More Comment – Page 5
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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
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OpinionInsights from tomorrow’s architects: The circular economy and grey space
Hadley Clarke argues that architects must explore the overlooked role of ‘grey space’ – the industrial and infrastructural environments that underpin urban life – and calls for a design culture focused on adaptation, reuse and long-term resilience
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OpinionHeritage and a ‘sense of place’: reconnecting architecture with memory
Drawing on personal experience and historical insight, Regine Kandan argues that heritage is key to creating places that resonate
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OpinionCat A waste – ‘can we fix it, yes we can’
The commercial office sector continues to churn out unnecessary waste through outdated Cat A fit-out practices. John McRae reports on efforts to fix the system from within
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OpinionLevel 7 apprenticeships are making architecture more inclusive – why cut their funding?
As funding for over-21s on Level 7 architectural apprenticeships faces the axe, a practice director, an associate and a recent graduate explain why the route matters – and what its loss would mean for the future of the profession
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OpinionA quiet revolution in light: Balancing innovation and integrity at the National Gallery
Light as a curatorial partner, not just a utility: in the National Gallery’s NG200 redisplay, Studio ZNA reimagines how visitors experience art through subtle, responsive lighting. Zelina Hughes explores how the scheme blends innovation with empathy, respecting both the architecture and the artworks
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OpinionWill the new Future Homes Standard spell the end for traditional sash windows?
As the government prepares to publish the Future Homes Standard, Martina Pacifici explores the potential impact on traditional architecture — and why the humble sash window could soon be under threat
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OpinionWhat if buildings made us feel better? Rethinking design through the lens of health
Tye Farrow makes the case for how a salutogenic approach to design can support neurological health, emotional well-being and human performance
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OpinionDesigning through the storm: Rethinking sustainable construction in an age of crisis
Mitakshi Sirsi reflects on the fragility exposed by recent global events and outlines five strategies for embedding long-term value and ecological responsibility in built environment practice