Creative Build Magazine - August Issue

August Issue Out with the old and in with the new technology

Flash Flooding in London – Why it is likely to become more frequent?

Three-quarters of fire doors in recent years have failed inspection

Page 9

Pages 12-13

Pages 44-45

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Exhibits thoughtful, well-executed design and luxury 1ST FOLDING SLIDING DOORS 26 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, UB6 7JZ | 141 Hook Road, KT6 5AR marcus@1stfoldingslidingdoors.co.uk | T: 0208 997 2248

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What is Research & Development tax relief?

Drop in construction apprenticeships

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Out with the old and in with the new technology

Flash Flooding in London – Why it is likely to become more frequent

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Sto Insulated Brick Slip façade system

Super size plywood The new “green” building material

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Flooring – how to choose the right option for your project

Why specify powder coating?

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What is Research & Development tax relief?

Reclaim Tax UK Ltd headquartered in Shrewsbury, Shropshire is the Business Development division of Catax with offices based around the UK in North and South Wales, the North East, Cheshire, Staffordshire, South West, Leicester and London.

You may be surprised what can qualify for Research and Development. R&D tax relief is awarded to businesses that invest in innovation. This innovation can be in the form of developing new systems, processes, products, materials, devices or any changes to the way your business works, however, the majority of the reclaim will be found in the day-to-day problems that occur within the business that you have to solve before the project/ job can proceed (what we call the scratch your head moment!)

What is Research & Development tax relief?

Research and Development (R&D) tax relief is awarded to businesses that invest in innovation. This innovation can be in the form of developing new systems, processes, products, materials, devices, or any changes to the way your business works.

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The chances are your business is doing R&D without even realising – it’s not just for people in white lab coats!

Our team are experts in R&D legislation.

We will determine if your activities are eligible for tax relief and if so, we’ll get you the best possible return.

Do I Qualify?

You would be surprised by what is eligible for R&D tax relief – it’s not just for people in white lab coats. Scientific research is eligible, but so are activities such as: • Software development • Reduction in waste • Automation • Development of innovative recipes/formulas • Development of new materials • Improved processes • Development of new product • Essentially anything that helps you gain a competitive advantage in a new and innovative way could be eligible for tax relief The tax laws around R&D tax relief are complicated, and the criteria for eligibility can be ambiguous. To get the largest tax relief return, you need to have an expert on your side. Our R&D team only do R&D,

meaning you’ll be guided by the best in the business.

There’s no risk attached and the initial assessment will only take around thirty minutes of your time. We’ll thoroughly assess you and if we can’t see an opportunity for you to claim R&D tax relief, you walk away without spending a penny.

How can we help you?

Reclaim Tax UK are experts in specialist areas of tax relief. We have been helping clients secure tax relief for over 10 years and have identified over £264m in tax benefit for our clients to date We work with businesses, Accountants and Solicitors throughout the UK. We have a delivery team of over 100 in-house experts which includes Surveyors, Tax Technicians, Accountants, Report Writers and Case Managers.

We are dedicated to ensuring you have a smooth claims process, minimising the disruption to your day-to-day activity, so you can get on with running your business. All you need to do is provide us with some details regarding your R&D project and we’ll take it from there.

Coventry University’s first civil engineering degree apprentice among handful of national trailblazers A Coventry University student is among a small group of apprentices who are the first in the UK to have completed their Civil Engineer degree apprenticeships.

Scott Griffiths, who works as a structural engineer at Waterman group in Birmingham, passed his Level 6 Civil Engineering degree apprenticeship end point assessment in June, achieving Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status with the Institution of Civil Engineers.

He began his apprenticeship journey on a Level 3 apprenticeship at the age of 18 and progressed through a part-time Higher National Certificate (HNC) at CU Coventry, before starting on the Civil Engineer degree apprenticeship.

Explaining his journey, Scott said: “As I approached the end of my GCSEs, I already knew that the apprenticeship route was for me. I felt like whatever career I might pursue, I could make better

progress working for a company in that time than I would in full-time education.”

On the benefits of studying via the apprenticeship route, Scott said: “Working day-to-day in the industry that my studies applied to allowed me to see the value in every portion of the qualification. I could take more information in because I had somewhere to place it, and as a result, I was able to achieve much higher grades than I would have done in a full-time scenario.”

John Ironman, Associate Head, School of Energy, Construction and Environment, Coventry University, said: “The Level 6 Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship launched in January 2018 under the new government apprenticeship scheme utilising the levy. The apprenticeship programme, unlike a traditional part-time route, required the apprentice to do their job role, study for their degree and not actually complete their apprenticeship until they had got the experience and evidence to demonstrate that they were working at an Incorporated Engineer level. For Scott to have achieved all of that in the past three years since joining as a direct entrant is an amazing achievement and one that he should be very proud of.

Richard Davis (Apprenticeship Manager) at the Institution of Civil Engineers summed it up best to me in referring to Scott as ‘one of a small number of trailblazing apprentices’.”

Armed with his new degree and Incorporated Engineer status, Scott is well positioned to become a chartered engineer.

Coventry University offers degree apprenticeships across a wide range of courses.

Scott learned to manage the challenge of balancing a full-time job and parttime study. The discipline he mustered from this experience has helped him to be better organised and goal-oriented, which has driven him to achieve more in his personal life, work and studies.

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House of Lords Committee calls for “accelerated” rail electrification and “battery and fuel cell trains” The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has published its report following an inquiry on batteries and fuel cells. It has said “the Government must ensure that the railway electrification programme is accelerated” and said that “the development of battery and fuel cell trains should be supported to serve those parts of the network that remain non-electrified.”

David Clarke, Technical Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is good to see the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee backing the asks of RIA’s Rail Decarbonisation 21 campaign, which is calling for Government to commit to a rolling programme of electrification and fleet orders of battery and hydrogen rolling stock – in line with the Transport Decarbonisation Plan

– before COP26 in November. This is now the third parliamentary committee to back the recommendations of RIA’s campaign, showing a head of steam amongst policy makers to deliver a clean, environmentally friendly, low carbon rail network. We look forward to working with Peers from across the political spectrum, and the Government, to support the Committee’s findings.”

Drop in construction apprenticeships threatens levelling-up agenda, says FMB The year-on-year decline in construction apprenticeships threatens the Prime Minister’s levelling-up agenda and the UK’s ability to ‘build back better’ from the pandemic, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the Department for Education’s apprenticeship and traineeship data released today.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “2,000 fewer new apprenticeships is the opposite of what is needed to tackle the critical skills shortage in the construction industry. In particular, it won’t help small building companies. Currently 38% of Master Builder companies are already struggling to hire bricklayers and 34% are unable to recruit carpenters.” Berry concluded: “The Government’s levelling-up agenda is at risk if support to encourage and incentivise careers in construction isn’t turbo-charged.

Small builders would particularly welcome an extension to the heightened incentive payments for those businesses training apprentices beyond September of this year.”

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Actuate UK warns that COVID fallout could lead to a harsh winter for construction The lifting of COVID restrictions has been greeted with much excitement, with the buzz of freedom and foreign holidays filling the headlines for the past few weeks. Yet construction experts claim COVID continues to cast a dark shadow on their industry – and say the knockon effects of the pandemic will continue to be felt long after the initial summer celebrations are over.

Construction output remains above its February 2020 level, despite a 0.8% fall in May 2021*. However, there are still many risks currently faced by the industry, including the twin perils of a skills shortage and long COVID. They could both have a devastating impact on a volatile industry this winter.

Actuate UK, the alliance of leading UK building engineering services, warns the sector to be vigilant and follow good practice guidance, developed over the last year, to prevent long lasting impacts on businesses.

The demand for construction projects has shown little sign of slowing. Construction was one of the few industries which continued operating during lockdowns, due to its importance in building and maintaining infrastructure of national importance, for example, the Nightingale hospitals.

Actuate UK, highlights new data from a YouGov survey**, which raises questions about the ability of the UK construction sector to return to pre-pandemic activity

levels. The alliance says businesses and government should start planning NOW to avoid winter disruption.

According to the poll, in the year up to May 2021, across all members of staff, small to medium-sized construction firms each lost an average of 29 days every month from staff absent from work.

This figure excluded people on furlough – and Actuate UK say the situation will only get worse as businesses go under or are forced to operate on much-reduced capacity. Moreover, key projects may be delayed or come to a costly halt.

Fiona Hodgson, CEO of Actuate UK member SNIPEF, said: “As the restrictions ease, Actuate UK urges industry to strike a balance when considering the health of its workers and the need to move the economy forward.

“This survey gives us grave concern about the long-term effects of COVID on our industry. Building services are the lifeblood of all major construction projects, with heating, lighting, ventilation and digital infrastructure essential to successful project delivery.

“Yet we continue to hear from members there are simply not enough skilled installers to meet current demand. With fewer apprentices being recruited during the pandemic this has exacerbated the issue and we are deeply concerned this will impact on Government targets and future projects.”

The government is currently looking at construction to lead the post-pandemic recovery, funding new infrastructure projects such as the New Hospitals Programme in England and the electrification of the UK’s road and rail networks.

However, Actuate UK says that with a significantly reduced workforce, it won’t be possible to keep pace with demand – and key projects could suffer as a result.

Andrew Eldred, of Actuate UK and ECA’s Director of Skills and Employment said: “We’re hearing first-hand accounts of construction firms being unable to recruit skilled staff, despite full order books. And this is only the start.

“The pandemic has had repercussions for training; the number of new entrants coming into the workforce has declined.

The difficulties of gaining practical experience, along with reduced numbers starting apprenticeships has taken its toll.”

The spectre of long COVID throws another shadow on the horizon, with recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that 385,000 people in the UK have lived with symptoms for a year or more. Although vaccination can help guard against the initial impact of COVID itself, sufferers can experience brain fog and fatigue caused by long COVID, preventing them from returning to work.

Andrew added: “While life may return to ‘the new normal’ for many in the coming weeks and months, for others, the long-term impact of the pandemic will remain a very real barrier to work. “The knock-on consequences of this and the skills shortage could be all too real for individuals, businesses and the economic recovery itself, so it’s vital that we factor in contingency plans and take steps to protect our workforce”.

You can read up to date Guidance for COVID safe practices from members of Actuate UK on the website www.actuateuk.org.uk

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Out with the old and in with the new technology Fibrelite were contacted in the early part of 2020 by a third-party construction company.

They had been requested to source a GRP covering arrangement for their client’s service duct trenches at a major UK based manufacturing and research facility.

