FC&A Magazine July 2024

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FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT MAGAZINE

EDITOR IAL

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@redhutmedia.com

PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING

Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

Jim Moore jim@redhutmedia.com

PRINT DESIGN MANAGER

Jack Witcomb jack@redhutmedia.com

DIGITAL DESIGN MANAGER

Matt Morse matt@redhutmedia.com

ACCOUNTS/ CREDIT CONTROL

Rachel Pike accounts@redhutmedia.com

PUBLISHER

Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

2, The Old Stable Block, Crescent Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7GU Tel: 01795 515288 Rebecca

As we navigate the ever-evolving new standards and regulations aimed at enhancing the built environment to be more eco-friendly, safer and of higher quality, changes loom on the horizon with the upcoming election this month. For many, this preelection period feels like a state of limbo, holding the promise of alterations to policy focus, legislation and planning.

One of the recent mandatory planning regulations implemented earlier this year is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). BNG focuses on both enhancing and preserving habitats, ensuring that developments achieve a BNG of 10% post construction. This initiative aims to promote environmentally-friendly practices in construction and development. Chris Adair, Product Innovation Manager at Marshalls, describes this regulatory shift as pivotal in this month's issue. Whether working on a small housing plot or a major infrastructure project, these changes carry significant implications. For more details, refer to page 22, where Chris elaborates on integrating new biodiversity and drainage requirements seamlessly.

Meanwhile, on page 24 , Brett Lambe, Senior Associate specialising in intellectual property, and Stephen Homer, Partner in the construction law team at Ashfords LLP, delve into the complex realm of digital regulation concerning the ownership of AI-generated images. Together, they highlight the challenges architects face in navigating intellectual property issues in the age of AI, particularly in copyright and design rights.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on FC&A’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply search www.fca-magazine.com.

REBECCA KEMP

Editor, Future Constructor & Architect

ON THE COVER:

Constructed by Jenner and designed by ACME, Shoreline is a highlybespoke, crescent-shaped residential building located at the foot of the historic Leas Lift and coastal park in Folkestone, Kent. SEE PAGE 14.

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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY:

Pol MacDonald from OPEN, part of SLR, highlights how a landscape-led, blue-green infrastructure approach to masterplanning can transform our built environment, enhance biodiversity and improve quality of life.

LEGAL & BUSINESS:

Ashfords LLP uncovers the evolving landscape of intellectual property as architects leverage AI for design efficiency.

FEATURES

BALCONIES & BALUSTRADES:

Nick Haughton, Head of ESG at Sapphire Balconies, explains that ‘next-generation’ manufacturing means considering more than carbon reduction but also long-term thermal efficiency.

Rebecca Goldsmith of MEDITE SMARTPLY explains why timber-frame construction with OSB is a sustainable solution to the UK housing crisis. 26 20

BUILDING CODES & REGULATIONS:

Chris Adair, Product Innovation Manager at Marshalls, shares insights on harmonising biodiversity and drainage requirements in new developments.

DOORS & WINDOWS:

Owen Jones, Technical Director at Distinction Doors, the stockist and distributor of the fds (fire door systems) fire door range, emphasises the importance of comprehensive knowledge and education in delivering reliable fire safety solutions.

SURFACING:

Ashton Holmes from Peldon Rose shares insights into crafting office spaces that blend comfort, sustainability and biophilic design through thoughtful surfacing choices.

OFFSITE & MMC:

Is the UK's investment in modular construction misplaced? Jenny Smith-Andrews of H+H UK questions the Government's support amid recent industry setbacks.

BUILD FOCUS: Biomimicry & Nature-Inspired Architecture :

The Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science, an architectural marvel by WXCA, reflects the human-nature relationship, showcasing sustainable development through cutting-edge wood construction and ecological technologies.

TECH INSIGHT: Timber :

PORTFOLIOS

12 14

Constructed by Jenner and designed by ACME, Shoreline is a highly-bespoke, crescent-shaped residential building located at the foot of the historic Leas Lift and coastal park in Folkestone, Kent. 24 18 22 30 34 36 32

VAN B, UNSTUDIO:

UNStudio and Bauwerk have redefined urban living with a highly-flexible plug-in system that can make a 40m 2 apartment feel like a 60m 2 loft at Van B in Munich.

SHORELINE, JENNER AND ACME:

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IN BRIEF:

BDP SWEEPS THE BOARD AT THE EUROPEAN HEALTHCARE DESIGN AWARDS

BDP has picked up three major awards at the 2024 European Healthcare Design Awards. The Louisa Martindale building in Brighton was the outstanding project of the ceremony and a double winner, collecting awards for the development of over 25,000m2 and also for interior design and arts. The Future Healthcare Design prize was awarded to BDP’s project at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Lousia Martindale building represents the latest standards in healthcare design while the Children’s Cancer Centre presents a crucial and flexible building that houses wards, a cancer day care centre, surgical theatres, an intensive care unit and an imaging centre.

PLANS APPROVED FOR REFURBISHMENT OF SUTTON COMMUNITY THEATRE

Planning has been granted for the refurbishment and upgrade of the Sutton Community Theatre, which will be rebranded as ‘Cornerstone’ upon reopening, and designed by CPMG Architects. The project aims to transform the theatre into a vibrant, multifunctional space. The upgrades come at a crucial time as the facilities age and face issues. The scope of works will largely be internal, providing a complete renovation, refurbishment and reconfiguration to optimise the functionality of the theatre through enhanced facilities. This includes the creation of a new foyer, refurbishment of the auditorium, upgrades to the stage area, provision of new dressing rooms and backstage facilities, and installation of modern lighting and audiovisual systems.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

FC&A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES.

©BoysPlayNice

MASARYČKA INAUGURATED

The Masaryčka building in Prague has been inaugurated in a ceremony officiated by Bohuslav Svoboda, the Mayor of Prague; Marek Dospiva, Founder and Partner of Penta Group; and Jim Heverin, Director of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).

Accommodating the continued growth of the city’s corporate sector with office spaces designed to meet 21st-century working patterns, the 28,000m 2 Masaryčka office and retail development incorporates seven storeys within its eastern section and nine storeys at its western end.

Masaryčka’s design integrates with Czech Railways’ ongoing modernisation of the historic Masaryk Railway Station that is creating a new public square partially over its railway tracks, enhancing access to the platforms below and providing new pedestrian routes between Florenc and Hybernská on either side of the station.

Bordered by Masaryk Station’s railway platforms to the south, Na Florenci Street to the north and the Wilsonova elevated freeway to the east, Masaryčka has been constructed on a derelict site that has stood abandoned for several decades. To the west, Masaryčka replaces the existing car park on Havlíčkova Boulevard with a new public square with interchanges between the city’s rail, tram and bus networks; defining a welcoming gateway to the city for suburban rail passengers as well as those using the express rail link that is currently under construction to Prague’s international airport.

Located one kilometre east of the city centre’s Staroměstské Square, Masaryčka’s design establishes a dialogue with the embellished historical architecture of Prague’s Old Town –known as ‘the golden city of 100 spires’. External fins within Masaryčka’s facade contribute to solar shading in the summer and transform the project’s horizontal composition to the verticality of its western facade facing the spires of the Old Town.

©BoysPlayNice

Targeting LEED Platinum certification, Masaryčka incorporates a double-insulated facade that ensures optimal natural light in all work areas and communal spaces.

www.zaha-hadid.com

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS (ZHA)

PERSONNEL

The latest appointments from the construction and architectural industries.

AKSHAY KHERA APPOINTED AS HEAD OF BRISTOL BDP

Akshay Khera has been appointed as Head of the Bristol Studio of BDP. With more than a decade of experience designing buildings and spaces in Bristol, the South West and Wales, Akshay is passionate about improving the built environment. Akshay’s appointment supports the continued growth of BDP as a widely-respected, sociallyprogressive practice. Akshay joined BDP Bristol in 2004 and, in 2010, went on to lead the Delhi and Abu Dhabi studios, where his portfolio included notable projects like the masterplan for the Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Birmingham’s Dubai Incubator campus. He returned to Bristol in 2019 and has brought his proven expertise in collaborative communication and design to lead a number of projects.

FIONA COUSINS APPOINTED

PRESIDENT OF CIBSE

CIBSE is delighted to announce the appointment of Fiona Cousins as its new President. Fiona, who holds several senior roles at Arup, brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to advancing sustainability. She takes over from Adrian Catchpole, to whom she extends heartfelt thanks for his significant contributions, especially in promoting STEM ambassadors in schools and the certified practice initiatives. As the Americas Region Chair at Arup, Fiona has led numerous awardwinning projects and has been recognised as a leading figure in the commercial real estate industry. Her vision for CIBSE includes building on the traditional view of building performance by putting more emphasis on occupant wellbeing, air quality, acoustic performance and resilience to climate change.

PEGASUS GROUP APPOINTS DOUGLAS MCCORMICK AS CEO

Pegasus Group has appointed Douglas McCormick to ‘supercharge’ its ongoing expansion. With a solid track record of organisational change and transformation, delivering significant growth, McCormick has led teams of more than 1500 people and budgets in excess of £200m. Previously Executive Chairman at Gleeds UK, where he doubled the size of the UK business and multiplied profitability in the three years he was there, McCormick’s tenures include CEO of WYG Group PLC, CEO of Currie & Brown’s former entity Sweett Group and Group MD of the rail division of Atkins in the UK. With an MSc in Construction Management and a BSc in Quantity Surveying, McCormick has previously acted as Commissioner for the UK Commission for Employment & Skills and is a RICS Fellow. He is also Non-Executive Director of the RICS Board,

NEWS IN BRIEF: PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR EAST LONDON REGENERATION

A planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800m redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1900 new homes with 35% affordable, over five phases. This will be complemented by open green and play spaces, shops, community and faith facilities, alongside improved infrastructure. As one of the largest estate regenerations in London, the redevelopment will transform the area with upgraded designs and enhanced amenities, creating a safer and better place to live. Hill and Poplar HARCA have worked closely with Teviot residents to ensure the plans meet the community’s needs.

LANDMARK EXPANSION OF TECHNOLOGY HUB COMPLETES IN COVENTRY

Works have completed at Project Holst – a £75m industrial warehouse scheme located at Coventry’s renowned Prospero Ansty Park. Ansty Park is a major business park positioned next to the M6 and M69 junction, providing unrivalled access to the UK’s major motorway network, which is home to a number of high-profile companies, including Rolls-Royce, Sainsbury’s, Cadent, Meggitt and MTC. McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) commenced the delivery of four industrial units and associated offices at Project Holst in January last year, on behalf of Manse Opus. All units are now finished and open to speculative tenants.

ARCHITECT IN PROFILE

Phil Cooper, Founder of Hope Architects, has had an inspiring career journey marked by passion and innovation. From his early days in his mother’s engineering office to founding Hope Architects in 2019, he has continually pushed design boundaries. In this Q&A, FC&A explores the milestones and motivations that shaped his career, his commitment to creating homes that foster cherished memories and the exciting projects on the horizon for his firm.

Tell us about your career journey. How did you get started in the field of architecture?

I’ve always wanted to be an Architect. My mum was a Building Services Engineer and I often tagged along to her office. I ended up doing some work experience at an architect practice and never looked back. After graduating from The Bartlett, I held a few roles down South, working on high-end houses and house-builder-type design work. It was after I moved to Bloor Homes that I began to study data on optimising layouts, which would have a huge impact on the future direction of my career. In 2019, I started Hope Architects.

Were there any pivotal moments or experiences that solidified your decision to pursue a career in architecture and design?

The idea of the home has drawn me to architecture. Children grow up in homes, people form and nurture relationships there and they create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. When it comes to the built environment, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a concept as important as the home. Whenever I’m working on a new home or development, I think about the future of those homes and the people that will inhabit them. This is what stands out for me and where my passion for architecture lies.

