In April, Apple unveiled its newest state-of-the-art store in the Middle East – Apple Dubai Store. Intended as a communal space where visitors come to shop as well as learn and connect with others, the unenclosed building offers a sense of openness with a nod towards the trend of blurring the lines between inside and outside spaces.

Channel 4’s ongoing programme, Cabins in the Wild with Dick Strawbridge, sees eight designers, architects and amateur builders go head-to-head in a cabin-building competition. Judged in Wales’ picturesque Snowdonia, the entrants were briefed to design a cabin that exuded traditional Welsh elements and Carwyn Lloyd Jones’ Dragon’s Eye design is one concept that met the brief seamlessly.

GPT Waste has recently launched its latest White Paper for the construction sector. The White Paper, ‘Cost savings for the construction industry, delivered through targeting the volume of waste produced’, seeks to educate the expanding construction sector of the savings that are available through improved waste management.

There are many aspects to consider when designing a building – from the structural system and performance to the aesthetics and sustainability. Clearly the build cost plays a crucial part in the decision-making process – but does the lowest cost option really offer the best value?

Last month, Rockfon assembled some of the top names in acoustics to discuss the prevailing audible topics influencing today’s architecture. Here, FC&A reports on the findings from the stimulating roundtable held at South Shields’ impressive state-of-the-art cultural venue, The Word. Guided through the FaulknerBrowns-designed building by Project Director Nick Heyward, it was instantaneously evident that; to recognise an acoustically-sound environment, you have to physically experience the environmental change.

Maggie’s Oldham, the world’s first building made from hardwood cross-laminated timber (CLT), has opened in the UK. Designed by dRMM Architects and supported by the American Hardwood Export Council, this is a pivotal moment for modern architecture and construction.

Designed and created by Danish architecture firm 3XN, the Royal Arena project in the historic city of Copenhagen opened earlier this year and has since been awarded the ‘Jury Winner’ in the Sport and Recreation category at this year’s Architizer A+.

Style has helped transform the London offices of worldwide financial derivatives trading company, IG Group, by designing and installing numerous wall panels that slide and spin across an open space to create informal, collaborative meeting spaces for groups of anything from two to twenty people. Further increasing functionality, both sides of the panels act as magnetic writeable white-boards which can be swivelled round to share ideas with other groups, effectively bringing them into the discussion.

Forbo Flooring Systems has refreshed its popular Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) collection, Allura, in response to the growing trend for combining shapes, sizes and colours to create contemporary floor spaces. By playing with scale, direction and combinations across the range, the manufacturer has introduced new tile shapes and sizes that are ideal for use across the hotel, leisure and retail sectors.

ROCKWOOL has developed a new CPD for architects entitled ‘Acoustic Standards in Schools’. The CPD aims to explain the science behind acoustics, the latest building regulations, best practice guidance on acoustics and explore the most appropriate sound insulation solutions for education environments.