Problem Operational difficulties posed by the previously existing concrete cover slabs led to an essential replacement programme being mandated. The end user had recently moved into the facility and established that an alternative covering solution would be needed to optimise future operations due to specialist personnel and machinery being required for removal and replacement of concrete slabs and other issues including: • Previously existing D400 concrete covers were extremely heavy and cracked in some areas (as pictured stacked, awaiting disposal) • Central and offset service access ports required in order to allow easy access to services without the need to completely remove covers A smooth finish was also required (no tread pattern).

Solution

Results

Following the requested site survey, which was completed by the Fibrelite team, a solution was presented to the end user. A collaborative process between the Fibrelite team the construction company and the end user was instrumental in engineering an appropriate solution for this unique upgrade project. Fibrelite GRP covers are extremely durable yet lightweight making them ideal for easy manual handling (designed to be removed manually by two people).

The easy access solution provided

by Fibrelite eliminates the need for specialist personnel or machinery during maintenance or operation.

Key Fibrelite engineering achievements for this project: • Fibrelite trench covers are designed to be safely removed and replaced by two people using the ergonomically designed FL7 lifting handles • The Fibrelite replacement covering solution included covers modified to include central and offset service access ports • Fibrelite covers moulded without the tread pattern per customer request to achieve a smooth finish

Key benefits of Fibrelite trench covers: • Easy access to trench services using the ergonomically designed Fibrelite FL7 lifting handles • Best strength to weight ratio available in the market • Retrofit installation of bespoke Fibrelite frames • Custom designed and engineered trench covers • Fast installation Click here for more Fibrelite case studies For more information on Fibrelite please visit: www.fibrelite.com

• Installation of the Fibrelite framing system into the existing precast rebate using an epoxy grouting system

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Stormcrate55 controls surface water at caravan showground When it came to the management and control of surface water run-off at a caravan showground in Hull, StormCrate55, an engineered Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) from Brett Martin was up for the challenge.

The static caravan manufacturer’s facility features a newly refurbished showground where customers can view a huge range of homes. Having previously used Stormcrate55 to successfully manage stormwater on a number of other projects, installer Catalogue Engineering undertook the installation for groundworks contractor Evabuild in order to reduce the risk of flooding on this trafficked site during periods of heavy rainfall.

Manufactured from 100% recycled plastic, 523m³ of the StormCrate55 modular units were clipped together in a brick bond pattern to create a three tiered underground attenuation tank. With a loading capability of 562kN per m³, their high strength provided more than enough vertical strength for this tarmacked area at the showground. For the installation team, the lightweight crates, weighing only 15.5kg each, were easy to handle and fit together using the connectors and shear pins supplied.

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“A large amount of crates were required for this sprawling trafficked site,” commented Luke Dekonski of Catalogue Engineering. “The crates are easy to install and very well made, with no sharp corners so there is very low risk of puncturing the impermeable lining, reducing our risk when offering a warranty installation.”

In the event of heavy rains, StormCrate55 has a high void ratio of 95%, which means that the units are highly efficient at storing up to 237.5 litres of water. On this project, the StormCrate55 system was surrounded with an impermeable membrane to create a sealed underground tank. The outlet from this tank is then controlled to facilitate a slow release of the stored water back into the drainage system over a longer period.

For infiltration applications, StormCrate55 can also be wrapped in a permeable geotextile, material which allows stored

water to slowly seep into the surrounding ground and back into the water table over a period of time.

“The StormCrate units are also incredibly versatile which means the structure depth can be varied dependent on the application,” added Luke Dekonski.

Suitable for installation in landscaped areas, pedestrianised spaces, playgrounds, parking areas, driveways and access zones, StormCrate55 is seen as one way of addressing the problem of flooding and avoiding using an overloaded sewer system.

The use of StormCrate55 has ensured this showground will have a proven rainwater attenuation solution for the long term, reducing demand on the built drainage and the sewerage infrastructure.

To find out more about StormCrate55 visit: www.brettmartin.com

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Flash flooding in London – Why it is likely to become a more frequent occurrence Article by Flood Specialist Simon Crowther BEng (Hons) MCIWEM C.WEM from Flood Protection Solutions Ltd. Monday 12th July and Sunday 25th July 2021 saw many parts of London experience horrendous flash flooding.

The preceding heatwaves provided the perfect conditions for intense summer storms to develop, and the resulting deluges of rainfall caused many streets to become rivers, left basements inundated, and sewers overflowing.

Although the flood water will have subsided within a matter of hours, the impacts for the unfortunate residents and businesses affected will be felt for many months to come.

Policy makers and the media often only consider the financial impacts, however there is a huge emotional impact of having your home and belongings damaged and destroyed, along with the unexpected and unwarranted stress of organising and overseeing the repairs, and in some instances needing to temporarily move elsewhere or close a business, can be a huge burden.

So how do we ensure future flooding is less of a burden? Firstly, we need to understand how and why this flooding is occurring, and why the impacts of these recent floods seem greater than previous flood events.

The recent flooding in London has been a result of two combined factors; surface water flooding and sewer flooding.

Surface water flooding occurs when runoff following heavy rainfall cannot drain away, causing water to accumulate at the surface.

Sewer flooding occurs when drainage systems become overwhelmed, causing flows to backup and surcharge at the surface through gullies, manholes, and internal private systems such as toilets, sinks, and showers. The volume of surface water run-off can cause sewers to become overwhelmed, and therefore these flood mechanisms often need to be considered together.

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The risks of these types are flooding are typically far greater in urban areas for a number of reasons: - Impermeable surfaces. Urban areas are predominantly impermeable, meaning rainfall cannot drain into the ground. It runs off and collects on hard surfaces; roofs, tarmacked and concrete roads and pavements. The greater the impermeable area, the greater the volumes of surface water run-off following a storm event.

Many urban areas have grown significantly over the past century, resulting in increased impermeable surfacing.

- The problem is not just at the surface.

In London particularly, huge basement developments have removed large volumes of soil which would previously allowed some run-off to percolate into the ground, but can no longer do so.

- At the same time areas of existing urban green spaces have also declined, only adding to the problem.

- The nature of the sewer systems can also present a problem. Modern developments must separate surface water sewers from foul water sewer systems, and demonstrate that the systems have sufficient capacity to manage flows both now and in the future. However, the historic Victorian systems in many areas of central London particularly are combined systems, meaning they drain both surface water run-off and foul water together. These sewer systems were not originally designed to cope with the volumes of run-off now being demanded of them, as a result of both increases in rainfall and an increase in run-off from the greater impermeable areas.

- Poor maintenance. The extent and number of drains and gullies within urban areas means that clearance and maintenance may not occur as regularly as required. Blocked and silted up drains prevent water entering sewers and draining away, exacerbating flooding at the surface.

All of these factors are amplified by climate change. It is now widely acknowledged that the increased frequency and severity of intense rainfall events experienced across the world is almost certainly a result of changes to the climate.

On 12th July, parts of London experienced 48mm of rainfall within 24 hours, greater than the region’s average monthly rainfall for July.

48mm may not sound like much, but over an area of 1km2 this equates to 48,000m3 of water. And these rainfall totals were dwarfed by those recorded elsewhere across the globe in July 2021: - In western Germany some gauges recorded 182mm of rainfall across a three-day period, the equivalent of two months of rainfall. Dozens of people have lost their lives, with many more still unaccounted for. The resulting flooding has been described by some scientists as 1 in 10,000 year event. www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/ jul/16/climate-scientists-shocked-by-scaleof-floods-in-germany

proactive and ongoing maintenance to ensure the systems remain clear. Increasing capacity may also only move the problem further downstream.

There is therefore an increasing desire and acceptance to utilise Sustainable Drainage Systems to slow the flow and manage rainfall more naturally. Residents and businesses must also play their part by managing and maintaining their own existing drainage systems. By slowing the flow of water into the sewer network, the sewers are less likely to be overwhelmed.

The key change will be using and implementing green infrastructure to work with nature, rather than against it. This could have huge benefits for cities, not just in reducing flood risk, but also wider environmental benefits.

- In Henan province in China, over 600mm fell in some areas within a single day, and 200mm within a single hour. Streets and subways were flooded and the death toll now stands at more than 30. www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ jul/20/heavy-flooding-hits-central-chinaaffecting-tens-of-millions

Flooding of the nature experienced in July 2021 is likely to become a more regular occurrence in urban areas worldwide. Flash flooding can occur anywhere with little warning, and therefore the time to act is now to ensure we’re prepared for the next event.

As the impacts of climate change accelerate over the coming decades the flooding problem in urban areas is only going to worsen unless the changes required to better manage rainfall and surface water run-off are implemented. Increasing sewer capacity is extremely expensive and disruptive, and may not have the desired effect if upgrades are also not provided holistically to gutters, downpipes and gullies, as well as regular,

67% of the UK Population do not know their flood risk. It is vital everyone checks their flood risk (this can be done on the Environment Agency’s free website). Once the flood risk is known, property flood resilience measures can be implemented to mitigate the flood risk at a property level. Non-return valves (which allow water to flow out and not back) should be utilised, certainly in basement flats.

For further assistance with property flood resilience, Flood Protection Solutions Ltd are able to assist from concept through to completion: www.floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk

Builders come together to create a future homes delivery hub High-quality zero carbon ready homes using sustainable building methods are among the goals of an industry-wide delivery plan for the next 30 years.

Housebuilders, suppliers, regulators, environmental groups and planners as part of the Future Homes task force have produced a roadmap for being net-zero by 2050.

Home Builders Federation, HBF, executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “Today’s major environmental challenges will be with us for the future and cannot be ignored. It’s imperative we show leadership and commitment to play our part in tackling them.”

Immediate goals include creating low carbon, nature rich, resilient healthy, welldesigned and beautiful homes by 2025.

Construction methods that are on the way to being net-zero and sustainable by 2025 and 2030 and a halving of carbon used in business operations by 2030 also feature.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick said: “It is right that the industry is stepping up to play a leadership role here: delivery and innovation to meet the challenges requires common purpose and partnerships that are being formed.”

The government’s future homes standards mean new homes will move away from fossil fuel heating and be future-proofed with high levels of energy efficiency.

Finance brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said lenders were keen to offer instant bridging finance to builders investing in making their developments green.

SMEs to get time and support to deliver goals The delivery hub will have a particular focus on helping SMEs through advice and support to develop the people and processes to deliver on environmental goals.

Northwest SME housebuilder Archway Homes said it was proud to have been involved with the process. Land and sustainability director Rachael Whelan said: “Archway Homes, having already taken the decision to build all our houses to energy performance certificate A rating, is very much committed to this agenda and taking our houses forward to the future homes standard for the benefit of our customers and future generations.”