If you hadn’t followed your passion for being an architect, what other career path would you have pursued?

Oddly enough, I had a couple of years’ career break between my degree and master’s, during which time I ran a shotgun dealership at a fairly prestigious clay pigeon shooting school. This was a great experience, as I learned a trade I was unfamiliar with, built relationships with clients of all types and tried to grow a small business. If I had to choose another career now, I’d love to train to be a pilot. I’ve been learning sporadically in my spare

time over the last few years, and I enjoy the mixture of science, maths, skill and freedom that comes with it.

What has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration?

There’s a quote that I always remember, try to live by and try to get my team to embrace as well: “The work I do tomorrow will be the best work I’ve ever done.” For me, it always ensures I’m pushing forward, trying to improve how we do things and make each project we do a little (or a lot) better than the last. It also allows today to be a bad day while promising that tomorrow will be better.

What’s been the most memorable project you’ve worked on, and for what reason? One of the earliest projects I worked on was the fit-out of a penthouse apartment very close to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank. I’ve never forgotten the satisfaction of working on incrediblydetailed joinery drawings and watching them come together to create carefullycrafted spaces. The project really taught me the value of attention to detail to ensure the initial design vision gets realised correctly. More recently, I’m really proud to have been involved in the scheme at Hulton Park, Bolton, which involves the regeneration of the site of a derelict country house and its historicallynotable gardens into a golf resort fit to host the Ryder Cup. I think the scope and ambition of the scheme (which will also deliver a thousand homes) is incredible, and it stands to transform an area of Bolton into a world-class facility and

PHIL COOPER IS THE FOUNDER OF HOPE ARCHITECTS

HOPE ARCHITECTS

neighbourhood. I’m really hopeful that the stars will line up and the scheme will proceed so I can see how it works out.

Could you walk us through a typical workday in your current role?

As much as there is a typical day at Hope, it’s something like:

Morning at the gym and a short dog walk

Over to the office and catch up with the team

If I have meetings, I’ll hide away to not disturb everyone

For design work, I’ll pick a desk in the main studio with the rest of the team

For lunch, we’ll take the dogs for a 20-minute jaunt and grab a sandwich from Coleman’s Deli in the centre of Hathersage.

What is your favourite building and why?

It’s a bit of a curveball, but my favourite building is the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury. It’s a great early example of a mixed-use development with a public street running through the middle. Flats are piled on top of it and step backwards so that each flat has its own winter garden and balcony space. The best part is the space between the lifts and the front doors for the flats, which creates an uncanny, dystopian space in the middle of the building. This area was featured in the recent Disney series Andor.

In your opinion, who is the greatest architectural mastermind of our time?

I’m a big Richard Rogers fan and have always been impressed by his combination of vision and sensibility. His thoughts about cities and urban design

are as revolutionary as his buildings, but they often don’t get the recognition they deserve. For a living architect, I will pick Winy Maas of MVRDV. I’ve always been thrilled by their buildings, and their early book, ‘FARMAX: Excursions on Density’, greatly influenced my approach towards development. As a third option, if it still counts as ‘of our time’, I’m including Frank Lloyd Wright because he’s Frank Lloyd Wright, and I’ve never seen anything he’s done that I didn’t love with all my heart ever since I was a young boy.

If you were hosting a dinner party to discuss architecture and design, and you could invite three individuals, either from the past or the present, who would you choose to join your conversation?

I’d like to foster a unique and a passionate discussion about how we build new homes. I’d pick:

Jos Boys, who was a Founder of the Matrix Feminist Design Co-Operative, wrote about diversity in architecture and public spaces long before anyone else and continues to innovate on the subject

Monroe, the Food

and Social Activist, who I think would have much to say on the subject of designing homes for people with minimal resources and income

The Government’s housing minister will be present on the day of the dinner party so that they can come and listen and try to understand why the country faces a housing shortage.

Looking ahead, what exciting projects or initiatives can we anticipate from you in the coming year? Right now, we’re focused on some exciting projects we have lined up for the second half of 2024. We’re due to move our studio into Sheffield city centre in early 2025, so that’s going to be a big change. This is part of a plan to grow the business by being in a location where we can attract the very best team members we can. I will still be based in the Peak District, and we will certainly maintain our base here because it’s a key part of our original DNA. But we see our future growth in a more urban location; possibly more than one in the future!

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IMPROVING HEALTHCARE SPACES WITH MODERN CONSTRUCTION METHODS

Wernick Buildings is the leading provider of modular building solutions in the UK, offering innovative and sustainable construction options across various sectors. With a commitment to quality, efficiency and customer satisfaction, Wernick Buildings delivers bespoke modular buildings tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

WERNICK BUILDINGS

Ov er the past 12 months, Wernick Buildings has delivered a variety of projects, from fully functional hospital wards and theatres to staff accommodation. However, it is proud to showcase the successful completion of the executive offices at Southmead Hospital. This project demonstrates excellence in efficiency and innovation, with a sustainable approach to construction over traditional building techniques.

S ituated within the Southmead Hospital estate in North Bristol, the executive offices stand as a testament to the seamless integration of modular construction methods with the stringent requirements of a healthcare environment.

T he project, a collaboration between Wernick Buildings and the hospital, aimed to provide modern executive office facilities that meet the highest standards of functionality and comfort to create an environment that fosters productivity for all occupants.

T he objective of this project was to create additional office accommodation to alleviate space constraints on the main site, thereby facilitating the conversion of the vacated area into a much-needed clinical space. The newly-constructed building is the base for executives and support staff, with the first floor dedicated to the executive team.

R akesh Sandhu, Sales Director of Wernick Buildings, comments: “Leveraging Wernick’s expertise in modular construction, the project achieved remarkable success in meeting the objectives required by the healthcare estate. This is now the second building provided by Wernick at the Southmead facility, and we are thrilled to be able to provide yet another office building.”

A dditionally, Wernick Buildings is proud to announce that the Southmead offices won this year’s MMC award for the Healthcare Project of the Year Award.

A more sustainable approach to construction

O ne of the project’s key highlights is its emphasis on sustainability. By employing offsite construction methods, Wernick minimised waste, reduced carbon emissions and optimised resource utilisation, aligning with Southmead Hospital’s commitment to its environmental roadmap.

T he nature of modular construction allowed for rapid assembly and installation, ensuring minimal disruption to hospital operations. Building modules in Wernick’s manufacturing facility in South Wales ensured very little disturbance on site.

T he collaborative working methods employed throughout the project underscored Wernick Buildings’ and Southmead Hospital’s commitment to excellence.

W ith the completion of the Southmead Executive Offices project, Wernick Buildings reaffirms its position as a trusted partner in delivering bespoke modular building solutions that exceed client expectations.

M artin Crandon, Head of Capital Projects, said “We are delighted with the welcoming, light and open interior environment, which has exceeded our expectations. Comments from staff have all been very positive.”

More than just a box

M odular buildings are constructed in a controlled factory environment, adhering to strict quality control measures. This results in consistently high construction standards and superior craftsmanship. Additionally, the factory settings allow for meticulous attention to detail and greater accuracy during the building process. Employing these prefabricated structures guarantees long-lasting and durable buildings to futureproof any project.

UNSTUDIO STRETCHES LIVING TO THE MAX WITH COMPLETION OF THE VAN B RESIDENCES

With its one- to three-room, highly-flexible apartments, flats, gallery lofts and rooftop flats, UNStudio and developer Bauwerk‘s recentlycompleted Van B residential project in Munich not only caters to changing demographics and multiple family constellations, but it also offers indoor-outdoor living, communal spaces, shared facilities and a new highly-flexible plug-in system that can make a 40m 2 apartment feel like a 60m 2 loft.

Lo cated on a square next to the Creative Quarter, and the Olympiapark, at the confluence of the three best districts in Munich, Van B houses 142 apartments, flats and penthouses served by 81 underground parking spaces.

E xpanding space

C reating connections between people and the outdoors and using outdoor space as an extension of the living spaces was essential to the design of Van B, where a sense of expanding the space is created by pushing the inside out and pulling the outside in.

T he indoor-outdoor living experience is created by bay windows, balconies, roof gardens and terraces, alongside shared and private gardens, a rooftop garden with 360 ° panoramic views and an inner courtyard with fitness and relaxation zones.

Van B also offers an architectural expression of the ideas of the sharing economy, community creation and inclusive ways of living. As such, residents can enjoy a co-living space for working from home or social gatherings and make use of a parcel box system, car/e-bike sharing, e-charging stations and a bike repair station.

C ommenting on the project, Ben van Berkel says: “Social connection is essential for our wellbeing. Now, more than ever, we are seeing that many people desire and need to meet regularly with their families, friends and neighbours. But with neighbours, in particular, such encounters are usually spontaneous and, so, they need to be facilitated. Architecture can create frameworks that enable people to meet, where neighbourhood communities can be shaped and where spontaneous encounters can occur.“

UNSTUDIO

©Evabloem

W here quality metr e s become more important than square metr e s

W hile four different typologies create a diverse mix of apartments (ranging in size from 33 to 168m2), Van B also challenges old conventions of square footage and fixed footprints to empower people to live in more flexible ways.

T he Van B plug-in system allows you to easily change the use of the same floor space in a matter of seconds, making it possible to transform a room from a generous office into a cosy living room or a bedroom.

To achieve this flexibility, UNStudio, in collaboration with Bauwerk, designed an adaptable partition and furniture plug-in based system that can be installed in all of the Van B apartments, regardless of size.

T he system introduces a set of nine optional plug ins that enable residents to reconfigure their apartment to their

immediate needs, allowing them to choreograph their space around their day, instead of the other way around.

Ben van Berkel says: “Flexibility has become more important to people today than sheer size because individual spaces in our homes have had to become multifunctional, serving as offices, gyms, living rooms and sleeping nooks, all at the same time. This means that now, more than ever before, we need to develop new living concepts that cater to the changing demands of our homes.”

Residents can choose an individual configuration of plug ins based on a catalogue of nine elements. Each partition can work in different configurations, as no matter which elements the homeowner chooses and no matter how they arrange them inside their apartment, the modules will work together.

Ben van Berkel adds: “What makes Van B truly special and unique is that it

offers a completely new form of smart living. This is not smart in the usual sense of tech integration; it, instead, involves reinterpreting ideas from the digital world in order to improve the analogue, physical spaces we inhabit.“

The building

In the apartments, the large bay windows and balconies create visual connections between the street, the homes and the trees that line the road. These bay windows also serve to provide the building with a sculptural, three-dimensional shell, composed of concrete and coppercoloured metal framing.

W ith their glazed facades, the gallery lofts that face the courtyard on the ground floor invite residents to open up their apartments and extend their living rooms into the garden. Having their own address, these triple-height apartments almost work as small houses nestled within the building.

Van B Editions

T he project also includes the Van B Editions: 10 individually-furnished rooftop flats with private roof terraces, all of which have been finished and furnished by 10 of Germany’s top interior designers.

Jürgen Schorn, Managing Partner at Bauwerk, says: “As Van B offers various types of flats, we are very pleased that many young cosmopolitans, singles and couples from all over the world have found their home there and brought the building to life.“

The Van B project fulfils all of the strict sustainability regulations in Germany. In addition, parts of the foundation and basement structure from the previous building were reused for the new building and the basement walls were reinforced. In this way, it was possible to save on construction materials while speeding up the building process. The roof garden also serves to cool the building, while the bay windows are orientated to optimise daylight in the apartments.

DEFYING THE ELEMENTS: SHORELINE SHAPES A BOLD NEW CHAPTER

FOR REVITALISED FOLKESTONE SEAFRONT

The first phase of an impressive masterplan on Folkestone’s historic seafront, Shoreline’s unique contemporary design pays homage to the traditional Edwardian curved terrace. Constructed by Jenner and designed by ACME architectural practice for the Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company, this highly-bespoke, crescent-shaped residential building required collaboration between stakeholders in order to overcome the complexities of a challenging build.

