The mother of invention: metal comes of age

Lee Davies from CA Group discusses what is claimed to be ground-breaking technology that enables metal buildings to compete with brick when it comes to fire protection. Over the past few years, demands on the construction industry have resulted in... View Article

Checking out at the library

The new library at the University of Birmingham is wrapped in cladding that offers an interesting new variation on granite in four different finishes. Brian Newell of Shackerley looks at the aesthetics and function. The University of Birmingham’s landmark Edgbaston... View Article

Stairways to design efficiency

Phil Waind of Waind Gohil + Potter Architects describes how the firm has developed a ‘design for manufacture’ approach to optimise the creation of staircases as a key element of buildings for users. Waind Gohil + Potter Architects believes it’s... View Article

Natural routes to restoration

Two case studies in Wales and central London have recently seen the use of natural slate roofing to provide the right result for their respective renovation needs. Two prestigious heritage projects have recently benefitted from major refurbishments employing natural slate... View Article

Tackling staircase challenges

Nick Bligh of JELD-WEN discusses how involving manufacturers at the early planning stages of a project can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth delivery of a structurally sound staircase. Stairs can be viewed as a complicated element of... View Article

The rise and rise of CLT buildings

Dr Keerthi Ranasinghe discusses how cross-laminated timber is helping architects go to new lengths Architects’ desire to create sustainable structures has pushed technological innovations beyond the imaginable. Cross-laminated timber, or CLT for short, has been drawing a lot of attention... View Article

European Standard for concrete structures is revised

BSI, the business standards company, has revised BS EN 206 Concrete – Specification, performance, production and conformity. The European Standard applies to concrete for structures cast in situ, precast structures, and structural precast products for buildings and civil engineering structures.... View Article

Calling for a shift in focus

Frank Werling of Finnish wood specialists Metsä Wood says the green agenda in construction must shift towards sustainable production of building materials – and timber leads the way as an alternative to steel and concrete. A brief history of timber... View Article

Why a wood first policy stacks up

Greg Cooper of B & K Structures discusses the positive impact which cross laminated timber has made within the built environment. As construction makes up a total of 45 per cent of carbon emissions in the UK, sustainability is an important... View Article

Timber reaches new heights

‘How tall’ is now the question facing those striving to build the tallest timber buildings around the world. Peter Wilson of Timber Design Initiatives explains that as the boundaries of engineered timber technology expand, the use of wood in buildings... View Article

Building-in cost benefits

As construction heads towards decarbonisation, choice of building materials is increasingly crucial. Andrew Carpenter of the Structural Timber Association (STA) outlines why timber provides built-in cost benefits. Cost is one of the main considerations for architects and specifiers when choosing a... View Article

Travelling light – Travel Centre, Lahti, Finland

Bus and rail shelters are rarely seen as works of art but the copper-clad shelter for a new road-rail intersection in Lahti, Finland, is something of a metal masterpiece. Michael Willoughby reports from the Land of the Midnight Sun. What... View Article