Southeast SME housebuilder Thakeham Group said the plan had aligned members and engaged stakeholders on the interim steps needed to make the transition to net-zero.

Chief executive Rob Boughton said: “We have been able to share our zero-carbon placemaking principles with the wider HBF membership throughout the process, representing the art of the possible for each roadmap.

“We look forward to continuing the drive, eliminating barriers to the successful implementation of a more sustainable future for our planet, and the people living in the communities we create.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said housing had a critical role to play in responding to nature and climate emergencies, and in helping to meet many of the environment bill targets.

Chief executive Beccy Speight said: “This delivery plan is an important starting point and the future development of robust mechanisms and the partnerships needed to secure effective implementation will be key to the delivery of that role.”

The net-zero elements of the plan are reflected within a wider construction performance framework, announced last week under the Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstructzero programme.

However, land shortages and supply changes are currently a major hurdle for building new homes according to property agent Knight Frank. Its land index for the second quarter found 70 per cent of respondents saying land for development was either “limited” or “very limited”.

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Manchester’s Castlefield Viaduct bridges the gap from city’s industrial past to green future Twelve Architects and the National Trust will transform disused railway viaduct in heart of Manchester into public park reminiscent of New York City’s ‘High Line’ A grade II-listed viaduct dating back to Victorian times is being restored and reinvented in a pilot scheme led by the National Trust and designed by Twelve Architects.

Through the pilot project, the cast iron and steel bridge once used to transport coal in and out of the city will take on a new role in Manchester’s rich history as it is transformed into a beautiful and welcoming green space that will be accessible for all.

Supported by Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and members of the local community, the National Trust will deliver the first phase of the project in summer 2022 in the form of a temporary park and pilot installation designed by Twelve Architects.

Throughout the summer, members of the public will be given the opportunity to visit and experience the park first-hand, whilst giving their feedback about the plans.

Gaining feedback from the community is a key step in shaping the vision for the second phase of the project: the permanent regeneration of the viaduct.

The viaduct has stood unused since 1969 when Manchester Central station was closed, with only essential repairs and maintenance carried out since, leaving the bridge exposed to the elements and covered in shrubs.

The pilot concept conceived by Twelve Architects, seeks to marry the city’s proud industrial heritage with a modern urban park concept, more reflective of the Manchester of today. The principal architectural challenge is to achieve the transition from hard grey metal into a soft green oasis, a place people can relax and unwind in nature while immersed in the viaduct’s history.

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To achieve this juxtaposition, Twelve Architects has worked closely with the landscape team at the National Trust to devise three unique zones, which take visitors on a journey of discovery from the viaduct that ‘is’ to the viaduct that ‘could be’.

carriages that would regularly have traversed the bridge.

Visitors will enter the viaduct through a welcome area, which will contain a welcome kiosk, a food truck and café seating, compost toilets and seating for those waiting to begin their pre-booked tours. Like with curtains at a theatre, visitors will be presented with a green screen gate, a ‘living wall’, which will obstruct their view of the viaduct leaving them in eager anticipation of what they will discover in the next phase of their journey.

The third zone will contain a range of other quirky and distinctive features, such as a temporary structure clad in greenery (which can be used as an event space) containing a large window showing the remaining half of the viaduct, completely untouched, which will encourage visitors to activate their imaginations about the possibilities of the space. It will also feature a growing area and ‘Partner Plots’ where city partners will exhibit their own features, from art installations to a curated display from museum partners or community showcases.

At a timed interval, the green screen gate will open to reveal the next striking stretch of the viaduct. Twenty people at a time will be led through the space by a guide, who will introduce them to zone 2, ‘The Viaduct as Existing’. With minimal architectural or landscaping intervention, this zone will focus on showcasing the existing structure and inviting visitors to imagine potential future interventions. An accessible central footpath will provide safe access. New guarding will be erected along the outer edges, at a safe distance from the heritage structure to prevent climbing and falls from height.

Built in 1892 and constructed by Heenan and Froude, the engineers behind the iconic Blackpool Tower, Castlefield viaduct was originally created to service the large goods warehouse of the Great Northern Railway. It has played an important role in the UK’s history, increasing the traffic of goods in and out of Manchester Central railway station and enabling Manchester to strengthen its reputation as an industrial powerhouse. The striking viaduct and surrounding area are much-loved by the local community who can trace Castlefield’s roots beyond the Victorian era right back to Roman times.

Visitors arriving at the third zone will now finally be introduced to the viaduct that ‘could be’. A lush garden oasis, filled with plants and shrubs contained within red COR-TEN steel planters, a respectful nod to the classic industrial red brick buildings so typical of the area. More references to the viaduct’s heritage will be found woven throughout, such as the lowerlevel balustrading containing bolts with the distinctive shape of the old sleeper

As well as bringing people closer to nature in the city, the regenerated viaduct will act as a stepping-stone to other green spaces and attractions in south Manchester discoverable on foot or bike, adding to the cultural offer. The historic landmark will take its place in this vibrant area for culture and heritage, sitting alongside iconic Manchester venues including the Science and Industry Museum and The Factory.

Matt Cartwright, Founding Director at Twelve Architects said: “We are delighted to be working with the National Trust, Manchester City Council and the local community to rethink the use of this iconic structure and to transform it into a green oasis. Castlefield Viaduct is a much-loved and integral part of the city’s heritage.

In the brief, we were tasked to create “moments of joy” and that is what we have sought to achieve with the preliminary design ideas. We want to encourage visitors to discover and enjoy what will be a distinctive green space.

It should pay homage to the classic industrial structure which has shaped this area’s history while enhancing Manchester’s current and future vibrancy.”

The project is part of the National Trust’s Urban Places work to address the inequalities in access to green space in and around urban areas. Their ambition is to give more people the opportunity to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of green, nature-rich parks and gardens. The pandemic in particular has highlighted significant inequalities in access to green space across Britain with 295 deprived urban neighbourhoods described as ‘grey deserts’, with no trees or accessible green space [1].

Members of the public can find out more about the proposals for Castlefield viaduct and give their feedback at events taking place on:

● Wednesday 30 June 2021, 1-2pm, hosted online ● Thursday 1 July 2021, 6-7pm, hosted online ● Tuesday 6 July 2021, 7-8pm, hosted online An online questionnaire will also be available from Wednesday 23 June for members of the public to fill out via the Trust’s Castlefield viaduct webpage.

If Covid restrictions are lifted in July, a public event will also be held at the Science and Industry Museum on Thursday 22 July, where people can drop in between 12-3pm to find out more in person.

For more informationvisit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castlefield-viaduct

Duncan Laird, Head of Urban Places at the National Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be starting this project to bring new life to the viaduct, establishing its place in this vibrant area of the city. Our ambition is to give more people the opportunity to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of green, nature-rich havens on this remarkable heritage structure in the city. This feels especially important in urban areas like Manchester where there is need for more high-quality green spaces. This project will also help bring people back to the city centre and support local businesses to recover.

“We want to work closely with local partners and the community to shape plans for the viaduct and make it happen together. We have some initial ideas, but we need others to share thoughts too. We’re inviting people who live near the viaduct to join one of our free online events to find out more or fill in our online survey. These events and the feedback we gather will really help us to make sure we get this right for Manchester.”

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Proxima City sharing the utopia The architect and urban planner Joseph Di Pasquale goes on with his reflections on major themes of contemporary architecture and in particular on the approach to the project for urban areas and the individual living experience in city contexts. The latest result of his careful and thoughtful research path is Proxima City.

Proxima City is an open conceptual platform that aims to substantially evolve people’s living experience in urban contexts. Proximity and relational density are the key qualitative urban parameters on which Proxima City aims to define a new idea of the city and represents the ability of urban architecture to generate relationships, to increase the number and quality of interactions between people and to foster new individual and collaborative behaviors by designing frameworks of urban proximity.

The reflection starts from an only apparent paradox: emptiness is more important than fullness. The space between things becomes more important than things themselves, because space allows things to enter into relationship thanks to the physical characteristics of their proximity.

Intimate space and collaborative space are the two terms that in the Proxima City platform interact at all scales of urban design, from the housing campus to the housing pod, through a gradual relational proximity that modulates the relationships between the individual and the public space.

Public space is that area where individual actions and behaviors matter as they relate to each other. Starting from this assumption, Proxima City aims to redefine a different spatial, typological and management configuration of the physical world of the city at a theoretical and experimental level to make it consistent with current urban living behavior.

The strength of sharing With this in mind, designers, sociologists, web designers, managers and developers are invited to share their 18

ideas and contribute to the growth and dissemination of this platform which is totally and structurally open, since ideas are by their nature contagious, while the individual applications of the conceptual platform developed by each designer are and remain his/her property.

Anyone can join the collaborative community of Proxima City and be inspired by the contents of its conceptual platform, sharing its principles and aims and helping to make it grow and evolve further. “It is not impossible to think - comments Joseph Di Pasquale - and indeed it is highly desirable that other planners in the future will share and further develop these conditions to generate new projects moving in the same direction”. The goal is to go beyond the concept of condominium and to overcome the collective imagination and the now deeply deteriorated behaviors deriving from it, to completely reconfigure the DNA of the city’s living texture, through the triggering of a contagious process of micro-regeneration, allowing a behavioral transition capable of generating a new positive model of living together.

So far, the PROXIMA CITY platform has supported the experimentation contents of housing projects which constitute Joseph Di Pasquale’s contributions to the growth of interest and consensus around the new urban parameters inspired by the concepts of proximity and relational density. These are the three competition projects within the Reinventing Cities initiative in the city of Milan (Proxima via Serio, Proxima City Crescenzago, Hostel via Doria) and Chorus Life, the digital district currently under construction in Bergamo and PHD Research.

Read the change in real time The unique moment we are experiencing allows for the first time to ‘read’ how housing models and relational geometries change while the change is taking place and to monitor in real time the trend of desires, needs and expectations of individuals in relation to living space, new ways of working and, consequently, different mobility and transport systems.“It is precisely in the greater capacity that we have to understand the dynamics of these changes - underlines the architect - and to elaborate culturally based strategies on them, that we can - as designers and architects - make our contribution to the construction of a more beautiful and prosperous city and, above all, one where people can live better and longer.”

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Sto Insulated Brick Slip façade system chosen for another major Birmingham project A large new residential project has been completed with the use of a Sto external wall insulation system and Sto brick slip finish, to create a visually striking new development in the heart of the UK’s second largest city. The 225-apartment Arden Gate development, from Birmingham’s specialist residential developer Court Collaboration, provides an excellent example of Sto’s ability to deliver full integrated façade solutions for high-profile developments of this type.