JENNER

Lo cated at the foot of the historic Leas Lift and coastal park in Folkestone, Kent, Shoreline’s 84 luxury homes benefit from a prime position with uninterrupted views onto the beach and across the sea, stretching as far as the French coastline on a clear day. This flagship building is the initial phase of a masterplan that will see up to 1000 new homes, shops, bars and restaurants as well as attractive public and green spaces, including Leas Square and Marine Parade, along the seafront in Folkestone.

O vercoming a multitude of challenges along the way, this unique and stunning new building sits upon robust foundations of over 200 piles, driven to a depth of 27m, making the foundations as deep as the building is high. Constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, Shoreline’s flowing curved form echoes the shape of the waves, pebbles and coast.

Built to last

G iven exposure to extreme weather conditions and highly-corrosive salt spray in its caustic seafront location, every detail of Shoreline has been meticulously considered. One of the biggest design considerations was the proposed facade system. This needed to ensure durability whilst offering a low-maintenance system that remained aesthetically pleasing. Original aspirations for a crushed-glassfinished render to create a sparkling finish were dispelled for safety reasons and new options that would offer the same visual impact were explored. As an alternative to the rendered insulation, many options were considered, with glazed white bricks and a white mortar

subsequently chosen to create a glamourous facade, with the final brick being sourced from La Paloma in Spain.

‘ Standardised’ was never going to be an option and, as such, over 24 different specially-designed bricks were required to achieve the complex geometry. Furthermore, to create the curve, Jenner had to have each brick cut into two –doubling the number of bricks to be laid. To add further texture, a series of kicked bricks protrude from the facade. Carefully measured to ensure they were too small for seagulls to perch, they play with the sun, creating ever-changing shadow patterns across the face of the building.

W ith a bespoke 70mm-high brick sourced to respond to the convex and concave waves of the brick facade,

rigorous testing was carried out with different mortar mixes to ensure the facade would stand the rigours of the British weather and the aesthetic quality would never be compromised.

A head of the curve

The next challenge faced was the balconies proposed for each home, which proved problematic in terms of their load-bearing weight. Originally, precast concrete balconies were planned, but weighing up to nine tonnes each, the risk associated with crane lifting on a coastal location, effectively ruled this design feature out. Many avenues were explored by Jenner, with a lighter weight aluminium solution ultimately identified and seamlessly integrated into the building’s curved design.

I llustrating further intricacies of the build, there were five different balcony designs, each bespoke to mirror the shape and curve of the structure. The coping stones on the parapet walls were individual in size and shape, requiring special moulds. The curved structure also demanded bespoke windowsills; each unit was scanned as a 3D image. The foyer lanterns were sourced from Spain. The client’s passion for a particular species of mature tree led the specification team to Italy and required extra care to ensure the health of the plants during the long journey back to the UK.

Metal used on the exterior of the building is rust proof, whilst wall ties beneath the facade are made from the same marine-grade materials found on deep-sea oil rigs, ensuring longevity and sustainability.

T he bespoke finish is most certainly not limited to what the public eye can see with communal areas clad with acoustic walls and terrazzo floors to ensure quality radiates throughout.

Private roof terraces are included for the beach houses and penthouse apartments and all units have the exclusive use of a private communal garden above the undercroft car park, which promotes natural daylight through carefullyplaced openings to provide a secure and pleasant environment with EV charging points and sufficient headroom for all modern vehicles.

Sustainable solutions

T he building envelope is designed to high thermal standards to minimise heating and cooling requirements. This includes doubleand triple-glazed windows, depending on the orientation and performance requirements, and non-flammable mineral wool thermal insulation has been used within the walls to provide excellent insulation and keep the homes warm in the winter.

The soffits of the beach house staircases are left exposed to act at a thermal mass to moderate temperatures. All of the apartments have been provided with mechanical heat recovery and ventilation alongside openable windows to provide efficient background ventilation.

T he development incorporates shingle gardens, providing an ecological habitat that increases species diversity within the beach environment. Rainwater harvesting systems and a communal boiler promote resource efficiency. To encourage cycling, storage units and designated cycle parking are provided within the car park area. Energy-efficient LED lighting illuminates all apartments and common areas throughout the building.

W hilst its coastal location presented a number of construction challenges, from ground engineering through to the selection and installation of materials, the exceptional quality of the finished building stands as a testament to the remarkable work of the entire project team. From the initial concept through to the articulation of its architecture by utilising stateof-the-art construction techniques and products of the highest specification, the project serves as a prime example of how the built form positively impacts a region.

POL MACDONALD

IS THE DIRECTOR AT OPEN, PART OF SLR

WHOW BLUE-GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MEETS OUR PLACEMAKING AND CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS

Blue-green infrastructure has become the term du jour when it comes to modernday placemaking, but how can it be harnessed to create the communities needed to help places thrive? Pol MacDonald, Director at OPEN, part of SLR, says ensuring a landscape-led approach to masterplanning can help deliver these blue-green spaces and make a huge difference for the communities they serve.

hen thinking of blue-green infrastructure in masterplanning, we’re addressing two of the key issues for developing sites. One aspect is the technical standpoint, which ensures that the site functions properly. This includes not only construction considerations but also biodiversity, water management and quality. However, once we’ve created those corridors and linkages and enhanced biodiversity, we address the second issue of creating physically-distinctive and attractive spaces, ensuring a complete enrichment of the environment itself – something we know has a direct impact, not just on the visual beauty of a place but also on the health and wellbeing of the people that live, work and play in the area.

H owever, while we are addressing two separate issues with blue-green infrastructure, it’s important we see the task as one single undertaking as a result of landscape-led masterplanning. For example, the technical requirements, such as a new road, drainage or improving the wildlife, should go hand in hand with the benefits that truly uplift the community. Studies have shown that environments

of this nature make people feel healthier, more engaged and generally calmer –factors which then also make an area more commercially successfully.

C reating places which people can be proud of I ncorporating blue-green infrastructure will almost certainly result in a more pleasant area, simply by combining the natural green elements, like plants and trees, with that of the blue, such as streams and lakes.

H owever, the benefits of a space must be deeper rooted than that of its aesthetic. We need to create places where people can ‘be’. That could be places to gather, to sit and to walk with appealing routes that connect with other communities. Essentially, making spaces not just accessible but embraced by the local community who make it their own and part of their everyday life.

A project we’re currently working on in Kingsgrove, Wantage, is evidence of this concept working seamlessly. We led the masterplan development and progressed designs that include a

popular countryside-edge park where locals can run, walk the dogs and play with their children. The space has proved so popular because within one minute of leaving their homes people can enjoy this route – a convenience and accessibility that encourages positive interactions.

Understanding blue-green infrastructure

W hile being a commonly-used term in the built environment, we still need to increase awareness and understanding of blue-green infrastructure among the general public.

You can start explaining this by asking why blue-green infrastructure exists. These spaces are there to accommodate climate change, including impacts on water and wildlife, and the reason for this lack of understanding is because so many developments have been separated from this sort of relationship in the past. By making people aware there are rhythms to nature and water movement, which are both impacted by seasonality, we can explain the benefits of the concept of living more in harmony with our surroundings.

A lso, by increasing this understanding, we will encourage people to make a more conscious decision about where they live. We, as the general public, are constantly told to make better environmental decisions, whether that’s purchasing an electric car, utilising public transport or simply recycling our waste. But what if we put choosing where to live at the forefront of that?

B y choosing a place to live that is designed to benefit the environment, people can rest assured that they will be part of a more sustainable future. Let’s try to make the decision to live somewhere based on more than the simple practicalities or simply the affordability, which, of course, is the reality for many people – however, education is a good starting point to change that. Essentially, we want people striving to choose to live in an area that is in harmony, well-rounded and tackling the broadest of climate challenges. The aim is to ensure, in time, that this is possible for everyone.

S ocial and commercial value

S triking the balance between social and commercial value is often a thankless task and sometimes a ‘one-or-theother’ choice. However, the blue-green approach truly links the two together and effectively makes them the same thing.

B y designing spaces that benefit the environment and the local community, you create a more commercially-viable product, one which people will aspire to be a part of, and other places can use as a benchmark.

We are currently facing two crises – housing and climate. The headscratching moment, one that often causes a divide in the higher echelons of central Government, is how do we meet the ongoing need in terms of housing, while still putting our green foot forward and doing right by the environment?

N o one is saying it’s straightforward because that couldn’t be further from the truth, but having said that, bluegreen infrastructure and employing a

landscape-led approach to our existing and future places is definitely a critical step forward in addressing both entities.

B y understanding that a blue-green approach can provide a solution to both housing and climate, those in the built environment can provide their essential service in the most environmentallyfriendly way possible and, as such, create spaces that people can be proud of.

www.slrconsulting.com

HOW CAN THERMAL PERFORMANCE BE MAXIMISED IN A MODERN DEVELOPMENT?

How can you leverage good thermal performance when designing a modern development? Nick Haughton, Head of ESG at Sapphire Balconies, looks at how ‘next-generation’ manufacturing means considering more than just carbon reduction but long-term thermal efficiency, too.

SAPPHIRE BALCONIES

Considering the ever-fluctuating temperature across the world from season to season, the thermal performance of your building should be considered from concept to completion.

T he difference between an offsite-manufactured balcony and a traditional concrete slab is that a thermal performance solution can be included as standard from the design stage. But this further begs the question: How can thermal performance be maximised in a modern development?

Understanding thermal bridging

H eat will always travel by the path of least resistance – this is how thermal bridging can occur. If the materials surrounding an object are more conductive than the object itself, the heat can jump through, creating the risk of a thermal bridge. Thermal bridging poses a sizeable risk for heat loss, potentially accounting for up to 30% of a building’s total energy losses, widening the gap between expected and actual energy demands in buildings.

I n the UK, homes are generally built to retain heat due to the colder climate. In modern high-rise developments, this has meant building with thermal bridging in mind – using double glazing on windows to ensure heat and energy are retained and using smaller, thermallybroken balcony anchor connection points to reduce the area in which heat can be lost is minimised.

One of the many risks of thermal bridging is a reduction in building energy performance. Without a good thermal break solution in place, the thermal performance of your development could be drastically lowered as energy escapes from the building, even potentially losing Passive House certification if not considered correctly.

Mitigation strategies

M itigating against thermal bridging doesn’t need to be a headache. Low-conductivity materials are a smart choice – by limiting how conductive the material on the external envelope is, there is a smaller chance of thermal bridging occurring. Optimising connection details is another fundamental element of getting thermal bridging mitigation right. Producing a single, long thermal break on a concrete slab, time and resources may be unnecessarily wasted. Consider the solution used on a modern aluminium balcony – smaller, simpler, streamlined integrated thermal breaks. Integrated thermal breaks are built into the balcony anchor points, providing not only a structurallyrigid point to connect to the building but also one that protects against heat energy loss.

A re BREEAM guidelines helpful?

BRE is an organisation that gives guidance that aims to support compliance with Building Regulations. BRE has established BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) for this purpose.

B REEAM has become a leading and widely-used environmental assessment method for buildings and sets standards for best practice. Whilst BRE best-practice guidance is not mandatory legislation, working to these standards makes compliance with Building Regulations easier. Coupled with this, many schemes embrace BREEAM for which high ratings can only be achieved through embracing BRE advice.

B REEAM features guidance on best practice for thermal efficiency in all areas of construction. At Sapphire, we’ve taken their guidance on board when designing our thermally-broken balcony connections. Guidance on the effects of thermal bridging can be found in the BRE document IP1 06 (‘Assessing the effects of thermal bridging’). Two further key documents regarding thermal breaks can be found in Sections 4.2 of IP1 06 and 5 of IP1 06.

