Features
In 2015, the Government announced new measures to make it easier for developers to turn underused or derelict office buildings into new homes. While this relaxation of planning policy has opened up more possibilities for new town and city-centre accommodation, developers going down this route require a formidable creative touch to transform dated office blocks into desirable residential properties. Here, Steve Tonkiss from REHAU looks at how the clever use of modern glazing can give developers an edge.
In lieu of the Grenfell disaster and the collapse of Carillon, the construction industry is having a huge identity crisis. With the industry’s ever-widening skills shortage getting worse, modernisation of the industry is long overdue. As well as this, the industry has the added pressure to solve what is sadly the worst gender balance of any industry. As a collective, how can we challenge the typical, often negative stereotypes of an industry where less than 14% of workers are women? Jayne Hall, Vice-President of CABE, looks at this growing issue, to see how the gender imbalances can potentially be resolved.
Nowadays, architects and constructors are under mounting pressure to efficiently manage water resources right from the planning stages. Against this backdrop, GRAF UK’s Managing Director, Matthew Rolph, looks at how specifiers can minimise their project’s impact on water supplies, and ensure effective protection against flooding at the same time.
In recent years, the world of construction has seen significant growth in the number of Special Purchase Vehicles (SPV) set up by a number of large businesses to deal with one-off projects.
Temples and dream beaches with turquoise-blue water make Thailand a sought-after destination for tourists from all over the world. The capital Bangkok, with a population of some nine million, is a city of contrasts with irresistible magic. In contrast to many other Asian megacities, however, the city has few contemporary architectural highlights. The German Architect Ole Scheeren created Bangkok’s new landmark in the form of the 314m-high MahaNakhon.
The new home for Shenzhen Energy Company looks different because it performs differently; the building skin is developed to maximise the sustainable performance and workplace comfort in the local subtropical climate of China’s tech and innovation hub in Shenzhen.
MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, has completed the restoration of the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel in Japan’s Niigata prefecture. The revitalisation project sees the installation of several permanent artistic spaces along the historic lookout tunnel, with the intention of bringing back the cultural energy that once empowered the region. The Tunnel of Light opened on the occasion of the 2018 Echigo-Tsumari Triennale.
Andrew Mitton from building services engineering contractor, Proline, discusses the issue of overheating in contemporary residential developments and reveals the cooling solution developed by Proline for a new residential tower currently on site in Manchester.
An emerging form of ground source heat pump system (GSHP) known as ‘shared ground loop arrays’ is making a big impact on climate change and air pollution at the same time as providing low-cost heat for households and a return for investors in the technology. Here Dr Matthew Trewhella, Contracts Director at the Kensa Group, explores the GSHP industry’s latest newcomer.
Illias Igoumenidis from Ecological Building Systems discusses the transformation of a derelict cottage into a desirable holiday retreat.