“This was intended as a high-level project which combined excellent design with high-quality materials,” explains Sto Project Manager Jeremy Ash. “The use of our StoTherm Mineral M external wall insulation ensured that the building would perform well from a thermal insulation point of view.

Beyond that, the decision to use our Sto Resin Brick Slips as the external façade finish allowed the architects to combine both modern and traditional elements and achieve the appearance they required.”

“We had recently specified the StoTherm Mineral system and Sto’s Resin Brick Slips for an adjacent building and been extremely pleased with the result,” explains Doug Brown of project architects Corstorphine + Wright.

“They had allowed us to create a very attractive finish for the building’s facades, providing a very convincing brick appearance but without some of the problems which conventional bricks bring, such as mortar stains and uneven surfaces. We were more than happy to specify them again for the Arden Gate development, and once again, we were very impressed with the end result.”

The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral system uses highly durable mineral fibre boards which provide unrivalled fire protection and high thermal performance.

It has an efficient, single-leaf construction which does not reduce space inside the building, and it can be installed without the need for additional expansion joints.

In the case of Arden Gate, the installation was completed using Sto’s 20

unique Sto-Rotofix Plus mechanical fixings. These spiral fixings allow the insulation boards to be installed and then easily adjusted to accommodate any unevenness in the substrate, and so create a smooth and even external surface.

They offer a safe, strong and flexible method for installing insulation boards, to give superior resistance to high wind loadings when compared to a typical rail system alternative. The fixings also allow the creation of a cavity to satisfy NHBC requirements.

The BBA-certified Sto resin brick slips used on this project are manufactured from synthetic acrylic render and are fully compatible with all Sto façade systems. They provide an accurate simulated brick appearance, plus excellent resistance to the effects of impact damage, weathering and mechanical stress.

“The lightweight nature of the slips appeal to architects as they extend the range of design options and allow them to recreate the appearance of traditional brickwork very convincingly”, comments Graham Chadwick of Craft Interior who installed the Sto system.

“Sto’s extensive range of brick slips allowed us to specify contrasting brick slips, and by combining a buff, a purple multi and a Staffordshire blue colour we were able to give individual appearances to different sections of the Arden Gate elevations, and yet still achieve a unified look for the development as a whole,” adds Doug Brown.

StoRend Fibre-Plus was also used on other parts of the development.

This render system features a fibrereinforced levelling coat which is combined with a tough, flexible reinforcing mesh to deliver exceptional levels of crack-resistance.

For more information please visit: www.sto.co.uk

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Marshalls brings greater choice to ever-popular black granite Marshalls has launched a collection of four carefully curated black granite ranges, developed to provide unprecedented variety in the soughtafter material colour, when added to the brand’s existing Proteus range.

In keeping with current design trends, black granite continues to rise in popularity due to the aesthetic and contemporary finish it brings to modern design schemes.

Calling on an extensive supply network, Marshalls has sourced the new ranges from across the globe, working only with long standing suppliers who are committed to consistent quality, guaranteed supply longevity, and Marshalls high standards in respect to sustainability and ethics.

The four new ranges offer the best quality stone produced with unique natural patterns and shades: Altair Altair is a fine-grained granite with a tasteful, subtle sparkle sourced from Rajasthan, Northern India, and is capable of producing anything from unique radius kerbs to large-scale furniture.

Vela Vela is a medium to coarse grained granite, with a desirable uniform appearance and undertones of bluishgrey. Quarried in large blocks from China, it can be used for an array of applications from paving to water features.

Tritanial This basalt granite range originates from China and offers stunning rich, black tones for smaller element paving and setts.

Kreuzberg Kreuzberg is also a basalt granite, and is sourced from Vietnam adding further deep black shades to the collection and is available for paving, tactile paving and kerbs.

Each of the granites is available in a range of finishes including; flamed, fine picked, polished, and honed, as well as a new, unique clear blast finish - exclusive to the Altair range - providing vast design options for specifiers.

Dave Stanger, Natural Stone Trading Director at Marshalls, comments: “As the UK’s leading hard landscaping supplier, we believe in offering products that will give specifiers and designers the maximum design flexibility, enabling them to achieve their visions.

“We’re excited to launch these new black granite ranges to our customers and start conversations on how these stunning materials can help bring those visions to life, with confidence in the consistency of supply and in the quality of the products. Having options in the portfolio that meet all of our customers’ needs, whether they be for form or function, opens up so many possibilities.

“It is testament to the skill and knowledge of our in-house teams and the strength of our long-term supplier relationships that we are able to do this.”

The new ranges are available to order now.

For more information on Marshalls please visit: www.marshalls.co.uk/commercial

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Hotel Mioni Pezzato Hotel & Spa of Abano Terme the spa comes out in the green The Hotel Mioni Pezzato & SPA in Abano Terme (PD) was recently renovated by the interior designer Andrea Auletta, who focused on extending the spa to an area of 270 square meters. Open to the public in June 2021, the area has been completely redesigned into this new project.

“Already in 2018 I was in charge of the restoration of the hotel Mioni Pezzato & SPA - explains Auletta - and this year I have focused on the expansion of the SPA, with the creation of a new building located in the large and beautiful garden, that is connected with the hotel. The structure is provided with a different types of rooms: three Turkish baths, a Finnish sauna and an Ice Room, that is a place with a temperature close to zero degrees with a snow shower and an ice wall.

The three Turkish baths are different from each other in terms of their functional aspect, as well in the type of aromatic atmosphere. The Finnish sauna is characterised by glass window that

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overlooks the garden, and this configuration is also in common with one of the Turkish Baths. In total, the spa offers customers five different and very unique experiences. From the outside, these structures are cubes that harmonically integrate with the green space. Today this green area still fresh, but it will continue to grow and become denser, promoting the integration in the garden of these structures in stoneware, which represent contemporary elements in the park of the hotel, without being an excessive presence.

Materials and colors of the wellness Inside the spa, the materials used are travertine effect grés and wood slats for the ceiling, obviously with water and fireproof treatment. There are also two large backlight pictures to simulate one of the lakes in the Euganean Hills area, where the hotel is located, with steam emissions and a flight of ducks, a typical landscape of the area.

The finishings are different in each cabin, in accordance with the service they offer: white marble to represent salt in the saline cabin, eucalyptus with dark green tones with reeds that descend from the ceiling, generating a singular play of light rays, white the ice-room with cold light, while the one with the glass window overlooking the garden has a honey warm light.

The access doors to the cabins are made of canned glass that recall the striped ceiling and the Mutina coating with vertical stripes with a pinstripe effect.

The doors and windows on the outside are large glass walls of very high thermal performance with a large opening on the outside and the aluminum fittings are embedded in the structure leaving only the glass visible. The lighting concept generated a very soft light designed to give a feeling of relax, also due to the lighting coming out from various angles, from under the seat or from the ceiling.

The SPA is connected with an area of the hotel where there is a series of swimming pools, a mud treatment area, a massage area, a large relaxing area, the result of the intervention of Andrea Auletta in 2018 and now perfectly integrated with this new area. From this zone you can directly go out into the garden characterized by a very original installation of green, in which is incorporated a marble pool pre-existing at the hotel and where the customer can immerse themselves to feel a suggestive experience of the antique.

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Super size plywood - The new “green” building material The recent BBC programme, Rethink the Future, introduced cross laminated timber sheets (CLT) – super size plywood as the new “green” building material.

This exciting innovation can be used with the newly patented JointKit system used

by JK Designer Builds to create visually exciting and affordable sturdy timber framed buildings on site or in a factory.

The new JointKit building concept is based on CNC cut plywood components which slot together to form joints to which beams are attached. The beauty of this system is that the frame can be assembled quickly and easily without building skills. Another advantage of the frame is that the building qualifies under the Caravan acts, thus avoiding complicated planning issues.

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Using wood is good! Construction in the 21st Century without concrete foundations is possible with our single storey timber frame designs. The light weight of the building requires only our ground support system of membrane, plastic grid filled with gravel and a small paving slab on top.

Elimination of the traditional concrete slab foundation is both environmentally and budget friendly. The ground support system resolves issues with sloping sites as the frame can be supported by varying lengths of recycled plastic wood – which also avoids problems with rot.

The system is entirely flexible. Sizes currently go from 1.2 square metres to more than 60 square metres. Shapes range from squares and oblongs to pentagons and polygons.

It has been used to build home offices, studios, workshops and annexes, and our recently designed pentagonal Glampagon offers a unique holiday staycation. This system could be used by Local Authorities for temporary housing and is also ideal for use in disaster relief as the frames can be constructed without power tools.

The patent allows for other materials such as steel, which would enables the construction of multi-floor buildings with economical timber connecting beams rather than an all-steel frame building.

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Outdoor kitchens with Lundhs Real Stone An increasingly popular choice for both residential and hospitality spaces, outdoor kitchens are a striking design feature. A 100% natural stone, Lundhs Real Stone is one of the most durable and resilient materials in the world and is the ideal choice for an outdoor kitchen worktop thanks to its many practical and aesthetic qualities.

From UV resistance meaning that the colour will not fade over time, to thermal shock resistance guaranteeing it will not expand when the temperature drops, Lundhs Real Stone surfaces are exceptionally well equipped to endure all weather conditions.

Made from Larvikite, one of the most unique and strongest materials in the world, Lundhs Real Stone was crafted by nature 300 million years ago. Due to the stone’s natural properties and low porosity, the 100% natural stone will withstand even the harshest of climates.

Not only does it not absorb water, but it is also resistant to stains, is easy to maintain and is able to deal with harsh temperature changes. Thanks to these practical and aesthetic qualities, Lundhs Real Stone is the perfect fit as a worktop for outdoor kitchens.

Sourced from the quarries of Norway, Lundhs Real Stone surfaces are brought to you directly from nature’s landscape, delivering the most natural stone worktops you can find.

The largest producer of natural stone in Northern Europe, Lundhs extracts rough blocks of high quality stones from its own quarries in Norway and exports the materials to stone factories around the world.

Lundhs works with a select network of distributors around the globe, with each product traceable from quarry to end product.

For more information please visit: www.lundhsrealstone.com/uk

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The bay window tower house A tower building with bay windows in Shibuya, Tokyo The 2020 Architecture MasterPrize in the “Small Architecture” category was presented to Takaaki Fuji + Yuko Fuji Architecture for their project “The Bay Window Tower House”. The prize is awarded by an international jury of designers, architects, curators, and academics with the aim of promoting the appreciation of architecture around the world.