Best practices for thermal performance

C onsidering the climate conditions across the globe, Building Regulations that need to be adhered to and region-specific standards – what exactly is the best practice for achieving optimal thermal performance? Reflect on the mitigation strategies set out above –by using less conductive materials, less heat transfer is possible. Reducing the number of penetrations in a facade can, in turn, reduce the area in which heat transfer can begin in the first place.

C onsidering thermal performance in balconies, Sapphire aims to maximise thermal efficiency whilst maintaining a rigid structure within our balconies. We incorporate thermal breaks in tactical locations throughout our builds to reduce total heat loss. These can be located between the floors and ceilings of the apartments in question, acting as an extra layer of insulation around the arms our balconies are fitted to. The insulation materials we use to form the thermal break often will help to insulate the small area in question, though architects should also consider good ceiling and flooring insulation around these junctions.

U nderstanding thermal bridging is key to maximising the thermal performance of modern developments.

B etween knowing that heat will always travel the path of least resistance and that, by mitigating against thermal bridging, we can understand that using innovative solutions for thermal efficiency isn’t just a fad – it’s the future of sustainable building.

S apphire Balconies is a balcony manufacturer and supplier specialising in the mid- to high-rise residential construction market. Sapphire focuses on bringing lightweight, innovative aluminium balcony projects to apartment complexes across the globe.

www.balconies.global

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Chris Adair, Product Innovation Manager at Marshalls, explains how specifiers can combine new biodiversity and drainage requirements harmoniously.

MARSHALLS

Bi odiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a pivotal shift in planning regulation with major consequences, whether you’re working on a small housing plot or a major infrastructure project. Now, designers and specifiers must have a greater focus on how they can enhance as well as maintain habitats ensuring a scheme delivers a BNG of 10% post construction.

I n parallel, a second piece of legislation looms large for those working on new-build housing developments, which will also require the industry to think differently when it comes to drainage. Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act, which will soon be adopted in full in England and is already live in Wales, puts sustainable drainage solutions (SUDs) central to the prevention of flooding from storm overflow discharges on new developments.

W hile there’s been an emphasis on the benefits of using SUDs in new housing developments for several years, it has always been at the developer’s discretion. Now, as urbanisation, population increase and the impact of climate change have exposed towns and cities to increased risks of flooding and watercourse pollution, the introduction of Schedule 3 will dictate a developer’s drainage plans more than ever before.

Dual transition

A lthough BNG and Schedule 3 are distinct, designers and specifiers can tackle both requirements simultaneously by considering design principles in tandem and exploring solutions that help meet the legislation in an integrated and harmonious way.

I n particular, specifiers and designers should consider innovations that reduce the amount of water entering the sewer systems while also adding natural beauty and biodiversity to a development.

Integrated innovations

A lready widely used across the public realm and housing developments to provide a flood management system that doubles up as an attractive, biodiverse feature, rain gardens have increased in popularity in recent years.

R ain gardens use plants and soil to retain and slow the flow of rainwater from surrounding hard surfaces. One way to use the rain garden method is by combining it with a kerb – where water flows into the garden through an inlet in the kerb, is slowed down by a diffuser flag, and is kept at surface level to be absorbed by the soil. This system both supports plant life and prevents the water from immediately entering the sewer system.

C urrently, designers and specifiers looking to integrate rain garden kerbs have to create their own solutions, taking up valuable resources in the design process and on site and slowing down installation.

I n recognition of the need to make it easier for this valuable SuDS solution to be incorporated in to new developments, we have developed a complete, off-the-shelf rain garden kerb system. Combining left and right inlet kerbs and a complementary diffuser flag, the system presents both timeand cost-saving opportunities on site when compared to cutting or repurposing standard kerbs.

Nature-based solutions in action

To understand its potential impact on housing developments of the future, these innovative rain garden kerbs have been trialled as part of a sustainable flood resilience plan in Mansfield, the largest project of its kind ever attempted in the country.

A s part of the scheme, Mansfield District Council and Nottingham County Council have invested £76m in a range of nature-based solutions to protect communities from flooding. For context, just £15m has been invested into similar, previous projects spanning the whole of the UK.

B y the time the project is completed in 2025, rain gardens, as well as several other innovative solutions, will have played a role in storing over 58 million litres of surface water run-off, reducing the flood risk for 90,000 people in the area.

I ntended to be the blueprint for how to manage flooding in the future, while also making the area a greener place to live, the project is a showcase of the major impact products like rain garden kerb systems can have on communities as we battle to overcome the catastrophic consequences of biodiversity loss and climate change.

E asier integration

In navigating the evolving landscape of planning regulations, designers and specifiers must embrace a holistic approach to meet the demands of biodiversity enhancement and improved drainage. B y harmonising design principles and exploring integrated solutions, such as innovative rain garden kerb systems, specifiers can streamline compliance efforts while enhancing the ecological footprint of developments. These nature-based solutions not only mitigate flood risks but also contribute to the aesthetic and ecological richness of communities.

www.marshalls.co.uk

WHO OWNS IMAGES CREATED USING AI?

Architects are increasingly looking to use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in their work. The range of AI tools has exploded in recent years, and the impact on efficiency cannot be downplayed. For example, creating designs can now be done in minutes, whereas previously, this would have taken an expert many hours in Photoshop, say Brett Lambe, a Senior Associate specialising in intellectual property, and Stephen Homer, Partner in the construction law team at Ashfords LLP.

ASHFORDS LLP

Ho wever, AI remains a relatively new frontier and, for architects, this presents a number of issues related to intellectual property (IP). In particular, you need to avoid infringing a third-party’s IP, while protecting your own IP from the same infringement risk.

For the purposes of this piece, I’ll be focusing on text-to-image generative AI programmes, such as DALL-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. However, many of the legal principles also apply to wider AI applications.

Who, or what, owns the IP?

K ey to establishing IP ownership of AI output is whether a work created by an AI tool can be truly “owned” in the eyes of the law and, if so, who will own it. This question is still being determined by the courts. In order to be eligible for copyright protection, under English law, creative works must be original. This traditionally meant that the work had to be created through the author’s own skill, judgment and individual effort, but more recently, this has been interpreted to mean that the work must be the “author’s own intellectual creation”.

This raises the question: For a work generated by AI, is the AI the author and is the work its own intellectual creation? At the moment, this seems unlikely, as AI still

needs to be fed information to create its output. But, in the future? It is quite possible the courts will take a different view.

H owever, even if copyright is found to exist, there is then a separate question of who owns the copyright. Current legislation expressly provides protection to works that are completely computer generated. The UK Government, following a recent consultation, has accepted that AI systems should not be considered the owner of a design, and we believe that the current legislation means the person who inputted the instructions to the AI will be considered the author (rather than the AI tool itself). However, until this is tested in the courts, we cannot be certain.

Protecting your IP

A key issue with using AI is understanding not just who owns the final work, but how the AI is trained with pre-existing material. Given many sources of 'training data ’ include images found on the internet, use of this material to train the AI model is potentially an act of copyright infringement.

A few cases are currently going through the courts including a claim by Getty Images, which is suing Stability AI (the developer of Stable Diffusion) for copyright infringement, alleging that

IS A SENIOR ASSOCIATE SPECIALISING IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AT ASHFORDS LLP

Getty Images’ copyright images were used unlawfully by Stability AI to train its AI model, using the apparent reproduction of the Getty Images watermark in material generated using Stable Diffusion as evidence.

W hile we await the outcome of this and similar cases, the hard reality for most businesses is that it will be incredibly challenging to claim infringement of its IP. By the ‘black box ’ nature of AI models’ development, it is hugely difficult, from a technical and legal perspective, to peer behind the curtain to understand how AI models are trained and demonstrate that an architect’s IP has been copied.

Using AI going forward

A s is evident, there are still many unresolved issues around the lawful interplay between AI and IP, meaning architects and anyone working in building design should be prudent in their adoption of AI.

However, what is clear is that AI is here to stay and will continue to evolve. Whilst the legal foundations are still being built, architects must think carefully about how to capitalise on the opportunities AI presents, whilst carefully navigating the risks.

BRETT LAMBE

STEPHEN HOMER IS A PARTNER IN THE CONSTRUCTION LAW TEAM AT ASHFORDS LLP

CA Building Products launches expanded range of profiles

CA Twin-Therm® is the market leading complete metal roofing and cladding built-up system, available with the CA Group Complete Assurance Guarantee with periods of 25, 30 or 40 years.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about us and what we do at: www.cagroup.co.uk

CA Group 01388 834242 enquiries@cagroup.co.uk

This year CA Building Products is proud to announce the expansion of our range of profiles available for CA Twin-Therm®, creating greater choice for architects, increased flexibility in design and improved ease-of-use for installers.

CA Twin-Therm® offers:

• Independent Agrément certification, LPCB, LPS1181, LPS1175 and Secured By Design accreditation

• Fire Resistance as standard offering, with up to 240 minutes Integrity and 120 minutes Insulation, valid for either external or internal fire resistance

• Backed by Confidex® and Confidex Sustain® by Tata Steel for up to 40 years

• No reduction in Guarantee period for inclusion of solar PV or EV charging installations

• Stringent quality, environmental and Health & Safety control measures, ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001

• Twin-Therm® Chronus and Chronus Ready [pat pend] unique solution for future proofed controlled environments

• Environmental Product Declarations gathering full life cycle data Modules A1-5, B1-5, C1-4 and D, with independent third party endorsement and building design life of 60 years

BE FIRE DOOR CONFIDENT

To achieve high standards of fire safety, coordination and collaboration must be maintained throughout the supply chain. Architects, designers and specifiers all play an effective role in fire safety by prioritising safety in practical and functional architectural plans and through appropriate product specifications. The first concern for developers and contractors must then be competent and compliant installation. Beyond this, maintenance and management of the fire safety products is critical for consistent performance, says Owen Jones, Technical Director at Distinction Doors, the stockist and distributor of the fds (fire door systems) fire door range.

DISTINCTION DOORS AND FIRE DOOR SYSTEMS (FDS)

To accomplish this, supply chain members must have complete confidence in the products they are specifying, buying and installing and in whom they are buying from. They want to know they are investing in the best possible solution, and that this is underpinned by robust and trustworthy service. This cannot be achieved without knowledge and education.

U nderstandably, some people hesitate when it comes to specifying and installing fire protection. There have been, and continue to be, a lot of changes surrounding fire safety in the built environment, and this causes anxiety, not just for construction professionals but for the building occupants, too. I n our experience, decision makers are looking to the supply chain for expertise and assurances, and we have a responsibility to deliver this at every stage of the process. Distinction Doors defines these stages as specification, procurement, manufacture, installation and maintenance.

Modern fire doors

F ire doors are one product area that still confounds, especially composite fire doors. As an industry that includes members of the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), we are working tirelessly to educate and inform stakeholders of the significant advances, including robust testing, third-party certification and supply chain transparency. It is vital that we raise awareness of modern composite fire door capabilities to help resolve surging demand for proven, compliant and consistent fire safety products post Grenfell.

M any modern composite fire door manufacturers and suppliers strive to exceed standards and expectations to deliver the most robust and proven fire door solutions on the market. We do this through independent and verified test results proving consistent performance, compliance and certifying manufacturers and, where possible, installers.

Thoroughly tested

We advise that stakeholders familiarise themselves with the latest legal requirements for fire doors. A high-performance composite fire doorset must be independently tested to BS 47622:1987 or the more demanding European test method BS EN 1634-1:2014 – both are currently accepted for Building Regulation compliance and prove 30 minutes of minimum integrity.

