What makes a ‘wow’ kitchen?

Graham Hopper, UK sales director of Leicht introduces current trends in kitchen design All homes have a heart and almost always the kitchen is that heart. Designing an exceptional kitchen that will sell the home takes time, skill and attention... View Article

Protect yourself and your employees on-site

Gary Trotter, general manager at security solutions company Hadrian Technology, offers advice on how housebuilders and developers can cut back on annual losses caused by fraud, abuse, misconduct, vandalism, theft and waste on-site. CCTV systems can be used to help... View Article

Barking’s new model housing

The UK’s first wholly private-financed council housing scheme, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, has been designed to exploit the latest off-site manufacturing techniques. Stephen Cousins reports With cash-strapped councils across the UK struggling to deliver enough social... View Article

Just the spot

Designing outstanding hotels for difficult to develop locations pays off, writes Ray Philpott­­ Two impressive, high-end hotels have been created in interesting but rather challenging sites in the heart of London. On the South Bank and boasting breathtaking views over... View Article

Maximising daylight in design

It is clear that there is an opportunity for architects and specifiers to make much better use of daylight in buildings throughout the design process. Indeed daylight should play as central a role in the design as technical installations. However,... View Article

Specifying canopies, shelters and walkways

Vicky Evans, sales director of Twinfix Limited demonstrates that there are many things to consider when specifying a glazed canopy or walkway. Where is it going to be used? What is its purpose? Do you have a particular design in... View Article

Working with water

Glyn Hyett, managing director of 3P Technik UK Ltd and director and founding member of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association, addresses the issues surrounding the implementation of rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage systems Water design stakeholders There are a number... View Article

Standing the test of time

Richard Brown, category marketing manager at Wienerberger, explains how the versatility of clay combined with its inherent properties makes it an extremely viable and attractive choice for self-builders. Most know of the inherent solidity and security associated with the material,... View Article

From manor house to floating home of the future

Selfbuilder & Homemaker meets Tony and Nicky Maude who swapped their listed manor house for an ultra modern home that’s the model of minimal living. Tony and Nicky Maude lived in a listed manor house but dreamed of building a... View Article

Now is the time to create a stunning home

The first Western Home Show is on at the Three Counties Showground from 12 – 14 September and right now is a great time to enhance, renovate, extend or even build your own home. With the property market and the... View Article

Lighting for a digital age

As LED lighting increasingly becomes the solution of choice, it’s important to understand how it works and what makes the difference between good LED lighting systems and disappointing ones. Duncan Chamberlain, director of Philips Lighting explains. Switching on a light... View Article

Green lime mortars show their true colours

Roger Shroff, sales and technical executive of Lime Technology Limited, explains the benefits to using increasingly popular lime mortar, both internally and externally. One of the joys of embarking on the journey of becoming a self-builder has to be the... View Article

Build tight, ventilate right

Graham Copson, technical manager at Klober, explains why it’s worth spending time getting the balance between ventilation and airtightness right. The phrase ‘build tight, ventilate right’ has become synonymous with the construction of low energy buildings, yet awareness of how... View Article

The A-Z of stairs

To help self-builders understand the dos and don’ts when planning and designing the perfect staircase, the BWF Stair Scheme has produced a helpful A to Z guide of everything you need to know about stairs. A is for… Accidents. Stairs... View Article

One final hurdle for Belfast landmark stadium

Steve Menary reports on plans for Northern Ireland’s newest venue, the Ulster GAA Stadium, designed by Populous. With the troubles now hopefully consigned to Northern Irish history, a new political consensus has emerged that is aiming to heal wounds scarred... View Article

Something old and something new

The new University of Cumbria is not lacking in character and history – and architects are helping it get the message across, as James Pringle reports. The University of Cumbria may be a newcomer to British higher education, but it... View Article

It’s time to put fabric first

According to Peter Wilcox, technical manager at insulation specialist Recticel, the construction industry has a problem. It’s a problem that affects us all – whether designers, contractors or occupants – new buildings aren’t meeting their designed energy efficiency targets. The... View Article

Using modular balustrade systems in your designs

With modular solutions that increase efficiency and reduce carbon footprint, contemporary balustrade design is at the forefront of modern methods of construction. Jason Hensey, national sales manager at Neaco, explains the benefits of modular systems and the key considerations involved... View Article