The prize-winning building is located in the Tokyo district of Shibuya and comprises a small family home and office.

Taking their inspiration from traditional Japanese verandas, the vision was to create rooms that offer all manner of pleasant places to sit. Takaaki Fuji + Yuko Fuji Architecture conceived the building

as a tower with bay windows on each floor from which the residents can enjoy views of the city.

Based on an environmental analysis, the tower was designed to exhibit different environmental qualities depending on the time of year, time of day, floor, and orientation – to make the most of the varying conditions in terms of light, wind, and warmth. Carbonized cork – a material that exhibits a low weight, high heat insulation, and ease of workability – was used to reduce the thermal load.

The different floors are connected by a spiral staircase. Takaaki Fuji + Yuko Fuji selected materials such as wood, cork, and certain types of paint – materials with their own unique character that develop and flourish over time.

In harmony with the changes to the materials, the building was also designed to meet the similarly changing needs of

its inhabitants. For example, lamps are integrated into the pieces of furniture that can be moved wherever they are needed – so the room layout can be easily adapted as the children grow older. “The uniqueness of the building is the result of its environment and the people who live in it,” summarizes Takaaki Fuji.

Integrated into one of the bay windows – in fact right in front of the window – is a Duravit DuraSquare furniture washbasin, which is perfectly at home thanks to its timeless looks and longevity – even as the design of the room changes. In the bathroom, a Starck bathtub is set into the expanded window area, affording a breathtaking view of the downtown skyscrapers.

Duravit AG Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The company is active in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovation in the fields of signature design, comfort-enhancing technology and premium quality.

In cooperation with an international network of high-profile designers such as Philippe Starck, sieger design, Christian Werner, Cecilie Manz and young talents such as Bertrand Lejoly and Kurt Merki Jr., the company develops unique bathrooms that enhance quality of life for users on a sustained basis. Duravit’s product portfolio comprises sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, tap fittings and accessories as well as installation systems.

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Embassy Gardens brings a whole new meaning to bathing The launch of the new Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens brings a new twist to the concept of bathing...

Kaldewei is an expert in the manufacture of eco-friendly, sustainable and 100 % recyclable bathroom solutions and was delighted to be part of this exciting and prestigious project on London’s South Bank, developed by Ballymore and EcoWorld Ballymore.

The Sky Pool has a frame which weighs 50 tonnes; it is 8 inches (200 mm) thick with a 12-inch (300 mm) thick base and is nearly 10 feet (3.0 m) in depth, resting on an invisible steel frame.

Because of their excellent quality, Kaldewei products were fitted in all the tower apartments either side of the Sky Pool. The shower trays and baths are all created from Kaldewei steel enamel and it is this fusion of steel and glass, which makes the products extremely strong and durable like the Sky Pool! However, if all the baths in both towers were filled with water they would not come close to filling the Sky Pool; which at 82 feet long, with 46 of those suspended in mid-air, it is longer than most Olympic sized pools which when full contain over 2.5 million litres of water.

As Kaldewei ‘bathers’ tend to stay inside and enjoy the privacy of their own bathing area, the inclusion of the Cayono Puro bath or the Centro Duo 2 bathtub with is central waste and two identical back rests make elegant additions to any bathroom.

In addition to the baths the floor-level Superplan XXL’s, with its flush – fitting recessed waste cover and generous dimensions, (they go up to 1.8 metres), ensures greater freedom of movement when showering; whilst Kaldewei’s Secure Plus anti-slip finish, which is virtually invisible and guarantees safe footing, an essential requirement when walking on any wet surface.

For further information please visit: www.kaldewei.co.uk 34

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Panoramic rooftop deck decorates skyline Beautifully designed apartment rooftop terrace completed with sustainable Kebony wood Located nearby the epicentre of Washington DC’s H Street, the Apollo Apartments have been thoughtfully designed to capture the excitement of the early 20th Century Apollo Theatre, located on the same site, with modern amenities befitting one of the city’s most dynamic neighbourhoods. Global leader in the production of sustainably modified wood, Kebony was selected for one of the building’s most striking features, its multi-faceted rooftop deck, sat atop the residential building, which houses more than 350 apartments.

Responsible for creating a beautiful outdoor living environment, the landscaped deck offers unparalleled 360-degree views of the city, a multi-use pool/fountain, a movie screen with lawn seating, a contemporary pergola and

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several stylish Kebony benches which adorn the sensitively designed rooftop space. Finding the right material for the ambitious rooftop project led Insight Property Group and Landscape Architecture Bureau to Kebony, which was ultimately selected due to its natural aesthetic, impressive durability and award-winning sustainability credentials.

Kebony’s durability and need for extremely minimal maintenance made it the perfect choice for the project, which is exposed to the elements all year round, with highs of up to 34° C in the summer and lows of -18°C in the winter.

Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly process, which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by strengthening the wood with furfuryl alcohol - an agricultural by-product. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including

high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. Brendan Whitsitt, Director of Development of Insight Property Group, said, “ We are delighted with the impressive rooftop space and are pleased to have worked with fantastic partners and products to help realise the vision. For the decking, we were looking for a natural material that would not require any real maintenance or regular touch-ups and were very pleased to have discovered Kebony wood, which only requires normal cleaning and no additional processing.”

Commenting on the use of Kebony at the Apollo Apartments, Payam Ostovar, PLA, ASLA, at Washington-based Landscape Architecture Bureau added, “The decking is performing extremely well since construction completed. One of the best benefits we have noticed the most, is that being a pool deck, it is far cooler than the adjacent concrete pavers.” www.kebony.com/en

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Laminate v engineered wood v LVT – how to choose the right option for your project Whether you’re specifying flooring for a commercial space, a build-to-rent or housing development, sourcing the right kind of flooring to meet requirements such as ease of installation and longevity - within varying budget constraints – can be a minefield in what seems like an endless array of options.

Hard flooring has become a number one choice in UK homes and in commercial settings - popular for practicality and longevity. The types have increased, along with the quality, design and installation options.

LVT is a popular choice The popularity of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) continues to grow, due to the fact most ranges offer waterproof options – which is ideal for everything from kitchens and bathrooms through to restaurants or hotel lobbies. LVT is made up of a protective wear layer which is textured to give an authentic look, a realistic wood or tile effect digital print lies beneath, and an insulation backing completes the composition – with the whole solution providing low acoustics, providing a real selling point in property projects and a welcoming environment in commercial spaces such as retail or hospitality venues. LVT designs range from slim, short, long and wide plank – and the increasingly popular and on trend herringbone effect. Installation methods can be either glue down, loose lay or click plank. Available at a variety of price points – there is an option here to suit every project budget.

Laminate offers a durable option Laminate still remains a great option for creating wood or tile effect flooring, for high traffic or low moisture areas. Laminate flooring can be found in a great number of plank size, thickness, texture and installation options, including click. The designs and textures are realistic, it’s incredibly UV resistant and the composition thicker – which can be forgiving on variations in subflooring. With such a wide range of options, there’sone to suit every budget.

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Engineered wood offers a timeless look Engineered wood gives a classic look for those looking to achieve a premium, real wood look without the price tag of a solid wood floor – which would quickly sap budget on a multiproperty build or refurbishment project.

With real wood veneer layered upon different compressed wood types, it’s a more budget-friendly way to achieve a beautiful wood finish. However, while less susceptible to expansion and contraction than real wood, it is still less durable than laminate, and wouldn’t be advised for high moisture areas. Cost can vary dependent on how thick the veneer is.

Factory Direct Flooring offers a wide selection range of LVT, laminate and wood floor options to customers throughout the UK, and works closely with manufacturers to remove the ‘middleman’ and bring products direct to customers at competitive prices – all underpinned by exceptional service.

FDF’s range of LVT click products are increasingly popular, bring easy to install.

For more information on the full flooring offering please visit: www.factory-direct-flooring.co.uk

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Why specify powder coating?

Powder Coating continues to be specified as just a colour. Whilst this approach works well in many instances, especially where there is a substantial supply chain, there are instances where coatings may be applied incorrectly. If a robust specification is not in place, this could cause issues with the finish in a few years after installation.

Architectural powder coating is a two-step process, the cleaning and pretreatment of the aluminium and then the powder coating itself. Only when both processes are correctly specified and completed, with suitably sourced materials for the location of the project, can the project be deemed to offer a sustainable powder coating solution.

Projects often carry not just extrusions but preformed sheet pressings cills, preformed column casings and often

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aluminium sheet used in composite spandrel panels. These are often powder coated in different locations which can introduce shading issues between batches, or indeed manufacturers of different powders.

To further complicate matters, should aluminium castings need to be coated, these may be coated in a further coating facility. The key to success is to discuss the finishes of various suppliers of materials and agree a common specification.

Quality control can be achieved by recognising what variations in finish might be acceptable by agreeing up front both the colour variance and gloss variance on the proposed finish. The main issue is that being prepared for potential colour variation means that this could be potentially controlled to a degree to minimise its effect.

The main parts of any powder coating specification should contain, details of the pretreatment system to be used, the colour specification, the gloss level and the class of powder to be used.

If there are to be parts of the facade that are going to be coated in different plants, such as the addition of aluminium pressings or spandrel panels, the manufacturer of the powder would help further minimise colour variation.

Aluprof are licence holders of QUALICOAT, a globally recognised standard for powder coating procedure and quality. This association recognises the need for quality of the pretreatment systems, the architectural powder colours and the application quality.

The association therefore licences both producers of the powders, the pretreatment systems and applicators to ensure that quality levels are attained

and maintained. Regular inspections of QUALICOAT licence holders are undertaken by third party test houses. This is a crucial cornerstone of membership of QUALICOAT and something that Aluprof are proud to offer on all specifications.

So, starting with the pretreatment specification, sometimes referred to as a conversion coating of the aluminium, either a chrome free or chrome-based system can be used for most locations.

The main aim of this pretreatment is to completely seal the aluminium substrate to stop oxidisation and also to provide a key for the powder to adhere too.

Alternatively, a thin anodised finish can be used prior to powder coating which offers a more robust pretreatment.

There are also variations of pretreatment options when it comes to specifying projects near the coast when a ‘Seaside’ class of pretreatment can be used which incorporates a longer or deeper aluminium etch process in its application to remove aluminium substrate contaminants.

Whilst a colour specification may seem fixed, there are variances that need to be considered. Different powder manufacturers of the same RAL colour could vary in shade, indeed, even using the same powder manufacturer with different batches of powder there can be a very slight shading difference. The key here is to agree an upper and lower shading specification, if appropriate, or better still try to specify the powder manufacturer to minimise any colour variance if products are to be produced in different powder coating applicators.