Internal use

For internal applications, the fire doorset must also meet the demands of EN 1634-3:2004 (ambient smoke control). For external use, compliance with BS 6375 (weathertightness) is required. Compliance with Approved Document L (thermal performance) is mandatory in either setting. Currently, PAS 24:2022 (security) is only mandatory for new-build projects, however, it is often required in the specification of refurbishment projects, too. It can be strengthened by additional Secured by Design status, which independently verifies compliance with the Police Preferred Specification.

Fire rated glass Steel Framed Fire doors and screens

To further compliment our range of fireglass, Firman now offer complete steel framed fire doors and screens. Built to the most demanding specifications for commercial buildings, shop fronts, entrances, interior fire screen walls and virtually any other application.

Each system is designed specifically to suit the requirements of the particular application. Sections can be provided in mild steel, finished to any standard RAL colour, aluminium clad as well as our new range of stainless steel sections available in either a satin or bright polished finished. Firman offer a full selection of fireglass, on either a supply only or a supply and install basis, providing fire protection from a basic 30 minute integrity only rating through to the highest levels of integrity and insulation. To find out more about these products visit www.firmanglass.com

01708 374534 sales@firmanglass.com www.firmanglass.com

E xternal use

U nder new legislation to legally supply fire doorsets for external use, i.e. locations that are open to the elements, such as external flat entrances, the manufacturer must first be UKCA accredited. This authorises them to produce a UKCA-marked external fire doorset and issue a Declaration of Performance (DoP) that references both BS EN 14351-1, the external pedestrian doorset standard and BS EN 16034, the standard for fire resisting and/or smoke control pedestrian doorsets proving compliance.

C urrently, UKCA marking applies to external fire doorsets only. Internal fire doorsets are exempt, although we anticipate that this will change in the future.

T hese tests must be conducted by a third party and certificated using an independent United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)-accredited test house and/or certification body.

Competent installers

T he fire door must then be installed by a professional. Details such as door gaps outside the specification, missing fire stopping around the frame and poorly-fitted or -adjusted door closers can all compromise performance, which, in the event of a fire, may cause an unnecessary risk to life.

We encourage contractors and registered providers to appoint installers who are certified to the non-mandatory requirements of BM Trada’s Q-Mark STD 052. GQA training is now also available for fire door inspectors, installers and maintainers.

Data tagging

To ensure long-term compliance and robust maintenance of the fire door, some fire door manufacturers are opting to insert a data tag into the fire doorset. Information, such as test data and certification, manufacturer details, technical support documents and key data relating to inspections and maintenance, can be stored on the data tag.

This approach provides easy access to a comprehensive and up-to-date record of accurate information, which helps meet demand for a digital Golden Thread of information and will support the responsible person in fulfilling their legal duties.

Our fds system is proven to perform with a variety of data tags capable of being read by digital asset management software. By using these data tags, our fabricators can supply a futureproof fire doorset that meets and exceeds current requirements.

www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

www.firedoorsystems.co.uk

GLASS EXCELLENCE

With over 46 years’ experience and UK-wide coverage, Firman Glass aims to be your number one choice for commercial and industrial glass products.

• Toughened glass

• Processing

• CNC shaping

• Specialist insulating glass units

• Anti–slip glass

• Fire rated glass

• Toughened glass

• Laminated glass

• Processing

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• Toughened and laminated constructions

• Laminated glass

• EVA and Vanceva coloured interlays

• Fabric and decorative interlays

• Toughened and laminated constructions

• Structural interlays

• EVA and Vanceva coloured interlays

• Fabric and decorative interlays

• Structural interlays

• Structural glazing

• Glass floors

• Partitions

• Staircases

• Specialist insulating glass units

• UV bonding

• Anti–slip glass

• Electric switchable glass

• Fire rated glass

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• Decorative glass

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• Sandblasting

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• ColorfirmTM back painted glass

• Decorative glass

• Sandblasting

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• Treads and stringers

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• Balustrades

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• Glass doors

• Treads and stringers

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• Nationwide Coverage Products Applications

• Full height barriers

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• Canopies

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• Nationwide Coverage Products Applications

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Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass, 19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 0JH Tel: 01708 374534 Email: sales@ rmanglass.com

Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass, 19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 0JH Tel: 01708 374534 Email: sales@ rmanglass.com

www.firmanglass.com

With over 46 years’ experience and UK-wide coverage, Firman Glass aims to be your number one choice for commercial and industrial glass products. www.firmanglass.com

CREATING THE ‘DESTINATION’ WORKPLACE – THE DESIGN PRINCIPLES LEADING THE WAY

Today’s high-performing workplaces are ‘destination’ offices – places where employees want and choose to spend their time. Focusing on enhancing people’s wellbeing and productivity is key to success, and the materials and surfaces chosen by designers play a crucial role. In this article, Ashton Holmes, Senior Project Designer at office design and build expert Peldon Rose, looks at the key design tactics influencing those choices.

1. Fusing the home and office

Resimercial design brings together residential and commercial elements, creating workspaces that feel more like home or in the hospitality sector. This concept focuses on comfort, warmth and the use of soft furnishings to make offices more inviting and somewhere people want to spend their time.

VaynerMedia’s London office exemplifies this ethos with a design that includes relaxed, comfortable areas that mimic the feel of a living room or hotel lounge. The space is home to plush sofas, coffee tables and vibrant artwork that gives it a personal touch. This environment is designed to reduce stress and promote a relaxed yet productive feel, with surfaces like wooden floors layered with textured rugs adding comfort.

When real estate investment firm The Valesco Group needed a workplace to welcome its high calibre of talent and clients, heritage and luxury were blended with residential warmth. Wall panelling, abstract artwork and natural elements, such as the boardroom’s eucalyptus table, were introduced to create a serene atmosphere. The artwork not only added visual interest but also reduced noise reverberations, optimising acoustics in meeting spaces. The use of marble flooring and hand-painted fireplaces added a further touch of elegance and timelessness for a high-performing and attractive workplace.

2. Bringing the outdoors in

Biophilic design enhances the connection between humans and nature, bringing the outdoors inside the built environment. This design philosophy incorporates natural elements into design, such as plants, natural light, materials and colour, to support health and wellbeing of the workforce. This concept takes a holistic approach, underpinned by design that connects with nature through a variety of elements.

When global asset management firm Napier Park needed a warm, welcoming space for clients, visitors and employees, the choice of surfaces played a key role in bringing the outdoors in. Natural materials, such as walnut veneers, were used throughout the office on doors, cabinets and sideboards, while real stone floors guide visitors through the entrance. Strategically-placed indoor plants and rich, earth-toned upholstery bring the contrast of wood and stone together into one cohesive biophilic design.

The use of natural light within office design also reduces the need for artificial lighting and creates a vibrant, energising workspace where employees will feel refreshed and inspired. This is the case at the headquarters of Hampshire Trust Bank in the city, where the design capitalises on the building’s abundant natural light at 80 Fenchurch Street. Desks have been placed perpendicular to the windows to maximise sunlight exposure, and the floor-to-ceiling windows by the teapoint seamlessly blend the indoors with views of the cityscape.

3. Making sustainable choices

For many businesses, sustainability is a priority when considering a workplace redesign or relocation, and surface selection can play an important role in achieving sustainable objectives. By making conscious material choices that reduce a building’s carbon footprint, designers can create spaces that are not only beautiful but also have a minimal environmental impact. The use of materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled glass and low-VOC paints not only contributes to a healthier indoor environment but also helps to demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to sustainability.

Repurposed materials and reused furniture can offer a sustainable alternative to new products and add character to a space. This principle came to life as Peldon Rose transformed

PELDON ROSE

the former Christian Louboutin HQ at 60 Ironmonger Row into an attractive workplace for future tenants. To achieve perfect harmony in the historic Edwardian warehouse, 18,000 reclaimed terracotta tiles were installed across work surfaces, walls and floors to tie in with the rustic style of the building, and the original Merbau wooden flooring was restored.

Additionally, rather than closing the reception area off from the wider, open-plan space with a solid wall, large algae sheets were used as an innovative and sustainable surface choice to hang between the two areas, offering a lighter-touch separation. These sustainable surfaces reduce waste and highlight the beauty of repurposed materials, making the office a standout destination that demonstrates a commitment to environmental responsibility.

The Craftory, a global investor in responsible consumer packaged goods brands, wanted to reflect its sustainable business practices in its office space. To achieve this, almost all furniture throughout the office was repurposed, reused or upcycled. New timber flooring certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and 100% recycled nylon carpets were used to highlight the company’s commitment to ethical production and environmental responsibility. The vibrant design mirrors the company’s energy and dedication to positive change, with the repurposed materials adding character and history for a unique and inspiring environment.

True ‘destination’ offices are more than functional spaces; they are considered environments where employees want to be and places that inspire creativity and boost wellbeing. By blending natural elements, homely comforts and sustainable materials, we can transform workspaces into destinations that resonate with the modern workforce’s values and needs. Thoughtful choices in surfaces, from natural materials to recycled products, are a key component in achieving this, ensuring that each space is beautiful, functional and inspiring. www.peldonrose.com

Napier Park

60 Ironmonger Row

GOVERNMENT-BACKED MODULAR CONSTRUCTION: A MISGUIDED INVESTMENT?

Despite repeated failings, the UK Government continues to back modular construction efforts with millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at H+H UK, questions if this support is misplaced.

Mo dular, or volumetric, construction is not a new concept, but it is an idealised one. In 1926, architectural pioneer Walter Gropius suggested a future where lowercost housing would be made possible “by mass-production methods of stock dwellings” manufactured in specialised factories, and then transported and assembled at the construction site. In

such a weather-dependent country as the UK, where site labour is often difficult to find, it’s easy to see why the idea is attractive here.

T he concept of building houses in factories has received significant Government support, being proposed as a solution to the UK’s housing crisis. In the 2017 housing white paper, ‘Fixing our broken housing market’, the

Government made several commitments to modern methods of construction (MMC). This pledge, along with a plan to subsidise modular building in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, has resulted in substantial funding being directed towards MMC solutions, with a particular focus on volumetric.

D espite this Government support, several UK volumetric housing manufacturers collapsed in the last two years, including House by Urban Splash, L&G’s modular arm and Modulous.

Another recent casualty, Ilke Homes, had received £60m from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency. The lack of success prompted the House of Lords Built Environment Committee to initiate an inquiry titled ‘MMC – what’s gone wrong?’ to investigate the obstacles hindering the increased delivery of MMC homes.

Even with “millions of pounds of public money invested,” the review concluded that “the Government’s approach to MMC is in disarray”. Chair Lord Moylan summarised: “The Government needs to change tack. Simply throwing money at the sector hasn’t worked.”

T he inquiry identified numerous reasons for the failures. The central issue, I would suggest, lies in the business model of high-volume housing. Setting up a factory for volumetric housing requires significant capital expenditure for the set up, both in terms of constructing the factory and in recruiting and retaining a workforce.

Repaying this capital requires a consistent pipeline of demand, which the UK’s speculative housing market can’t

provide. Volumetric builders construct homes in line with their sales and demand, and flexibility is key. Housing demand is very changeable as the market is influenced by consumer confidence. With interest rates and economic uncertainty in play, demand for new homes can rapidly decelerate, and it isn’t feasible for housebuilders to simply stash completed units to keep production going.

H owever, the trajectory of volumetric shouldn’t detract from the advantages of MMC overall. As defined in the MMC Definition Framework, a jointly-devised framework by the Government and an industry working group, there are seven MMC categories, and volumetric falls under only one of them. The Built Environment Committee noted considerable success with Category Two solutions, which involve premanufactured components rather than entire units.

T he Vertical Wall Panel (VWP) system made by H+H is a prime example of what a successful Category Two MMC solution can look like. The aircrete (autoclaved aerated concrete) panels are innovative in the speed at which they can be used in a build, but they have evolved from tried-and-tested methods.

