Building Insights

James Parker, managing editor of Architects’ Datafile magazine, presents the highlights from our recent round table sharing knowledge on how to put together a Gateway 2 submission that the Regulator will approve. Sponsored by Leviat, Metsec and Premcrete, the discussion brought together architects, specialist consultants, social housing representatives and suppliers in London to reveal lessons from their experience of submissions for Higher Risk Buildings.

HLM is showing why a regenerative design that goes beyond simply reducing carbon is not only desirable, it’s fully viable. The practice’s head of sustainability Juliana Renn explains how combining rigorous science with early-stage thinking and nature-based approaches brings new levels of environmental and social value. 

Passivhaus is more than just a sustainability best practice certification. It’s also a ready-made system of science-based quality assurance which could be harnessed to solve many of construction’s recent ills. Architect and Passivhaus Trust co-director Ann-Marie Fallon explains to James Parker how she is driving the standard’s wide-ranging potential into the mainstream, and how it costs less than people think.

Appropriately, five years from our first episode (Sarah Lewis, research and policy director at the Passivhaus Trust) we return to the subject of Passivhaus in action for our 100th edition. Dan Levey is a certified Passivhaus housebuilder who has embraced the concept with clients in Hastings and beyond at Serenity Projects. He explains to James Parker how the inherent rigour and attention to detail aligns with his long-held aim to create resilient, comfortable homes that will last over the decades, and why Passivhaus works for retrofit as well as new build. 

Construction polymath Sam Stacey (his CV ranges from key roles at Buro Happold, Wates and Skanska to running the Theresa May Government’s Transforming Construction Challenge) is on a mission to change the sector’s culture. He spoke to James Parker how his experience has led him to reflect on why the 20th century failed to repeat the Victorians’ successes, and how standardisation and digital collaboration could enable a better, and more exciting data-powered construction future.

James Parker presents the highlights of a recent Building Insights LIVE round table, in association with Beauflor, which looked at why flooring had been neglected in the Decent Homes Standard, but how the social housing sector is stepping up to meet the challenge. With a host of key benefits, from comfort to safety, flooring is crucial, but it is often not seen as a priority. Featuring leading housing associations, this round table found out why sustainable vinyl flooring provides the answers.

Audio Quality Notice
Please note that the audio quality in this episode may vary. To maintain a comfortable environment during the heatwave, we kept the air conditioning running throughout the recording. While we've done our best to minimise its impact on the audio, some background noise may still be noticeable. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you enjoy the episode.

In association with Caribbean Blinds, James Parker, editor of Architects Datafile and Housebuilder and Developer, speaks to two solar shading experts in a very timely Ask the Expert podcast, as the UK faces unprecedented heat waves. Zoe De Grussa is head of technical and scientific affairs at the blinds and shutters association BBSA, and Stuart Dantzic is managing director of Caribbean Blinds. They answer key questions on the solutions to a growing overheating crisis in our homes and workplaces, particularly focusing on the lack of regulatory drivers in retrofit.

Passivhaus currently accounts for only around 2% of new build housing in the UK, but is acknowledged as the ultimate route to provide economic as well as climate resilience for homeowners, tenants, and workers. James Parker presents highlights from a recent Building Insights LIVE round table – sponsored by Ubbink, Aeroseal UK and Technal – which delved into how Passivhaus at scale can be delivered cost-effectively across the industry.

Audio Quality Notice
Please note that the audio quality in this episode may vary. To maintain a comfortable environment during the heatwave, we kept the air conditioning running throughout the recording. While we've done our best to minimise its impact on the audio, some background noise may still be noticeable. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you enjoy the episode.

Editor of Housebuilder & Developer, James Parker, reports on the recent Building Insights LIVE round table  on how the housebuilding sector can harness Modern Methods of Construction to achieve build targets and solve skills and performance challenges. Sponsored by Medite Smartply and Ibstock Brick, the event’s highlight recommendations summarise some of the key takeaways for the sector.

Ask the Expert, in association with Burdens – James Parker, managing editor of Housebuilder & Developer speaks to the firm’s Director of Technical Solutions, Mark Gillies, National Sales Director Ken Graham, and Technical Sales Manager Andrew Taylor.

They reveal the firm’s expertise on providing tailored stormwater management solutions for sites, which is becoming more critical as climate change and development leads to more extreme weather events. 

But also, how creating attractive above-ground SuDS could be the silver bullet to help new housing schemes bring biodiversity, and provide sales differentiation for developers.