In addition to colour there are a range of gloss levels available, these are generally referred to as, ‘matt’, with a 20% and 30% gloss level, ‘semi-gloss’, having approximately 60-65% gloss level and ‘full gloss’ with 80% gloss level. As with colours, gloss levels across powder manufacturers vary so care should be taken to agree upper and lower limits so that when the products are placed together there is very little variation.

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Powders also come in various grades, all offer a long-life expectancy, but higher grades, or classes of powder offer greater colour fastness when subject to UV light and better gloss retention. Gloss can be lost as a result of airborne abrasion as well as UV degradation. Typically, we see Class 1 powders used in the UK with some high rise and prestigious projects opting for more resilient Class 2 powders.

Class 3 powders are generally not used in the UK and are specified in harsher environments such as in the equatorial regions.

Powder coating can also be specified to accurately replicate anodised finishes.

This option is more cost effective than anodising and offers a consistent shade across all profiles. Powder coating can also be supplied using a sublimation process which offers wood grain, stone or concrete effects, in fact virtually any

texture can be created. The sublimation process is covered by a QUALIDECO licence which is part of the QUALICOAT label for special finishing.

So, the answer certainly is a yes, on any project, the architectural powder coating needs to be specified clearly, not only for the visual aspect of the finish looking correct, but for the finishes ability to offer a long and sustainable life. Aluminium surface pretreatment or conversion coatings are crucial to this long-life expectancy. It is important to note that all powder coatings are porous and do let air and water vapour permeate through them, if a pretreatment process is poor or worse nonexistent, in time the aluminium substrate will oxidise and the powder coating will simply flake off.

As a specifier, it is important to take advice, especially when powder coated items are being source from different manufacturers

and suppliers. At Aluprof all our architectural advisors are experienced in both powder coating and anodised finishes so are able to advise on the correct specification. By being aware of the potential issues that could be raised on what is the most visible aspect of an aluminium facade, the finish specification is crucial to a project being completed on time and in the right quality.

On a final point, it has been proven that not all aluminium composition is the same, especially as we begin to use more recycled content in our aluminium extrusions and this can effect the long term stability of the substrate. Trace and tramp elements present in alloys need to be carefully monitored as these can have an effect on the sustainability of the final coating. Fortunately, with today’s modern and accurate spectrometers the materials present in any alloy can be determined as well as the percentage of each material’s occurrence in the alloy as every type of alloy element has its own colour. Aluprof have very tight specifications as to what is acceptable in the bulk billet prior to extrusion to maximise a powder coated products life expectancy.

Since setting up the Aluprof Office at the Business Design Centre in London, the company has rapidly grown their specification influence in the UK with their high-performance architectural aluminium systems. Further expansion of the company’s headquarters in Altrincham now provides specifiers with meeting facilities and an extensive showroom of commercial systems to view. With overseas growth across Europe spreading into the Middle East and firm roots already in the East of the USA, the company is becoming a global player in facade supply. Further information is available on the company’s website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham on 0161 941 4005.

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Three-quarters of fire doors in recent years have failed inspection Thousands of fire safety installations in the past two years have failed their inspections, according to the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS).

According to the certified inspector, over three-quarters (76%) of fire doors failed their tests in 2019 whilst 30% of fire doors across the country were condemned due to poor installation, with problems ranging from excessive gaps around the doors and the use of non-compatible foam.

It comes as the home office also revealed that over half a million fire-related incidents were recorded in 2020, with hundreds of fatalities resulting.

All non-domestic buildings are legally required to have several safety features implemented to reduce the effects of fires, such as alarms and doors. Fire doors work by stopping the spread of deadly smoke and fire; yet over three quarters of fire doors in 2019 failed inspections and were condemned as unfit for purpose.

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Reasons for failure of these doors range from ‘excessive gaps’ that allow smoke to pass, to ‘poorly adjusted door closers’ that prevent the door from staying in its default closed position in order to hold back the spread of fire.

Director of Combined Fire Protection, Ellie McKay, says: “It’s staggering how many commercial landlords are still not compliant despite the recent changes in regulation.

Putting aside the hefty fines they can incur; the graver concern is the potential loss of life that can happen when corners are cut.”

“There is so much to advise commercial landlords and developers on when buildings are going up. The importance of working with professional organisations to ensure that stringent requirements are met cannot be underestimated.”

Lessons from a tragedy This lack of building safety features has been all but spotlighted since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower which took the lives of over 70 people in 2017.

An investigation following the fire found several shortcomings from the fire protection equipment including the doors, alarms and exit signs.

It was found that the fire doors were replaced six years prior and, during an inquiry were reported to have had their self-closing mechanisms either broken or missing, meaning many were left open during the night of the fire and allowed poisonous smoke to pour through the lobbies of the tower. It was also found that the door could only hold back fire for half as long as it was supposed to; at just 15 minutes.

Following an intense inquiry four years later, the government has now published proposals for what it calls “the biggest change in building safety for a generation”, placing greater responsibility on those designing and constructing buildings to explain how they are managing risks and demonstrating that a building is safe for occupants.

A lesson to be learned from Grenfell is the importance of thorough operational checks on vital equipment is paramount.

Now accountability has been heightened we are experiencing a high volume of ‘catch up’ across the industry to hit compliance targets. In my opinion this proves the lack of stringent surveys over the past decades but at least things are heading in the right direction at a good speed.

Mark Frain of Combined Fire Protection believes a lesson to be learned from the disaster is thorough operational checks on vital equipment.

“Now accountability has been heightened, we are experiencing a high volume of ‘catch up’ across the industry to compliance targets. This proves the lack of stringent surveys over past decades but at least things are heading in the right direction.”

“We welcome the proposed changes and hopefully this will force commercial landlords and business owners to be more compliant and take preventative measures to ensure that we don’t see the likes of the Grenfell disaster recurring”, added McKay. To understand more on how you can update your building’s fire safety, get in touch with Combined Fire Protection here.

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Firefighters identify deadly private sector inspection threat in building safety bill Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has responded to the Building Safety Bill passing its second reading in Parliament today by saying that it is ‘vitally flawed’ in its present form. The bill is set to see private sector firms turned to if fire and rescue services are not in a position to assist the new Building Safety Regulator with fire matters.

The Building Safety Regulator, which the bill is set to introduce, will be a new statutory body responsible for building safety in higher-risk buildings.

The FBU fears safety will be weakened as profit is prioritised if the Building Safety Regulator is allowed to turn to private firms, and that this policy might lead to further private sector involvement in fire safety of new developments.

The bill is the most substantial legislative response to the Grenfell Tower disaster to date, and aims to reform building safety

Image Credit: Goodwillgames, CC BY-SA 4.0

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with measures including a requirement to have an ‘accountable person’ for higherrisk buildings, as well as the new Building Safety Regulator.

The union has also criticised the bill on the grounds that it does not address the building safety crisis in existing buildings.

In the wake of Grenfell hundreds of thousands of people’s homes have been discovered to be unsafe, with many facing huge costs to remedy their homes.

The bill does nothing to address the need for these repairs nor their cost.

Other issues with the bill identified by the Fire Brigades Union include concerns around funding some of the work required from the fire and rescue service, and the need for residents to have a voice in decisions and processes concerning them.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said:

“This bill will be vitally flawed if it allows the new Building Safety Regulator to turn to private firms for assistance with fire matters.

The FBU has vigorously opposed this type of activity over the long term and will continue to do so. Building safety cannot be an opportunity for profiteering: this risks public safety, as history shows us. The answer is to invest in the public fire and rescue service, by recruiting and training sufficient firefighters to carry out these duties.

“Furthermore, whilst this bill puts in place some good protections for new buildings, we would like to see this bill resolve the building safety crisis in existing buildings.

Finally, there need to be provisions in the bill to fund the fire service properly for the extra work it mandates for, and protect resident’s voices in matters which concern them.”

For more information or comment contact Ben Duncan-Duggal on press@fbu.org.uk or 07825635224.

Terrorism and Covid-19 Jane Embury looks at an unlikely legacy of the pandemic We all think we know how Covid-19 has shaped the health of nations around the world.

For most of us, while the pandemic has changed our lives, we simply want a return to old normalities.

But Covid-19 is leaving behind some unwelcome legacies including, perhaps, a greater risk of terrorist attack.

At its most trivial, is the case of the Iowa man who was arrested earlier this year.

In a phone call, he allegedly threatened to blow up a McDonald’s restaurant. The restaurant’s ‘crime’ was to neglect to include dipping sauce with his order of McNuggets.

However, not so trivial, because Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, says that mental health is an important issue in relation to terrorism and violent extremism.

It says that the situation created by the pandemic might be an additional stress factor, potentially encouraging vulnerable individuals to turn to violence.

And violence there certainly is. In 2020, there were 57 completed, failed and foiled terrorist attacks in the European Union.

Those took place in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Last year also, 21 people died in terrorist attacks in the EU and 449 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences.

Covid-19 is also adding to the background, because it has helped to pollute the social climate with violent ideologies. Europol says that polarisation of political discourse has increased in the European Union.

This has manifested itself in an increase in intolerance of political opponents, while the number of individuals conducting verbal or physical violence is also increasing.

Of actual terror attacks, lone actors were behind all of them, although some jihadi terrorists were in contact with terrorist groups.

Some of them had displayed a combination of extreme ideologies and mental health issues.

In a society of social isolation, they simply were in contact with fewer people who could have picked up on signs of crisis.

Other motivating factors included the republication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, and anti-Islamic actions by some right-wing groups. But it’s not just Islamic terrorism. The attack in Hanau, Germany in February last year was motivated by right-wing xenophobic and racist ideology.

In 2020, Italy reported 24 of the EU’s 25 left-wing and anarchist terrorist attacks. The other was in France. The attacks were mostly on private and public property such as financial institutions and government buildings.

The dynamics of Covid-19 have been hard to predict for health professionals involved in halting the spread of infection.

But less focus has been on the dynamics of isolation and mental health, and how simmering hatreds and resentments can, and yet might, boil over.

That’s a legacy we’re all going to have to live with for a very long time, and one of the best ways is to protect sensitive or public buildings.

Our expertise in the specialist area of ballistic and explosive attack developed out of our core business in the supply of advanced glazing systems.

Those are glazing systems to protect against fire, and over the years we have supplied to countries around the world.

Our security-enhanced system is designed to withstand blast pressure, while still retaining the glass within the framing profiles. This protects occupants from the blast itself and, importantly, from injury from flying glass.