T he inquiry noted that, as well as improving the speed and quality of delivery, prefabricated components provide scaleable solutions to suit the capacities of both smaller regional housebuilders and for the major housebuilders delivering projects on a much larger scale.

R egional housebuilder Karm Homes, who specialises in affordable housing, chose to use VWPs as their Category

Two MMC solution when they needed speed, simplicity and excellent thermal performance for the company’s most recent project constructing two chalet bungalows in Dorset. Director Martin Keenes commented on their process: “We use local architects to design our houses. Once they’ve seen VWPs in action, they’re completely converted. We can’t understand why more companies are not using this solution.”

W ith reduced construction time comes the added benefit of more flexibility for the rest of the build. Follow-on trades can begin work sooner, so even if timeconsuming elements, such as stonewall exteriors, are specified, there is less impact on project timescales.

G iven these insights, we can see there are viable MMC options with great

potential, yet the Government continues to disproportionately put its support behind volumetric. The question arises: If the Government isn’t stimulating the housing market with initiatives like easing planning permissions, should it really be subsidising and dictating construction methods?

I f the responsibility of making these methods work is left to the industry, then the sector should also determine the best ways to implement them. The failures in volumetric construction underscore the need for a more strategic approach that balances innovation with practical market dynamics.

www.hhcelcon.co.uk

BUILD FOCUS:

BIOMIMICRY & NATUREINSPIRED ARCHITECTURE

The architectural form concept of the Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science stems from a profound contemplation of the human-nature relationship, exploring coexistence, human impact on the natural ecosystem and the ensuing responsibilities.

XYLOPOLIS CENTRE FOR WOOD ART AND SCIENCE: AN ARCHITECTURAL

REFLECTION ON THE HUMAN-NATURE RELATIONSHIP

In response to the ecological and social challenges of the future, WXCA architects envisioned a design imbued with a belief in human wisdom and the potential for rational, responsible resource management for the Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science in Wasilków, Poland.

Th is philosophy is rooted in the multi-generational traditions and history of Podlasie’s wooden culture, as well as the region’s cutting-edge wood construction technologies. Thus, this reflection is expressed not only symbolically but also through specific formal and technological proposals.

The architectural concept for the Xylopolis headquarters draws inspiration from WXCA’s design for the Polish Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, where the original exhibition of the Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science was showcased. This internationallyacclaimed project also delves into the synergy between tradition and modernity, embodying the idea of sustainable development in harmony with nature. Similarly to the Expo 2020 project, the Xylopolis Pavilion features an upward-expanding, modular structure framed by a kinetic installation depicting a flock of birds in flight – a metaphor for mobility, dynamic global changes and the flow of information and knowledge.

T he architects opted for techniques that highlight the aesthetic qualities of wood, the primary construction and finishing material for the pavilion. Wooden claddings with varied textures and movable facade elements will create an interactive spatial installation powered by air movement and the play of light and shadow throughout the day and year, showcasing the multifaceted role of natural phenomena in creating a sense of comfort and harmony. In this way, the pavilion itself will become an exhibit in the landscape, an immersive setting for Xylopolis’ activities and the living praxis of Podlasie culture.

T hanks to ecological technologies, it will exemplify the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. The project incorporates comprehensive and multifaceted analyses aimed at minimising the embodied carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of the building and its components, primarily through the use of wood supplemented with low-emission materials (low-emission steel and concrete). The wooden and modular orthogonal structure allows for the prefabrication of elements (walls and external and internal finishes), thus reducing onsite construction work. A significant emphasis has been placed on spatial flexibility to minimise potential future waste generation.

The Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science also features a unique garden spanning over four hectares. The landscape design reflects the centre’s founding principles, integrating natural elements with modern technologies. The project maximises the use of the natural terrain and includes solutions such as the selection

WXCA ARCHITECTS

of local, resilient plants that require low energy and water inputs while supporting natural retention (dry stream systems and a retention pond). Additionally, the area is equipped with energyefficient retention, infiltration and lighting systems, alongside various engineering solutions that promote efficient and sustainable resource management, making it resilient to current and future climate changes, including droughts, strong winds, rainfall and fires.

The Xylopolis Cultural Hub

T he main building of Xylopolis is a central four-storey pavilion. The ground floor is organised around a multi-level central hall surrounded by educational workshop and exhibition spaces, as well as recreational areas, including dining facilities, a shop and a play area for children. The design enables seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing internal activities to extend into garden zones. The upper floors offer multifunctional spaces dedicated to various cultural fields: Science, technology and art, including a hall for large-scale paintings by Leon Tarasewicz, a multifunctional room for performances, lectures and debates, and spaces for intermedia installations focused on ecological education and the dissemination of knowledge through presentations of the latest scientific and technological achievements.

I n WXCA’s concept, the pavilion’s surroundings are an integral element of the Xylopolis experience, featuring dedicated outdoor activity and recreational areas among greenery: Themed gardens, an art park, an amphitheatre, a saline graduation tower and an observation tower overlooking traditional Podlasie wooden architecture. The entire site will be accessible to all, forming an attractive and cohesive infrastructure and, together with the nearby Podlasie Museum of Folk Culture, creating a space of value for the regional community and identity.

Local Government representatives describe the establishment of the Xylopolis headquarters in Wasilków near Białystok as a strategic regional project, aiming to create a cultural and educational centre that integrates the local community and promotes the traditions, nature, and brand of Podlasie externally. As a public utility facility, Xylopolis will be a place for the popularisation of art and wood science, hosting exhibitions, conferences, and workshops. Completion is planned for the end of 2027.

www.wxca.pl

HOW TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY: OSB MEETS TIMBER FRAME

The undersupply of new housing in the UK is at crisis levels and will require solutions to accelerate residential construction and provide relief to a housing market that is stretched to breaking point. However, timber-frame construction presents a viable and sustainable solution to this pressing challenge. Compared to traditional building techniques, the prefabricated nature of timber-frame components allows for greater quality control and precision, minimising onsite errors and ensuring consistent build quality.

Re becca Goldsmith, Product Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY, explains why energy-saving timber products, such as OSB, offer advantages – from structural strength to adaptability and ease of installation – as part of timber-frame systems and is key to providing high-quality, low-carbon housing rapidly and efficiently.

A s a summer election looms, the housing crunch will be a defining issue but it is coupled with the additional challenge of reducing emissions from housing stock. In the need for energy-efficient solutions that can simultaneously meet net-zero goals and provide much-needed new housing, housebuilders should be willing to explore new approaches to construction, such as structural timber systems. Building with timber in new housebuilding schemes in place of other materials is an effective route to reducing the carbon impact of new homes.

A crucial aspect will be ensuring the thermal performance and the design of a building’s envelope. This heightened focus on the building fabric presents both challenges and opportunities. As a route to more thermally-efficient building envelopes, it will become critical to ensure buildings are airtight. Timber-frame manufacturers that can provide high-performance, airtight envelope solutions will be well positioned to meet these changing regulations and capitalise on the move towards low-energy construction.

A irtight fabric

I n order to meet the evolving standards, there is an innovative solution to simplify the path to airtight building envelopes. The increasing demand for double-sheathed timber frames in both structural applications and the development of offsite closed panels, led to innovation for producing a certified, airtight OSB/3 panel.

T he panel can be used as the airtight layer on the warm side of the insulation in timber-frame construction systems, helping to create an airtight building envelope. Each panel features alternating layers of wood strands coated with a high-quality formaldehyde-free resin and wax binder system to deliver outstanding levels of airtightness. A specialist coating is then applied to ensure vapour resistance and provide a premium performance OSB solution for super-insulated and passive buildings, and enable the elimination of a traditional additional vapour-control membrane from the construction.

T he seamless integration of air and vapour barriers into high-performance OSB panels streamlines the installation process, significantly reducing the risk of air leakage that frequently compromises traditional timber-frame structures.

T his innovative solution goes beyond the simplification of the construction process but also provides a certified and proven methodology for creating airtight building envelopes, paving the way for low-carbon, energy-efficient homes that can provide a template for the future of residential construction.

Housing fit for the future

A n exciting regeneration project in Cardiff is a superb example of the way timber-frame engineering can deliver high-performance, sustainable housing. Lowfield Timber Frames specified

MEDITE SMARTPLY

airtight panels alongside a supply of their timber kits for a development of 12, two-bedroom houses in Heath, Cardiff.

Built to strict Passivhaus standards, the homes offer improved health and wellbeing conditions for occupants whilst requiring very low levels of energy for space heating or cooling. Additionally, using timber frame for the construction lowers the carbon footprint of the development.

D arren Jarman, Managing Director of Lowfield Timber Frames, comments: “The Highfields scheme in Cardiff was just one of several Passivhaus schemes we have completed over the past two years. We now have an external wall build-up that not only meets the Passivhaus standards but also has extremely low embodied carbon credentials.”

I f we are to ever make a dent in our housing deficit then we must take full advantage of timber-frame construction. Offering housebuilders a viable and highperforming build solution, timber-frame construction can reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions whilst maximising sustainability and resource efficiency. The use of OSB, which features integrated air barrier properties, will enable timber-frame manufacturers to consistently deliver the stringent airtightness levels needed and create airtight, high-performance building envelopes that are futureproofed for our net-zero challenges.

www.mdfosb.com

SENIOR LAUNCHES REAL

2.0 – A NEW UK-SOURCED, LOW-CARBON ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION OFFERING

Senior Architectural Systems is going the extra mile to reduce the carbon footprint generated through the transportation of its products by supporting the use of UKsourced, closed-loop recycled aluminium.

Branded as ReAL 2.0, Senior is launching a new bespoke scheme for customers who are looking to further reduce the embodied carbon generated through the manufacture, transportation and disposal of aluminium fenestration products. Senior can now manufacture its full range of products from aluminium extrusions comprising a minimum of 75% recycled content from post-consumer scrap materials, which are sourced and processed in the UK using low-carbon methods. As the largest privatelyowned aluminium systems house in the UK, all of Senior’s products are manufactured in south Yorkshire. T he new offering is currently only available to customers on request, but Senior hopes that as more aluminium from the UK is able to be recycled and reused, supply will increase to reduce the reliance on importing recycled aluminium from overseas. To

FENESTRATION SPECIALIST, ASWS, FACILITATES ‘FORENSIC’ DEMOLITION WORK

ASSOCIATED STEEL

WINDOW SERVICES (ASWS)

support this, where possible, Senior will also work with select clients to manage the removal of older aluminium fenestration products from retrofit schemes for recycling.

O wing to the UK’s current limited capacity for reprocessing aluminium, most recycled aluminium is imported, but Senior has recently made changes to its main supply to ensure that it can still offer all its customers a lower-carbon option. As

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk/contact

The finesse and forensic attention to detail displayed by Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) when removing, cataloguing and, eventually, reinstating old windows or other architectural metalwork could not be further removed from the world of the wrecking ball or Fred Dibnah burning timber props from beneath a factory chimney. It is a capability that the South London-based company – a longstanding member of the Steel Window Association – has developed over decades of working with main contractors, its demolition contractors and leading firms of consultants, evolving originally from being tasked with removing windows so that hoists and waste chutes can be deployed or to allow bulky items of M&E, such as fan coil units, to be installed. Such is the sophistication of the service offered by ASWS that the specialist is often called in at the earliest pre-contract stages in order to assess the condition of fenestration, providing documents and drawings crucial to gaining permission for work from Heritage England or councils’ conservation officers.

one of the early adopters of recycled aluminium, Senior extrudes all its products from aluminium, which contains more recycled materials than before and generates lower carbon emissions throughout its production. These emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents, and one kilogram of CO 2 equivalents is comparable to the effect of one kilogram of CO 2 emissions.

