Two major benefits, surprisingly, have come along in the wake of Coronavirus. These are a greater awareness of the community (the wartime spirit) and greater awareness about keeping healthy, active and interested (both personal and public). The best architects and designers have always realised that these factors are fundamental to the success and appreciation of well-designed public buildings.
The engineered timber industry has been founded on the principles of advancing sustainable building technology. Led by innovators such as B&K Structures, the use of timber technology in UK construction has undergone a renaissance in recent years which has greatly increased the use of ground-breaking products such as cross laminated timber (CLT). Here Managing Director of B&K Structures, Andy Goodwin discusses the proposed building restrictions and the unintended consequences.
With immigration, the economy and trade being at the forefront of the Brexit discussion over the last two years, little noise has been made about the impact this will have on the country’s construction industry, comments Michael Slater, Regional Operational Manager at Western Thermal.
There are many aspects to consider when designing a building – from the building system and sustainability to ongoing performance and costs. With numerous routes to take along the design and construction journey, selecting the core structural solution is one of the most important decisions. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, offers his perspective on how to select the optimum building solution to meet the budget and specific needs of the client.
Andrew Cooper, Lining Sales Manager from Firestone Building Products, discusses the pond refurbishment carried out at Horizon Scotland, a business incubator at Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s flagship Enterprise Park Forres in Moray.
Barangaroo House, a freestanding, three-storey restaurant, has become one of the first projects in Sydney to utilise Accoya wood cladding, a world-leading high-performance, sustainable wood product, and the distinctive Japanese charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban.
Tracey Bamber, Managing Director of Zip Water UK, discusses the role that a drinking water system plays in a commercial building’s sustainability credentials.
Margot Krasojevic has designed a medical cannabis farm for both rural and urban agricultural programmes. In light of Spain recently becoming an advocate for the use and distribution of medical marijuana, this project is part of the initiative to use architecture as a tool for this legal transition, as well as addressing necessarily relevant growth conditions. As with all her work, this project embraces sustainability as part of the environmental growth considerations, using carbon-negative materials, native of the hemp plants surrounding the building.
The Oasia Hotel in the Central Business District, Singapore, is by all means and standards a unique project, redefining what a high-rise can be in humid tropical climates.
In recent years, we have witnessed a notable change in the way we deliver a quality-built indoor environment. Occupants now have a better understanding of the impact air quality has on their mental health and employers are starting to better appreciate the quality and productivity implications.