We’ve independently live tested our system against 500kg of TNTequivalent explosive, and a video of the test is here. It’s a versatile system, accommodating high performance antispall glasses to a thickness of 100mm.

It also maintains slim and aesthetically pleasing sight lines, with no visual difference between protected and unprotected glazed systems.

As normality begins to return, it would be easy to be complacent in assessing what risks to protect buildings against.

But in designing or refurbishing the buildings of tomorrow, we should also heed Europol and consider today’s legacies of mental health and radicalisation.

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Global Safety Report highlights need for near-miss data The latest IPAF report analyses the main causes of serious injuries and fatalities occurring when using powered access machines The latest IPAF Global Safety Report analyses the main causes of serious injuries and fatalities occurring when using powered access machines to conduct temporary work at height, highlighting the need to gather more near-miss data from across the industry worldwide to help avoid the most common types of serious accident in future.

While the report, based on incidents logged in IPAF’s Accident Reporting Portal (www.ipafaccidentreporting.org), indicates the main causes of serious injuries and deaths while using powered have not changed significantly across the most recent two years of data, electrocutions have increased slightly to become the joint most common cause along with falls from the platform.

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Over the whole five-year period 20162020, the most common causes of fatal incidents were falls from the platform and electrocutions, both accounting for 23% of deaths, followed by entrapments (19%), MEWP overturns/tip-overs (12%), MEWPs being struck by another machine or vehicle (6%) or hit by falling object(s) (5%).

In the early days of the accident reporting project, which launched in 2012-13, the majority of reports were received from IPAF’s UK membership. As the project enters its second decade, reports are now coming in from around the world, with reports received from 19 countries across the most recent two years of data gathering, and more than 25 countries worldwide in the past five years.

This year the report has been presented

a different way than it was previously, with an executive summary giving a global overview, followed by detailed data spreads looking at each of the six main accident types broken down by location, machine type, industry sector, including lost-time-incident analysis specific to each incident classification.

Brian Parker, IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, says: “This new format will make the report easier to digest and understand, especially for members of the powered access rental industry and health & safety representatives at IPAF member companies, as well as end-use contractors of powered access.

“It may be statistically interesting to compare the number of accidents occurring around the world and between industry sectors, but it is more relevant and informative to be able to take a detailed look at electrocutions and falls from the platform, for example, to see what machine type, configuration, location or industry sector these are occurring in, to consider what some of the underlying factors may be and to plan ahead accordingly.

“I’d particularly like to thank all of the IPAF Accident Work Group – Chair Mark Keily, James Clare, Alana Paterson and Chris Wraith – for their help in driving engagement and helping understand and interpret the data gathered through the portal; without them producing this comprehensive report would simply not have been possible.

“One thing that we all agree on is we must now focus on areas we know we need more data from; this means gathering more information about near misses – we are getting comprehensive reporting of serious injuries and deaths but need more reports of the seemingly innocuous mistakes that might have led to a serious outcome but didn’t.

“Near misses are important in understanding trends and preventing serious accidents in future. We hope that direct access to the reporting portal from the newly launched IPAF ePAL mobile app for operators and supervisors will empower more people to record these sorts of incident – quickly, easily and anonymously if so preferred.

“This new approach allows us to present some key recommendations to factor in when planning powered access use, linked to specific references – be those technical guidance information, the free IPAF Andy Access safety posters and Toolbox Talk series, or relevant training courses that operatives are managers are advised to undertake to mitigate the specific risks identified leading to certain types of accident.

“Likewise, we are getting some reports about Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPs) and construction hoists, but our database is not quite complete enough regarding these machine types to draw meaningful statistical conclusions.

We will work with our members and relevant technical committees to improve reporting from the MCWP sector to enable us to give useful insights into key accident trends in future.”

“The improved reporting portal, launched last autumn and now available in all main IPAF languages, has helped drive up reporting from more countries around the world and gather data from a wider range of industry sectors. This enables deeper analysis to inform all of the work IPAF does to improve safety, technical guidance and training.

Visit www.ipaf.org/accident to view or download the IPAF Global Safety Report 2021.

To review the webinar hosted on 22 June to preview the launch of the 2021 report, see www.ipaf.org/webinars.

Please use www.ipafaccidentreporting.org to report all accidents, incidents and near misses using powered access.

UK’s first oculus staircase finally takes shape at Cardiff Innovation Campus The first glimpse of the oculus staircase, the first of its kind in the UK, can be seen following its installation at Cardiff Innovation Campus’ sbarc | spark building.

The finishing of the staircase is a pivotal moment in the construction of the Innovation Campus. The sbarc | spark showpiece starts at the ground floor as a social stair and forms breakout zones to each level which are curated differently, becoming destinations to users on other floors.

The staircase is a sculptural, open staircase travelling through a slanting void. Its name is taken from the oculus design, which depicts an eye that allows

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light to flood into a space. It aims to drive engagement and collaboration between the varying departments and uses of the sbarc | spark building.

The Innovation Campus is being built on the site of a disused rail yard and comprises two buildings. sbarc | spark will be home to the world’s first Social Science Research Park (SPARK), alongside CardiffInnovations@sbarc – Cardiff University’s creative space for start-ups, spinouts and partnerships.

The Translational Research Hub will be home to two world-leading scientific research establishments – the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and Cardiff Catalysis Institute. Mike Baynham, Operations Director for Bouygues UK

in Wales, and project lead on Cardiff Innovation Campus, said: “It’s amazing to have witnessed this staircase taking shape over the past few months. The expertise of Taunton Fabrications and the amazing vision of Hawkins\Brown have all come together to create a spectacle in this truly one-of-a-kind building.

“The way the staircase was constructed is also very unique as the stairs weren’t installed directly above each other, as traditionally happens, but are offset at each floor level. Several methods of installation have been reviewed over months to come up with the best way to install the stairs safely and practically.”

Mike explained: “Our great team here at

Bouygues UK came up with a solution to install each stair after each floor slab was built and then construct the next floor above the stair with a cleaver configuration. These temporary works was designed by Taunton Fabrications and the RC frame Contractor, 4D Structures. This was then repeated on every floor. It is a complex but exciting construction project and is amazing to see it come to fruition.”

Julia Roberts, Partner and Education & Research Sector Lead of Hawkins\Brown said: “The oculus staircase was designed as a stimulating setting that fosters collaboration between researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. To develop this design, we worked with our computational design team and produced a script that allowed us to create a parametric model of the oculus void for best coordination with structures and M&E design teams. This also enabled us to create a game engine walkthrough which you were able to experience on a VR headset – it proved to be a powerful design development tool which actively involved the University and building users.

“This was the first time we utilised game engine technology on a project, and it’s very rewarding to see it taking shape on site.”

Professor Damian Walford Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said of the finishing of this milestone in the project: “The oculus is the light-flooded heart of our building: a visible symbol of the connections and configurations between people and projects that this space beautifully enables, as much as a practical thoroughfare.”

For more information about the Cardiff Innovation Campus, visit: www.cardiff.ac.uk/innovation/campusinvestment You can view the oculus staircase fly through here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLvMjd1htw 51

Design buy build – commercial case study – design’d living – En Route Lounge, Windsor Back to Brick

The details

Food and service solutions to the airline industry, En Route International, requested a refurbishment of their lounge area in Windsor, Berkshire.

The team installed Opus Karndean flooring and carpet tiles from Interface, selecting a colour palette from Farrow & Ball and wallpaper from Zimmer Rohde to enhance the soft furnishings. The furniture sourced had to be comfortable, sustainable and long-lasting. The team worked with Elite Office Furniture and Urban Suite Limited to source furnishings from Ligne Roset, Cattelan Italia, Muella and Foscarini.

The clients primary focus was to create a client suite for project and food presentations for the airline industry. The space needed to be diverse enough to hold both business updates and be a social space for the team to enjoy, but also have the presence of a luxury airline business lounge.

A new layout was designed by contemporary interior design consultancy, Design’d Living, to include two formal meeting rooms, a development kitchen, a large informal meeting area that could be transformed into a conference meeting room if required and a large walk-in freezer and packing room that was soundproof.

The space was previously broken into lots of small office cubicles with glass partitioning. Part of the re-design was to strip it back to a completely open space and section it into new zones. Upcycling some of the glass partitioning that was used previously, they were able to create new rooms while being mindful of costs Renovation work began in early 2017 to completely reinvent the space and capture the essence of the client’s core service. The building work to En Route’s lounge included a full strip-out to the left wing of the ground floor - taking it back to brick, adding in a full rewire to include Collingwood LED lighting, air-conditioning and a fire system.

The client also wanted the original grid system ceilings removed to make way for a cleaner contemporary look using plaster board. Once re-plastered, the space was designed to feel welcoming and warm for both clients and staff, but also functional for its multi-use purpose.

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The curved Ligne Roset Togo Settees were carefully chosen, not only to create a relaxing workspace, but also to enhance the tones of the company’s branding.

Most notably, the three-metre long board room conference table was sourced and customised to accommodate a conference phone system.

The team added subtle hints of the airline theme around the lounge, such as LED lights across the hallway to mimic runway lights and International Air Transport Association airport codes onto the frosted glass throughout.

With food-preparation at the heart of this business, a high-performance kitchen was essential. The biggest challenge for the team was incorporating the airline ovens and freezer into the design.

The team installed a walk-in freezer from Caple and two specialist airline ovens supplied by Zodiac Aerospace Ovens, so the En Route team could focus on airline food concepts.

Airline ovens are unusual sizing, so Design’d Living had to work with kitchen fitters to create a custom housing for them, and because they were a focal point for the client, the team made sure they were central to the design and on show like traditional ovens. The team also had to work with electrical contractors as they required large transformers due to the ovens working on different voltages.

Design’d Living created a room for the freezer that was at the back of the space – allowing easy access to the carparks and minimal disturbance to the meeting space. They also created a separate kitchen space within this to allow the En Route staff to walk in and out of the freezer and have a working space which was all behind a closed door. Appliances were sourced from Miele and Caple, and worktops were made from Techni Stone.

Rob Lessmann, founder of Design’d Living and head designer shares his thoughts on the finished project: “This was a complex brief, it had to be a multi zoned area that acted as a first class lounge, a kitchen, breakout meeting room and large conference space. The challenge was finding furniture that would encompass all these needs, so we went bold and big. Despite their size, the seating was easy to move and immediately made a bold design statement. The space was to be bright, welcoming and functional, all aspects we love when creating commercial spaces that don’t always have the luxury of natural daylight.”

