Building Insights

In this audible article, Giles Fallan of BuildSafe shares how the right selfbuild insurance can help give you confidence to make your dream home a reality.

In this audible article, James Parker speaks with Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association, to discuss how the construction industry is tackling the obstacles behind the Government’s roadmap for increasing the use of timber. 

In this audible article, Kathryn Firth of Arup reveals a groundbreaking residential development in Lewes, East Sussex. The scheme aims to transform the challenges of climate change and sustainability into opportunities for innovative design and community-focused placemaking, including shared amenities and affordable housing.

In an insightful Audible article, Scott Wolters of EGGER UK offers a concise guide for self-builders navigating the diverse landscape of structural timber flooring options. Wolters breaks down the various choices available, highlighting their unique benefits and applications. This overview serves as a valuable resource, simplifying the decision-making process for self-builders and ensuring they select the most suitable timber flooring solutions for their projects.

In a compelling Audible article, we narrate Gillian Burgis Smith's inspiring journey to becoming an architect, triumphing over outdated industry biases and significant health challenges. She explains how she broke through the male-dominated architecture field with persistence and resilience, transforming personal health obstacles into a source of empathy and innovation. By leveraging her experiences, she has championed the creation of inclusive environments, advocating for and designing spaces that accommodate diverse needs, thereby making a lasting impact on the field and paving the way for future architects.

This episode of Builders Voices (in collaboration with the Federation of Master Builders) is a revealing conversation with housebuilder Stephen Rankin, awarded the 2023 Master Builder of the Year by the FMB.

Stephen and firm he founded Vantage & Co have a string of great projects which demonstrate an unusual level of attention to detail, including a renovation of one of the few remaining Georgian villas in central Birmingham. He has however been vocal about some of the intractable problems in the industry, from severe planning headaches to how skills gaps can be filled.

A former joiner, Stephen looks at issues caused by underfunded planning departments, and how simple availability problems lead to negative outcomes for all. He clearly outlines some ideas for improving things which the new Government needs to consider if it really wants to ‘get Britain building.’

This episode of Building Insights is the second in association with Sapphire Balconies; James Parker, editor of ADF speaks to Nick Haughton, Head of ESG at Sapphire Balconies to discuss the key topic of ‘Streamlining Construction and Competency.’ Nick looks at why competency has become the current industry buzzword for the new more robust specification framework post-Building Safety Act, and how technology is helping to end the performance gap and produce safer buildings.

James Parker speaks to architect Trevor Morriss, who designed his first building at 17, and founded his own practice, SPPARC in 2007. He reveals his enthusiasm for conserving London’s heritage architecture as shown in various masterplans, how involving the community can pay dividends for designs and designers, and the important of curiosity and investigation.

In this episode of Building Insights, in association with Sapphire Balconies, James Parker speaks to Nick Haughton, head of ESG at the company, on the crucial topic of elevating the fire safety of facades, post-Building Safety Act, how it might support a new look at laminated glass balustrades, and how the firm is going ‘beyond compliance’ in its projects.

This episode collects some of the highlights of our recent industry round table, 'Exploring Solutions for Residential Deep Retrofit', held at London’s Building Centre on 22 May 2024, and sponsored by WMS Underfloor Heating and Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK. A cross-disciplinary panel including renowned retrofit experts delivered practical insights and knowledge on enabling retrofit at scale of the UK’s 27 million existing homes, including learnings for the incoming Government.