RICHARD III CATHEDRAL PRAISES ISO CHEMIE’S LOAD-BEARING BRACKET SUPPORT SYSTEM

ISO CHEMIE

ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load-bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new development project at Leicester Cathedral. The move sees WINFRAMER type 1 units, BLOCO ONE foam sealant tapes and VARIO SD window connection foils installed to support and insulate large Internorm HF410 triple-glazed composite windows being fitted in the cathedral’s eye-catching new heritage and learning centre. The extension is part of the cathedral’s ambition to carry out a wide-ranging £11m revamp of the Grade II-Listed historic building and improve facilities for the increasing number of visitors drawn to the tomb of Richard III. Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place. Quick and easy to install, the product’s application at Leicester Cathedral has been integrated alongside ISO BLOCO One sealing tapes to achieve Passivhaus-certified window perimeter sealing performance.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/

VICAIMA PRESENTS ANOTHER DIMENSION FOR INTERIORS WITH DEKORDOR 3D

Popular for over a decade, the Dekordor 3D range from Vicaima has long been a first choice with specifiers of living and working spaces. With its attractive textural and hard-wearing surface, ideal for contemporary surroundings as well as demanding locations, this competitively-priced interior timber door or door kit has much to commend for both modern private dwellings and social environments. Now, with innovation and inspiration firmly in mind, the range has been reimagined for a new generation of specifiers, with no less than 15 tonal and textural options, making flexible design and performance available to suit a wider range of project budgets.

While colours like the original Horizontal Grey remain as popular today as it always was, a fresh palette has been introduced to satisfy modern trends and encompassing both vertical and horizontal textured faces. For those who seek the neutrality of crisp and light colours, Arctic and Silver Oak blend perfectly with busy surroundings and make excellent use of light in small spaces. Conversely, where rich, warm tones would be ideal and needed to emulate otherwise expensive alternatives, Chocolate, Urban and Light Walnut provide the perfect solution. However, if the desire is to embrace a more monochrome look, new Carbon Black, Grey Oak or Cloud White could provide the answer.

D ekordor 3D is not just about door appearance either. It can be provided in Vicaima’s full gambit of performance solutions. Manufactured with fire (whether FD30 or FD60), security (including dual scope and SBD accreditation) and acoustic certification (ranging from 34 to 45 dB), the range can be supplied as part of a matching door assembly and with associated joinery, such as skirting and wall panels. Furthermore, flexible design options, such as factory glazing, decorative grooves and inlays, are also possible. In short, it is tailored to your project needs, whatever they may be.

For more information about the Vicaima Dekordor 3D range, download the brochure or request a colour sample of your chosen finish via the email address below.

VICAIMA

Grey Oak

Grey Ash

ADVANCED WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY PROTECTS 16TH-CENTURY MANSION HOUSE

ADVANCED

Advanced has provided an intelligent fire panel with wireless detection to protect a historic mansion house and estate in Scotland. An Advanced MxPro 5 analogue addressable fire panel has been installed in Wedderlie House to provide industry-leading protection that is high-performance and fault tolerant. The system protects the whole house, which requires Category L2 coverage as it provides wedding accommodation. Wedderlie House, in the parish of Westruther, consists of a fortified tower that dates back to the late 16th century, to which a larger house was added in 1680. A late 17th-century, three-storey addition features rough-cast walls, and the Renaissance House was added to the old keep expanding the building further. Fire and security service provider Safe Services installed an Advanced MxPro 5 four-loop analogue addressable fire panel with 86 devices on the loop. Due to the age and construction of the building, it would have been impossible to install cabling without damaging the property, so the Advanced panel was seamlessly integrated with EMS Firecell wireless devices.

uk.advancedco.com

STYLISH EVOLVE DECORATIVE LIGHT SWITCHES AND SOCKETS FROM BG

ELECTRICAL

BG ELECTRICAL

The Evolve range of decorative switches and sockets from BG Electrical is proving a winner for electrical installers as they combine end-user demand for style and value with easy, quick-fitting and ‘noreturn’ reliability. The range is suitable for domestic and commercial applications and is the perfect way to ensure all essential power points enhance decor. The slimline switches and sockets are designed with screwless face plates, which easily clip on and off to make decorating easier. Launched by Luceco under its specialist wiring and accessories brand BG Electrical, the Evolve range boasts eight different colours, including brushed steel, black chrome and matte blue, as well as satin brass, polished copper, matte black, matte grey and pearlescent white.

www.bgelectrical.uk

SIEMENS WINS AT 2024 BCIA AWARDS

SIEMENS BUILDING PRODUCTS

Siemens Building Products has won the ‘Technical Innovation of the Year’ category in the biggest awards scheme for the building controls and BEMS (Building & Energy Management System) industry.

Siemens Wireless Room Solution won the hotly-contested Product Category, sponsored by CIBSE, as one of six finalists at the BCIA (Building Controls Industry Association) Awards dinner at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on 2nd May. It was the first time the awards had been presented at this venue, and almost 500 people attended the annual celebration of innovation, product development, project delivery and training in this vital sector of the construction industry. The Wireless Room Solution from Siemens features three new sensors as part of the company’s ongoing development of the company’s expanding IoT range. The battery-operated sensors allow quick and easy installation to provide important indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring, with three options available: Temperature only, temperature and relative humidity, temperature, relative humidity and CO 2 . With buildings being repurposed and reconfigured, the capability for ease of installation or relocation of sensors to meet new requirements without damaging walls and ceilings through rewiring is a particular advantage.

www.siemens.co.uk/buildingtechnologies

FUJITSU’S NEW CONTROLLER IS BETTER BY DESIGN

FUJITSU GENERAL AIR CONDITIONING UK

Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK is introducing a sleek new local controller for Airstage systems designed to blend seamlessly with any installation space. A Good Design Award winner in 2022 and selected as a finalist in the 2023 IDEA awards, the UTY-RVRY model is mounted on a frosted panel and uses mirrors and glass to create a unique floating appearance that complements the interior design. Information is only visible during operation, with the controller appearing as a mirror at other times. Coloured LED lighting indicates different modes of operation, and the light can be switched off to eliminate glare at night, making it an ideal option for hotel rooms.

www.fujitsu-general.com/uk

NATIONAL VENTILATION’S OPERATIONS DIRECTOR COMPLETES D-DAY 44 CHALLENGE

NATIONAL VENTILATION

Alan Parkinson, Operations Director at National Ventilation, has completed the D-Day 44 Challenge in aid of Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. On 6th June, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France, Alan ran 44 miles along the Normandy beaches that formed part of the landings, finishing his ultra marathon at the historic Pegasus Bridge. Alan completed the run in approximately 11 hours, two days after his 66th birthday. So far, Alan has raised £2005 for the charity. For over a century, the charity has helped former servicemen and women with mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. To donate to Alan Parkinson’s fundraising, visit: events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/ alanparkinson/dday44challenge

GILBERTS UPS THE STANDARD IN SMOKE AND FIRE PROTECTION

With growing emphasis on managing the risk of smoke and fire within building safety, one of Britain’s leading air movement engineers, Gilberts, is leading the way to optimise control.

www.gilbertsblackpool.com

To address increasing demand and exceed criteria laid down in the latest Building Regulations, Gilberts is launching a new, fullytested range of insulated smoke and fire dampers. The insulated dampers complement Gilberts’ established Ductgard units for HVAC ductwork.

T he insulation element of the new dampers helps minimise the risk of heat transfer and thus the risk of fire spreading beyond the compartment. Its performance exceeds the two relevant layers of fire safety in buildings: Integrity of compartmentation and structural safety.

S pring and thermal fuse activated, the insulated dampers offer fire resistance of EI30, EI60, EI90 and EI120 for general ventilation systems with walls and partitions of various ratings. T hus, they deliver effective cut-off partitioning between the fire-engulfed zone and the remaining part of the building, helping maintain the building’s integrity.

T he range is fully tested and certified to EN 15650, EN 13501-3 and EN 1366-2.

T he introduction of the insulated dampers builds on Gilberts’ 60+ years’ heritage of bringing to market advanced technology that enhances the design, safety, energy efficiency and occupier comfort of non-domestic buildings.

A ll Gilberts’ products – standard lines and bespoke solutions – are designed and developed in accordance with the BS EN ISO 9001:2015 quality standard in the company’s state-of-theart 140,000ft 2 facility in Blackpool.

info@gilbertsblackpool.com

Sidey manufacture & install more windows in Scotland than anyone else in the

Tel: 01738 634 803 Email: info@sidey.co.uk

GILBERTS

ROCKWOOL DEVELOPS CPD TO HELP CLOSE THE PERFORMANCE GAP

ROCKWOOL UK

ROCKWOOL has launched a new CPD module to help specifiers and installers understand the issue and the role insulation can play in avoiding the performance gap – a discrepancy in modelled energy use at the design stage compared to the as-built stage. The Thermal Regulation and the Performance Gap CPD aims to improve understanding of the role insulation plays in reducing energy consumption and, therefore, the rate of carbon emissions in buildings.

ROCKWOOL has also published a technical bulletin demonstrating how samples independently measured at the University of Salford provided data relating to the thermal performance between abutted stone-wool slabs. During the CPD, participants will learn about the importance of specifying the right insulation for each project based on detailed calculations and how this, combined with installing it correctly, is the first step to narrowing – or even avoiding – the performance gap. Some of the most common mistakes during installation that can have long-term effects on the energy performance of the building will also be addressed.

rockwool.link/pg-cpd

ROCKWOOL RELEASES TECHNICAL BULLETIN

ROCKWOOL UK

ROCKWOOL has released a technical bulletin announcing the results of an independent study into the impact of gaps in the insulation layer and their effect on thermal performance. 10 samples of stone-wool insulation of various densities were tested to ISO 8301:1991 ‘Heat flow meter apparatus’ and BS EN 12667:2001

‘Thermal performance of building materials and products’. The tests were conducted in accordance with BS EN 13162:2012+A1:2015

‘Thermal insulation products for buildings’. High-resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that when two separate slabs are tightly joined, the gap between them closes, and the individual fibres knit together to form a continuous network of fibres containing trapped pockets of air.

rockwool.link/pg-tb

ROCKWOOL HELPS TRANSFORM FORMER BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT IN ROCHDALE

ROCKWOOL UK

Rochdale Upperbanks is a regeneration project on a formerly disused brownfield site delivered by Rochdale Development Agency on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council, with Willmott Dixon acting as the main contractor. The scheme comprises 242 studio, one- and two-bed apartments with balconies, housed in two nine-storey apartment blocks and a 146-room Hampton by Hilton Hotel. Because the buildings are higher than 18m, the materials used in the facade had to be non combustible, in line with Approved Document B (ADB). This project commenced before further statutory guidance was introduced to ADB in December 2022 for residential buildings (purpose groups 1 and 2) above 11m. Aiming to optimise energy efficiency and create a healthy environment for the buildings’ occupants, an ambitious thermal performance target of 0.15W/m 2 K was also set. The architects specified more than 5000m 2 of ROCKWOOL insulation for the whole facade system. RainScreen Duo Slab is a stonewool insulation product specifically developed for use within ventilated cladding systems and sealed systems such as curtain walling. Other ROCKWOOL products installed included RWA45 and Soffit Slabs.

www.rockwool.com/uk

JAMES HARDIE LAUNCHES FIBRE CEMENT METALLICS RANGE

JAMES HARDIE

James Hardie has launched a metallics range in the UK. The Hardie Architectural Panel Metallics range comes in gold, copper, gunmetal, silver, steel and bronze and is available for all 8 and 11mm Hardie Panel products. The formula prevents against UV, fade, rot and is fully weather resistant. Lee Bucknall, UK Country Manager at James Hardie, commented: “At James Hardie, we know that a property’s exterior is an important way to make a design statement. These innovative metallic shades, the first to the UK market, form a key part of our portfolio of patterned profiles, surface finishes and colours for use in residential, commercial and industrial applications.”

www.jameshardie.co.uk/en

STERLINGOSB SHEATHS OFFSITE SOLUTION FOR NEW ORKNEY CARE HOME

WEST FRASER

0121 311 3480

With accessibility to the site of the new Kirkwall Care Facility on Orkney being almost as challenging as the weather the island’s inhabitants endure, a rapid-assembly panelised timber frame presented itself as an ideal build solution, with the main contractor’s joinery workshops utilising West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero as the sheathing to the roof, walls and floors. Contracts Manager for R. Clouston, Andy Smith, comments: “The machinists and joiners produced all the roof and floor cassettes and panels for the care home; with 9mm SterlingOSB Zero on the top and underside of factory-insulated, warm roof cassettes, while the floor cassettes have an upper layer of 18mm SterlingOSB Zero.”

uk.westfraser.com

01786 812921

13 REASONS TO RECOMMEND CEDRAL FOR YOUR FACADE AND ROOFING PROJECTS

Known and trusted in the industry for decades, Cedral continuously drives innovation to generate new product options for facades and roofs, elevating aesthetics and creating building solutions that are both practical and stylish.