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StoSilent distance system brings peace and quiet to the Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building The need for carefully designed and balanced acoustics within a vast open space has led to an acoustic system from Sto being specified for a major automotive research and development centre in the Midlands. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed at the new Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building, home of the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), on the University of Warwick campus.

The NAIC is a unique research and development facility where academic and industrial teams work together to develop the future of transport. “The architects - Cullinan Studio – wanted to encourage people to come together for research, demonstrations, meetings and breakout sessions, so acoustics were a key consideration within this multipleuse building”, explains Sto Technical Consultant for Acoustics, James Gosling.

“It was especially important in the large, open atrium area which forms the centrepiece of the building. This was designed to be a flexible space, and so it was a requirement to correctly balance the challenges of attenuation, reverberation, speech intelligibility and foot traffic. The aim was to create an acoustic environment that was reliable and practical, while also achieving a very distinctive design aesthetic.”

Over 2,000m2 of the StoSilent Distance system was installed around the curving balustrades and street level ceilings which feature in the multi-level atrium area. “This appeared at first glance to be a challenging project as the curves and angles involved were quite specific and demanding, but Sto were always on hand to help out,” explains Leigh Reading of 54

CG Reynolds, a Sto-authorised acoustic installer for the Sto system. “They provided bespoke training for our ceiling fixers, and made a number of site visits during the installation to provide support.

The StoSilent Distance system proved to be extremely flexible, and Sto were never more than a phone call away if we required any advice.”

The StoSilent Distance system includes the Sto minimal void SW150 metal profile sub-construction which can be installed and adjusted to suit a very wide variety of application requirements, thus providing a tremendous range of design possibilities.

The acoustic boards are made from 96% recycled glass, making them lightweight and easy to install. They provide excellent acoustics, and aesthetically provide a modern, clean, monolithic appearance.

The boards are fixed to the subconstruction, creating a seamless surface, appealing to both the architect and client and perfect for the type of dramatic architecture featured in the NAIC atrium.

The system was completed with the application of StoSilent Décor M. This spray-applied finish can be tinted to match an extensive range of shades from the StoColor system, allowing architects and designers to incorporate an acoustic solution which complements their visual design aesthetic.

StoSilent Décor M is easy to refurbish, and being both inert and Natureplus approved it is also environmentally friendly. This was a particularly appropriate consideration for this project, as the NAIC facility will be used to research technological advances that help the environment, such as reducing dependency on fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions.

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Eco walls sanahuj - Sanlucar “The architecture itself must show the values that Sanlucar transmits through the products it grows and markets: ecology, sustainability, quality and freshness.”

Thanks to their typical and unique vision inspired by their Mediterranean origins, sanahuja&partners has been able to adapt in each of its projects and above all to listen to the needs and expectations of their clients.

With values shared by the architecture studio and Sanlucar, such as ecology and sustainability, for this new project, sanahuja&partners makes it a point of honour to reveal through the architecture the values that the company transmits through the products it grows and markets.

Ecology, sustainability, quality and freshness are the brand’s driving forces, in line with our modern society and the increasingly responsible choices of consumers. To approach the conception of this project it was essential to consider the importance of its emblematic and representative character for the company.

As a real place of identity, the architecture of this place must be able to transcribe a certain brand image, an identity, significant to Sanlucar.

Each partner must be able to relate to it, find the common values that unite him to the company in order to carry out their business in the best possible environment.

To do this, the construction of this multinational’s flagship headquarters was divided into two phases.

As a first step, an extension was planned with the addition of a new building and then the restructuring and renovation of the existing facilities was started, ultimately uniting these two spaces into a single office complex.

Thus this impactful new space, although somewhat fragmented on its northern and southern sides, blend into the current building through the large hall in their centre.

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The major expression load of the project is concentrated in this articulated space by flooding it with natural light to feed the vertical and horizontal gardens it houses, within which the main staircase of symbolic character passes, making it no longer just a practical element but a crucial element in the aesthetic of the interior.

The basic idea of the interior design was to create very flexible spaces with a high degree of comfort for its permanent users and visitors.

The use of natural materials combined with the most efficient systems and installation conception, (passive) solar control systems, lighting domotization or electric vehicles, as well as the introduction of vegetation as a natural and healthy ornamental element, make this building a commitment to the most sustainable architecture from an economic, environmental and social point of view.

For more information please visit: www.sanahujapartners.com

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Homeowners plan to spend £135 billion on makeovers in the next year, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles research With almost 1 in 5 Brits moving house in the last year to cash in on the Stamp Duty holiday, and others looking to remodel their homes to cater for the rise in homeworking, 2021 is forecast to be a bumper year for home improvement.

Just a quarter of people say they will do all the work themselves, meaning tradespeople will be in high demand. According to the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles research, plumbers and electricians will be the most sought after, followed by decorators, builders, and plasterers.

On average, homeowners are planning to spend £13,958 on their makeovers – adding up to a total bill of £135 billion across the UK, with one in five budgeting over £20,000. A new kitchen is in highest demand, followed by a re-landscaped garden, bathroom renovation, and redecoration in the bedroom or living room.

The research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also asked how people will go about finding a trades person to do their work, with word of mouth most common.

For those short on recommendations, advertising in local newspapers, on social

media, and displaying a strong van livery ranked as the best places for tradespeople to get noticed.

On average homeowners will get three competing quotes before selecting the person for the job, with respondents ranking value for money, reviews, and availability the top three reasons they end up handing the contract to a trades person.

Charlie Mullins, chairman of Pimlico Plumbers, which has operated a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles fleet for over 35 years and provides building, plumbing and electrical services, explained: “People have found themselves spending more time at home and it seems they have been giving more thought to making existing spaces work better for their families, and that often means new kitchens, bathrooms, and even home extensions like garages, sheds, and conservatories. Throw in the fact that many have a bit of extra cash thanks to cancelled family holidays and closed pubs and restaurants, and all of a sudden you’ve got a renovation boom on your hands.

“We’ve been busy of late; best 12 months in the company’s history if I’m being honest.

And there’s loads of similar work backed up in the system, so companies like us, and tradesmen and women in general are going to be very busy for the next couple of years.”

Kate Thompson, Head of Marketing, Press and Public Relations for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The past 18 months have been really tough on a lot of our customers and businesses, but these figures show that for many there is light at the end of the tunnel. With so much work being planned by homeowners, our customers’ diaries will be jam-packed, which means it’s more important than ever that their vans don’t let them down. “As part of our Working With You promise, we offer Mobile Service Clinics and extended opening hours to ensure all vehicle maintenance can be carried out while the van is not in use, allowing customers to focus on getting the job done.”

The home makeover shopping list Kitchen – 35 per cent Garden – 33 per cent Bathroom – 32 per cent Bedroom – 29 per cent Living room – 27 per cent Flooring – 20 per cent Hallway – 19 per cent Dining room – 17 per cent Roof – 15 per cent Garage – 15 per cent The most in-demand tradespeople Plumber – 37 per cent Electrician – 30 per cent Decorator – 26 per cent Builder – 24 per cent Plasterer – 22 per cent Carpenter – 19 per cent Floorer – 18 per cent Carpet fitter – 18 per cent Landscape gardener – 16 per cent Roofer – 15 per cent For more details on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ award-winning range of products and services, or to find your nearest Van Centre, please visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.

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Diesel or not to diesel: Should the construction sector turn its attention to electric?

Few industries globally are struggling quite as much to reduce their carbon footprint as that of construction.

According to the UK Green Construction Board, 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint comes from the built environment – and for this reason, it should come as no surprise that industry chiefs are searching for new ways to assist them in their plight. The question is, what is the most valid option to reduce emissions within construction without significantly impacting efficiency and quality?

With other industries leading the way; could one way for construction firms to drive down their impact on the environment be through switching to a greener fleet?

Here, we delve into the issue…

Innovation and development in infrastructure and competitive pricing are making electric vans the next big step for many sectors. Thanks to government legislation, automotive brands are making electric vehicles more popular, with desirable models and increased mile range being released.

Infrastructure New rapid electric charge points are constantly being built across the UK, making it easier to recharge than ever before. While the infrastructure is growing, it isn’t growing fast enough, which could mean charging points are stretched thin.

The UK Government’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution plans to prohibit the sale of new diesel or petrol vehicles by 2030. Hybrid cars will still be sold, but vehicles must be able to be charged by electricity. Considering this, it isn’t surprising that we expect to see a rise in electric vans and electric van hire.

Having access to rapid charge points is a crucial consideration. For example, it is significantly cheaper to charge a 60

vehicle on private overnight tariffs than it is to charge on public daytime chargers.

Installing your own points at construction sites cuts costs while making fuelling your van feasible and generally easier.

You don’t have to rely on detouring to a charge point when out and about.

Where is the demand coming from?

It seems that companies across the UK are shifting to electric vehicles. While the uptake is slow, it is still gradually increasing. Some global corporations such as Amazon and UPS are even opting for electric vans for their fleets over vehicles running on traditional fuel.

So, should you make the switch to electric?

While many of us are still unaware of the costs surrounding electric vans when compared to a diesel, the majority of the time, electric vans are more costefficient and subsequently offer more value for money. However, sometimes, the costs can range depending on your circumstances of operating an electric van.

Electric vans will be the future; however, elements such as the cost of electric, your driving style, whether you have a private charging point installed, and your average miles driven must be considered too. For example, while it may cost more to lease an electric van, the cost of charging it will be cheaper than the equivalent amount in petrol or diesel. Find out more about the various costs and payoffs of electric vans.

The technology in electric vans is improving at a rapid rate, so much so that

we expect to see electric van leasing to be more cost-efficient than it is now before the end of this year. This should encourage more businesses to make the change to an electric fleet in 2022. If you’re unsure but still want to make the change from traditional fuel, consider hybrid vans so you can still cut down on fossil fuel emissions.

Which electric vans are available?

Van leasing deals are available for the newest range of electric vans which have increased mile range and better efficiency. There are many options available depending on what you need, including: • Renault Kangoo ZE – ideal for those looking for small van lease. The Kangoo ZE is great value for money with more than 100-mile range when fully charged.

• Vauxhall Vivaro-E – a medium van that is able to hold 1,000kg with a 200-mile range when fully charged.

• Mercedes eSprinter – while large van leases have less option than smaller sizes, the eSprinter is a competitive and efficient electric van that function in optimum performance with heavy weight.

While we will be abandoning petrol and diesel cars by 2030, are enough of us willing to make that change beforehand?

Weigh up the pros and cons of an electric van fleet before making the switch.

So, there you have it – a sensible solution to driving down your construction emissions.

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