Up top, space tells a different story now that rules have shifted. Roofs once plain and ignored start showing new purpose when land costs climb too high. Because laws changed, what sits below must answer to tighter demands. Looking skyward becomes less choice, more necessity under fresh legal weight. What used to just keep rain out now holds answers to problems down on the street. These days, rooftops on office buildings do way more than just keep rain out or hold air conditi

The era of the one-finish kitchen is giving way to more layered, individual spaces. Homeowners are increasingly embracing mixed material kitchens, combining contrasting colours, textures and finishes to create designs that feel more personal, visually interesting and tailored to the way they live. Rather than relying on a single material throughout, combinations of colour ways, woodgrain finishes and textured worksurfaces introduce depth and character. The result is a kitchen

For many hospitality businesses, accessible bathrooms have long been approached as a box-ticking exercise - designed to meet regulations rather than enhance the guest experience. Fitzroy of London believes this mindset is beginning to shift. Today, investing in well-designed accessible bathrooms is no longer simply about compliance; it’s a commercial opportunity. Hospitality venues that create beautiful, functional and inclusive washrooms are better positioned to welcome a br

Businesses that continue to invest in innovation, people and market visibility during periods of economic uncertainty will emerge stronger than those that retreat, according to the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA). As organisations across the construction supply chain continue to navigate inflationary pressures, delayed investment decisions, skills shortages and evolving regulatory requirements, ADSA is encouraging the entrance systems sector to view challenging ma

The UK's Future Homes Standard, which comes into force in March 2027, will impact window specification, focusing on ways to improve airtightness as energy ratings for properties continue to tighten, says Andy Swift, sales and operations director - UK for sealant tape manufacturer ISO-Chemie. Andy Swift, sales and operations director UK for ISO-Chemie The UK's Future Homes Standard mandates a 75% to 80% cut in carbon emissions, ensuring that new homes and non-domestic building

For architects, developers and housebuilders seeking a material that offers design flexibility, proven durability and reliable structural performance, reinforced cast stone provides a practical and enduring solution. With extensive experience in the design and manufacture of bespoke reinforced cast stone, Haddonstone continues to support projects of every scale with products engineered to meet the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship and performance. Steel reinforcemen

As the demand for seamless indoor-outdoor living continues to grow, architects and housebuilders are seeking ways to optimise the boundaries, aesthetically, between buildings and their surroundings. One of the most effective ways of achieving this is through the use of architectural cast stone elements that carry the design language of the house into the landscape, creating a unified and harmonious environment. Haddonstone's extensive portfolio of handcrafted cast stone produ

Callum Jensen, Senior Commercial Manager at Haddonstone, explains what architects and developers should consider when specifying cast stone... Specifying cast stone is about far more than achieving an attractive finish. For architects, housebuilders and developers, the decisions made at specification stage can have a lasting impact on a building’s appearance, durability, and whole-life costs. While it may be tempting to focus on initial purchase prices and ambitious delivery

Niall Crosson, Group Technical Director at Ecological Building Systems, draws on 25 years’ industry experience to make the case for ‘Building Better’, learning from vernacular building traditions and applying those principles to contemporary design and specification. Niall Crosson, Group Technical Director at Ecological Building Systems “Long before UK Building Regulations, performance targets or embodied carbon metrics were introduced, buildings were designed around a simple

Drive north across the border and something quietly different begins to reveal itself in how homes are built. It’s not immediately obvious in the streetscape, but beneath the surface Scotland has, over time, reshaped the fundamentals of housing delivery - how homes are constructed, who builds them, and how confidently the system moves toward its targets. At a moment when England’s construction sector is grappling with the dual pressures of scale and sustainability, Scotland’s

Tiles are no longer confined to kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls. As homeowners become more confident in their decorating choices, tiles are increasingly being used to introduce colour, texture and personality throughout the home. From statement headboards and decorative bathroom details to tiled furniture and creative laying patterns, today’s interiors are embracing a more imaginative approach to surfaces. Maria D Arráez, Director of Tile of Spain UK, shares the new ru

As urban living continues to shape modern home design, compact kitchens are becoming increasingly common. While smaller footprints can present design challenges, they also create opportunities for retailers, designers and installers to demonstrate the value of intelligent planning and innovative storage solutions. Paul Berryman, Head of Life Trade, says, “Creating a successful small kitchen is no longer simply about fitting everything into a limited space. Today’s consumers e

In discussion with Philip Chambers, Business Development Manager (Modern Methods of Construction) at SFS... Modern Methods of Construction (or Industrialised Construction as it's now becoming known as) have been a slow burn for the UK construction industry, with the ingrained working practices of traditional building techniques and the cost required for dynamic change often inhibiting the progress which many could see was essential to unleash productivity, safety and other

Simon Woods, European Sales, Marketing and Logistics Director, West Fraser, explains Embodied carbon is not yet a legal requirement for most UK housing, but it is fast becoming unavoidable. For housebuilders, it is shaping up as the next major structural challenge after energy efficiency, with implications for design standards, material supply, planning consent, and investor credibility. Many large housebuilders are already preparing because early movers, as always, will find

NASA’s first manned flight around the moon for 50 years has sparked fresh interest in space exploration while also reminding us of the tantalising properties to a vacuum: especially back here on earth. As the poster for the original Alien movie said: “In space no one can hear you scream.” There are many industrial applications for vacuum technology, and these continue to expand as technology advances. At the same time, falling costs are making it an increasingly practical s

The ever-tightening regulations and standards, along with the UK’s substantial population growth, mean architects and property designers must design urban spaces with energy efficiency and sustainability at the forefront. Through the integration of resilient and sustainable design strategies, landscape architecture plays a vital role, as Sol Russell, Specification Team Leader at Kinley, writes. While the UK’s decarbonisation journey continues apace, the frequent population ri

Paul Trace From Stella Rooflight Discusses Why Material Choice Matters In Conservation Rooflights Conservation rooflights are often judged on aesthetics first. Sightlines, glazing bars, flush detailing and planning compliance understandably dominate the specification conversation, particularly within listed buildings and sensitive heritage settings. Yet beneath the visual detailing lies a far more important consideration that is still too often overlooked within the industry:

As the UK’s leading authority on steel windows, doors and screens, the Steel Window Association (SWA) represents manufacturers, suppliers and specialists committed to maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship, performance and design across the industry. Here, the SWA talks to leading interior designer, Amelia McNeil, about how steel in the home steals the show for aspirational clients. Internal W20 doors and screens in a Fulham townhouse. Design and vision by Amelia

As the Future Homes Standard (FHS) moves into its final policy stage before implementation, the Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR) sector, led by Showersave and Recoup, has identified that the framework may limit opportunities for reducing domestic hot water (DHW) demand – despite hot water accounting for one of the largest energy demands in the homes of the future. The WWHR sector has gathered independent third-party feedback and modelled some national housebuilders’ house t

Architects today are under more pressure than ever. Tighter programmes, complex planning constraints, heightened sustainability targets and exacting clients mean there is little room for friction anywhere in the supply chain. When it comes to cast stone, architects are not simply looking for a manufacturer; they are looking for a partner who understands design intent, technical reality, and the long-term value of the buildings they create. Here, based on years of close collab

Paul Trace, Director of Stella Rooflight, discusses why authenticity and performance must go hand in hand... There is a well understood principle in conservation and restoration work that extends far beyond architecture: the idea that the method must be appropriate to the material. A stonemason repairing a centuries old wall would not reach for modern cement where lime mortar is required, even if the modern material appears stronger, quicker or more convenient to apply. The w