Why should you recommend Cedral facades?

Long life expectancy: Fibre cement is a strong, durable, versatile material, which means that Cedral facades have a minimum life expectancy of 50 years

Easy installation: Cedral’s all-in-one cladding solutions include easy-cut planks, colour-matched trims and bespoke accessories

Stylish contemporary designs: Cedral Lap facades are specially designed so the planks are overlapped when installed to create a traditional clapboard aesthetic, while Cedral Click is a tongue-and-groove material that creates a modern, flush-fitting facade

Cedral Colour Collections: The Cedral Colour Collections are designed to

CEDRAL

offer customers even more choice, with 21 on-trend shades curated into four unique collections. Each collection –Design, Expressive, Natural and Classic – is created for contemporary living to resonate with homeowners’ personalities and lifestyles.

Mix-and-match options: Cedral facades combine harmoniously with other materials, such as wood, brick, or plaster, and play with colour and light and dark shades to create stunning installation patterns

Accessories to complete the job: Cedral colour-matched trims include corners and edges, as well as Cedral Click clips and colour-matched screws to ensure facades can be assembled quickly and correctly, creating a refined, premium finish

Professional installation: Cedral Select Professionals are expert facade installers who have been carefully vetted by Cedral and receive ongoing training and technical support on the latest product innovations. By working with one of Cedral’s installers, customers can be confident their products are fitted according to the company’s recommendations and come with 10-year product and workmanship guarantees.

What are the benefits of working with Cedral slates?

Long life expectancy: Cedral fibre cement slates are among the strongest in the market, with a minimum life expectancy of 50 years

Easy installation: Cedral slates are lightweight and easy to work with and can be placed on lighter roof structures without the need to strengthen them, making them an ideal option for renovations. A dry-fitting process eliminates the need for mortar.

Essential accessories: Cedral’s portfolio of roofing products includes a range of fittings and accessories for pitched roof ventilation, verges, ridges and hips and general fixings

Style choices: Slates come in four eyecatching designs – Rivendale, Birkdale, Thrutone Textured and Thrutone Smooth – offering a range of slates that are perfect as both a roofing material and a unique option to create a full envelope with the facade

Both facades and slates offer: Low maintenance: Manufactured to withstand nature’s harshest conditions, fibre cement doesn’t rot, rust, warp or crack and is fire, insect, bacteria and algae resistant

Excellent fire performance classification: Cedral has a longstanding commitment to ensuring materials comprehensively meet the fire performance classification A2-s1,d0 to EN 13501-1:2018

Sustainability : Cedral wants to build a more durable world and bring sustainability to life. It focuses its business towards building a more sustainable world for those around it.

Customer satisfaction: Get more from Cedral Cedral helps homeowners achieve their dreams, whether that’s a new-build or renovation project. Browse case studies to hear from its satisfied customers about their cladding and roofing projects and read customer testimonials by visiting the site below.

STO REVITALISES LONDON OFFICE BUILDING WITH SPECIALIST RENDERING STO

Sto, in partnership with applicator Chiltern Contracts, has delivered a rendering project maximising performance and aesthetics for a refurbished multi-purpose building in central London. Located in Oxford Circus, Henry Wood House was constructed in the 1960s and comprises a 16-storey tower with two five-storey interconnecting wings. The building incorporates 69,00ft2 of offices, 10,800ft2 of retail space and a hotel on the upper seven floors. The external renovation required the existing facade to be refurbished, including new rendering. Sto was selected to design a system that would not only repair the damaged facade but also meet a specific design brief from Ben Adams Architects and building owner Derwent. A modern, linear render finish was needed to bring texture to the building render and provide a durable surface. To create the StoSignature linear appearance, Stolit MP render was applied, and using a special V-shaped trowel, the applicators carefully pulled the trowel in one direction across the render at a specific angle to create the exact finish required.

www.sto.co.uk

d.newton@sto.com

METSEC UNDERLINES COMMITMENT TO ACCURATE PRODUCT INFORMATION

0330 024 2666

VOESTALPINE METSEC voestalpine Metsec has become one of the earliest adopters of the Code for Construction Products Information (CCPI), introduced by the Construction Products Association in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, set up following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. CCPI assessments are undertaken by Assessors from Construction Products Information Ltd and are carried out on a manufacturer’s specific products and systems, not the company as a whole. As such, an organisation or brand cannot, in itself, gain assessment or make any claims of conformance beyond a specific product set. To date, voestalpine Metsec has successfully achieved assessment for four of its key construction systems: SFS light-gauge galvanised steel structural framing systems and Metframe pre-panelised framing system from its Framing Division, dry lining metal framed components for gypsum plasterboard systems from its Dry Lining Division and roof, side rail and mezzanine floor systems from its Purlins Division.

metsec.sfs@voestalpine.com

STYLE ADDS SUSTAINABLE FLEXIBILITY TO AVIVA SEMINAR SPACE STYLE

Working with architect T P Bennett and contractor Overbury, moveable wall specialist Style was recently specified to create flexible seminar space on floor one of Aviva’s new London head offices in Fenchurch Street. A single Dorma Huppe Variflex ComforTronic, semi-automatic moveable wall, boasting an outstanding 59 dB acoustic performance, separates the seminar area from the catering and breakout zone. A second Variflex system allows the space to be further subdivided into two smaller rooms. Both walls are finished in a chic Kvadrat Encircle fabric, one grey and the other deep green, perfectly complementing the interior decor. Aligning with Aviva’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2040, the Variflex system has an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804. This certification provides transparent and verified information about the environmental impact of the product across its lifecycle. Aviva’s new head office is spread over multiple floors, providing modern and spacious working areas that aim to facilitate collaboration and innovation amongst the 1500 employees that work there.

www.style-partitions.co.uk

www.metsec.com

0121 601 6000

sales@style-partitions.co.uk

REVOLUTIONARY RAINSCREEN RETENTION SOLUTION PROVES LESS IS MORE

SFS GROUP

FASTENING TECHNOLOGY

01202 874044

SFS Group Fastening Technology and Kingspan Insulation have pooled their respective expertise in rainscreen cladding support systems and insulation materials to launch an optimum performance solution offering A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire, presenting the potential to optimise envelope design on buildings of any height. The NVELOPE NVS-RP range of stainless-steel brackets has been developed specifically to retain Kingspan’s latest insulation development – Kingspan AlphaCore panel silica-based insulation, which offers a thermal conductivity of just 0.020W/mK, with a Euroclass A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire. The slimline material is available in thicknesses of 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50mm with a weight ranging from 3.6 to 9.0kg/m 2 . AlphaCore Pad is also water repellent. Crucially, the combination has the potential to create far slimmer facades, which will withstand the weather as well as optimise energy performance. This is because, instead of compromising AlphaCore Pad’s thermal performance with multiple fixing penetrations, SFS has completely reimagined established components from its NVELOPE system to absolutely minimise cold bridging. uk.sfs.com/systems/nvelope/nvsrp

ARUBA: A TRUSTED CEILING TILE FOR GENERATIONS

Trusted by generations of architects and installers, Aruba is specified throughout the UK almost every single day. With impressive sound properties and a range of colours available, it is an incredibly versatile range that can be found everywhere, from hotels and offices to classrooms and retail environments.

www.zentia.com/en-gb

The range has been named after the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean due to the finely-sanded finish of the tile’s surface. The Aruba tile also reflects the vibrancy and colourful nature of the Caribbean, as it is available in 35 colours, the largest option of standard colours available on the UK market. For further design creativity, the Aruba family can be specified in alternative shapes, such as the Aruba Triangle.

Additional tiles with enhanced performances are available within the Aruba family, including Aruba hH, Aruba Max and Aruba dB, each bringing unique performance capabilities.

A ruba

T he Aruba tile is incredibly versatile, with a number of attributes that deliver a thorough solution. Combining Class C sound absorption with a sound attenuation level of 34 dB, the tile controls background noise levels whilst allowing sound to travel, creating an acoustically-comfortable setting. It contains up to 44% recycled content, is 100% recyclable and is scratch resistant. R ecently specified for an industrial site in one of the UK’s most important manufacturing areas, the coloured Aruba tile was able to meet the aesthetic, functional and acoustic requirements set out for the project. Ceiling installer, Barry Deane, Director at East Midlands Ceilings, commented on the Aruba family: “It’s always exciting when the customer wants a change from the standard types of suspended ceiling designs. It made the project extremely interesting to be involved with, and the Aruba coloured tiles look amazing, giving a modern and visual twist over the standard installation. The quality of the materials was also fantastic, with everything being manufactured and delivered to suit the project requirements perfectly.”

A ruba hH

T he Aruba hH tile offers enhanced high humidity resistance, making it ideal for areas such as changing rooms. It also has the same acoustic qualities as the Aruba tile, but can remain stable in conditions of up to 99% relative humidity (RH).

A ruba Max

T he Aruba Max is a more robust variation of the standard Aruba tile, designed for interiors that require a higher technical performance. With an increased tile thickness, it offers higher sound attenuation levels of 35 dB, and is perfect for settings such as classrooms where sound still has to travel but in a controlled manner.

A ruba dB

For internal settings that require extra levels of privacy, such as meeting rooms and small offices, the Aruba dB tile offers the highest sound absorption rating at 39 dB and reduces sound transmission through the ceiling void.

ZENTIA

PYRAN® S

For fire resistance and protection of people and property

Multifunctionality in fire protection

PYRAN® S is a pre-stressed, monolithic borosilicate single pane safety glass in accordance with EN 13024-1.

As a component in fire-resistant glazing that meets the requirements of resistance classes E 30, E 60, E 90 and E 120, it has proven its outstanding optical and mechanical characteristics over the years in a wide variety of buildings.

Areas of application

PYRAN® has been internationally approved and ideally suited for:

• Facades

• Partition walls

• Skylights and rooflights

• Doors

• Roofs

• Smoke screens

• lift door glazing

Facts

• Higher ability to withstand temperature differentials: In comparison to soda-lime glass, tempered borosilicate glass can better withstand temperature differentials and can therefore be glazed with normal edge covers (20±2 mm).

• Higher softening temperature: Because the glass is selfsupporting for more than 30 minutes, large panes and simple frame constructions are now possible.

• Higher viscosity: The glass flow rate is low due to the high viscosity and durability of borosilicate glass, so with more edge cover, greater fire resistance times in excess of 90 minutes can be achieved.

• NiS crystals do not form: Due to the chemical composition of borosilicate glass, nickel sulphide crystals cannot form. Spontaneous glass fracture due to embedded NiS crystals cannot happen with PYRAN®. Now

• lift shaft glazing

Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit www.firmanglass.com

Tel: 01708 374534 Email: Pyran@firmanglass.com

Firman Glass, 19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 0JH