See some of the incredible projects that an effective and collaborative use of BIM has delivered and you will believe that it works. On a smaller scale, I like talking about communication because I’ve seen the genuine benefits of initiatives like toolbox talks for new products, working with contractors to achieve improvements on site.
Read MorePearl Harbor Takes the LEED?
Intelligent, environmentally conscious building design is communicated to the public so rarely that it was a pleasure to see it even attempted, never mind achieved in a clear and relatable fashion.
Read MoreDiscovering the Barbican
Inspired by the portrait of an apparent utopia - an architectural vision realised in its entirety, and somewhere that creativity and inspiration continues to flourish - I vowed to visit the Estate next time I was in London. That opportunity arose at the end of June 2017.
Read MoreDon't Bat Away Sustainability Issues
The first floor was intended as a play room - a play room that had to be sacrificed once the bat survey yielded its results. The family found themselves still paying for a substantial brick-built structure on its own foundations, but with an upstairs that I designed and detailed solely for bats and not for them or their kids.
Read MoreExtend Up, Not Out
There is a wider issue in play that some buyers might not be aware of: shortfalls in the build quality and energy efficiency of new homes means they will need to undergo a retrofit of their own by 2050 if the UK is to meet carbon reduction targets. Is it any wonder, then, that improving an older property is more attractive?
Read MoreDefining Innovation
You can’t move for construction companies and product manufacturers proclaiming themselves to be innovative - to the extent that the word is rendered empty and meaningless.
Read MoreIn Search of Knowledge (a podcast review)
Diversity of opinion is good; it informs debate and encourages learning. But it can also be bloody annoying when seeking an objective view on a topic. One person says one thing, another says the opposite and the truth you’re seeking lies in between. But where, and how best to find it?
Read MoreMaking an Exhibition of Ourselves
Based on similar presenting experiences in recent years, however, I’m also left wondering if a level of … mistrust … towards manufacturers remains, regardless of the ratio of educational content to overt promotion. No type of construction product appears to be immune to a muted reaction, even if the content is genuine and well-intended.
Read MoreConservative Attitude to Conservatories
The idea of constructing a predominantly glazed structure, then stumping up for both heating and air conditioning, is demoralising for the unnecessary cost, complication and consumption of energy and resources. But it’s a dilemma that people find themselves in, unfortunately, and there isn’t the consistency or clarity of advice to aid the search for appropriate solutions.
Read MoreRaising Standards
If more complicated questions start to be asked then people can quickly feel out of their comfort zone. Working in the technical department of a product manufacturer, that was what I was happiest doing: giving honest, accurate and practical advice that answered people’s questions. Being seen as an expert brought a level of responsibility, but also a desire to share the same knowledge and ideas.
Read MoreHybrid Opinions About Hybrid Flat Roofs
From a technical point of view it is disappointing to still hear questions like, “Does the roof need a vapour barrier?”, highlighting that plenty of misapprehensions and misunderstandings remain about the ramifications of flat roof designs. Too often, designers and contractors alike are unaware of fundamental good-practice principles that ensure a roof performs.
Read MoreBIM or Bust?
Any project starts with the expression of an idea. How that idea is developed by the many stakeholders along the way dictates if the end user gets to enjoy a building that is practical, affordable and comfortable. For communication to be effective means collaborating and sharing information effectively. BIM is at the forefront of this.
Read MoreOne Year On: Thermal Regs in 2015
The merry-go-round of a General Election campaign ensures that meaningful political decisions are put on hold. For the construction industry, that means an interminable wait to see whether the Government’s long-promised 2016 introduction of ‘Zero Carbon’ into the Building Regulations actually happens – and if not in 2016, then when?
Read MoreCritics of Secret Cinema Aren't Real Film Fans
I won't deny: the negative opinions left me wondering whether I should be shelling out for a ticket. I'm not a die-hard Star Wars fan; I can give or take the fact that there's a new one coming out at Christmas. So what kind of over-privileged middle-class type does it make me when I'm prepared to jump on board the hype train?
Read MoreMy First Cinema Visit
Whether an all-time classic, or a candidate for ‘so bad it’s good’, inaugural films command our affections to the extent that even the most mediocre first movie lodges itself in the memory. My introduction to cinema was the unremarkable Dante’s Peak, so it’s hard to think of another circumstance under which I’d remember it so fondly.
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