When the Natural History Museum decided to replace its famous ‘Dippy’ the diplodocus exhibit with a new star exhibit – a real-life skeleton of a blue whale – design and engineering expertise from Lancashire provided a solution to balance all the elements.

As the demand for high-specification office washrooms has increased, so too has the specification of materials which are not traditionally associated with washrooms. While creating a unique design is important, it should not compromise on practicality. Trevor Bowers, Director at washroom designer and manufacturer, Washroom Washroom, explains how, by careful selection of materials and considered bespoke design features, it’s possible to create a washroom that delivers the perfect balance of form and function without compromise.

Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is used as the foundation for concurrent engineering processes to simplify and fully optimise the structure wherever possible, to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs and to quantify improvements. This process helps to identify, calculate and eliminate waste or inefficiency in the building design. Kevin Riley, board member of the Structural Timber Association and Head of Business Line, LVL, for Stora Enso – discusses why DfMA is becoming an increasingly important consideration.

Road and rail tunnels are not often associated with inspirational design but this tunnel portal building in Austria, defined by perforated Nordic Brass copper alloy from Aurubis, heralds a new role in this typology for architects.

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.

Mandy Leeming, Design and Development Manager for Interface EMEA, discusses that by aligning colour psychology with design trends, companies can create flexible and productive environments while giving employees the freedom to choose where and how they work best.

The popular Wetroom Design & Specification CPD from CCL Wetrooms, guides Architects through the process of designing and specifying a watertight wetroom.

It is only six weeks until the first ever Restaurant Design show takes place at ExCeL London on the 27th and 28th September. This free to attend event has a whole host of exciting features that are guaranteed to inspire you.

Polyrey, one of the leaders in the UK laminate sector, has relaunched its website, polyrey.com this month offering a hub for all things design, as the company develops new ways to save its customers time and money. The redesign comes at an exciting time for the company and will support new product releases and educational initiatives this year.

Perfectly capturing the beauty of the natural world, Allura Flex 0.55, the new loose lay Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) collection from Forbo Flooring Systems, takes the trend for nature-inspired interiors to a new level.

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