinking the vernacular as a regenerative and ethical form of practice
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OpinionARB’s new code of conduct treats architects like professionals
Eleanor Jolliffe on how the streamlined 2025 code of conduct signals a more grown-up relationship between architects and their regulator
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OpinionHow architects can help shape the next era of housing
The housing crisis is not just about how few homes we build but how little ambition we have for those we do build. Ben Flatman argues it is time to put quality at the centre of the housing debate and for architects to reframe their role within it
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OpinionCopper’s role in designing resilient and sustainable water infrastructure
The UK’s water infrastructure is at a critical juncture, with the need for substantial investment and reform becoming ever more pressing. The country faces increasing risks from outdated systems, where ageing pipes and materials such as lead and plastic can lead to contamination and water leaks.
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OpinionSmarter campuses: why university masterplanning is shifting from growth to efficiency
With student numbers in flux and budgets under pressure, Hien Nguyen explains why universities are turning away from expansion and towards smarter, more efficient estate planning