Inspirational new housing the stand-out trend for 2015 The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 RIBA National Awards, the most rigorous and prestigious awards for new buildings in the UK. RIBA National Award-winning buildings set the standard for good architecture.
APHC raises awareness of water efficiency following heatwave Published: 24 August, 2016 Following the heatwave conditions experienced across parts of the UK this week, the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) is emphasising the importance of saving water all year round and the vital role quality plumbing and heating
As part of an ongoing commitment to promote diversity and inclusion and inspire a wide talent pool in the construction industry, the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) has today (2 June) launched Role Models, a new on-line publication celebrating the diversity of British architects. Through inspiring and frank interviews
Industry leading training provider, Develop Training Ltd (DTL), is warning that firms will face a dash for compliance when new electrical wiring regulations are released next month. DTL says many firms will be caught unawares by the scope of the changes in the new British Standard requirements for electrical installations.
The AGM of SELECT, the campaigning trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland, has reported another year of successful awareness raising, outreach and training initiatives. Kevin Griffin was re-elected as President of SELECT and Kenny Duncan was re-elected as Vice President at the meeting and Technical Update, which was
The £14.2 million expansion project of a primary school in London has been offered to Morgan Sindall. The project will allow Tufnell Park Primary School to double its capacity from 315 pupils to 630 pupils by 2025. “Tufnell Park is a well-established and much-loved part of a growing community in
An £82.7 million deal has been agreed between M&G Real Estate and Redrow Homes for the funding of more than 180 new build to rent homes in Colindale, North London. The 48-acre project, which is being created by Redrow on the site of the former Peel Centre Metropolitan Police training
Inspirational new housing the stand-out trend for 2015 The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 RIBA National Awards, the most rigorous and prestigious awards for new buildings in the UK. RIBA National Award-winning buildings set the standard for good architecture. The shortlist for the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best building of the year will be drawn from the 37 award-winning buildings announced today. Award winners include a beautifully-crafted wooden fishing hut on a small new estate in Hampshire (Fishing Hut), a crisp, modern malt whisky distillery inspired by the shape of a barley sheaf (Dalmunach Distillery), a patterned red-brick church centre and apartments surrounding a listed church in Hackney (St Mary of Eton) and a modest and calm cancer care centre (Maggie’s Lanarkshire). The stand-out trend of the 2015 RIBA National Awards is the prevalence of high quality new housing developments. One quarter (8) of the 37 award winners are housing projects by developers ranging from large housebuilders and housing associations to smaller bespoke schemes by private investors. At a time when the lack of decent housing dominates the political agenda, amongst the winning projects are some exceptional examples of well-designed affordable and sustainable new developments. Great examples include the regeneration of over 200 homes on the Gorbals district of Glasgow (Laurieston Transformational Area) and, at the other end of the size scale, an elegant five-storey, 13-home affordable housing block for Peabody in East London (Darbishire Place). Private housing developments include Richard Rogers’ housing towers on prime London real estate (Neo Bankside), a 45 home canal-side development in west London (Brentford Lock West) and 14 distinctive homes stepping down through a gap in the heart of St Andrews’ old town conservation area (West Burn Lane). Exceptional education buildings also feature strongly on the winners list. From a small delightful nursery school for the University of Edinburgh (Arcadia Nursery), new state schools (Burntwood School, Ashmount Primary School), an independent school building (Uppingham School Science Centre) and a special needs school building (Alfriston School pool building) to major university buildings (University of Greenwich library building, Manchester Met Student Union), these projects will benefit generations of children, students and staff. One quarter (9) of the RIBA National Award winners are private homes and garden buildings. Ranging from a stone and copper-clad tiny retreat buried in a Wiltshire garden (Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio), to an architect-owned low-energy house on the edge of a Somerset village (Dundon Passivhaus) and a strikingly modern family house in County Down (House at Maghera). Speaking today, RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “The RIBA National Awards provide a unique insight into UK construction, investment and design trends. “The UK is blighted by poor-quality new housing and dilapidated school buildings, so I am delighted that the notable trends amongst this year’s RIBA National Award-winners are the volume of inspiring new housing and education projects. “I am particularly pleased to award an unprecedented number of housing developments. The innovative spirit of these projects sets them apart from the ubiquitous, uninspiring housing developments being built all over the country. Our award winners show it is possible to build exceptional new housing developments that are profitable, sustainable and desirable places to live. “Well-designed school buildings have the power to inspire students and teachers. This doesn’t mean every new school needs to be a show-stopper – like Burntwood or Ashmount – but we must ensure that value for money and the best possible design go hand in hand. “One intriguing design trend is the use of brick, in all its hues (British, Danish), patterns and textures, as the dominant material for many of the award winners. Brick is firmly established in the British psyche as a safe, long-lasting, familiar material. Our award winners have used bricks to great effect – whether to respond contextually, or to imbue their buildings with humanist qualities. “The admirable aspect shared by every one of our winners is ambition. The combination of ambitious clients, architects, local leaders and a supportive local community leads to great new buildings. All 37 of our RIBA National Award winners should provide inspiration for developers, local authorities and architects alike and will delight generations to come.” The 37 buildings that have won a 2015 RIBA National Award are: LONDON 1. University of Greenwich Stockwell Street Building, SE10 by Heneghan Peng architectsLocated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this delightful building houses the main university library and the departments of Architecture, Landscape and Arts. 2. Burntwood School, Wandsworth by Allford Hall Monaghan MorrisBold, characterful new campus buildings with light-filled rooms and corridors add to a sense of this being a very collegiate school. 3. St Mary of Eton Church, Apartments and Community Rooms, Hackney Wick E9 by Matthew Lloyd Architects LLPThree new buildings, including 26 new apartments, in patterned red brick that responds to the original Grade II* listed church. 4. The Foundry, SE11 by Architecture 00 LtdRefurbishment of an old shoe polish factory into a flexible building for ethical organisations; the expressive language of the architecture appropriately suggests informality, openness and the idea of a collective of individuals. 5. NEO Bankside, SE1 by Rogers Stirk Harbour + PartnersNew housing towers with exo-skeleton and external lifts on London’s South Bank – a well-mannered example of a structurally expressive architecture. 6. University campus for Hult International Business School, E1 by Sergison Bates architectsNew undergraduate campus in a converted Grade II-listed brewery with a clear architectural identity and strong aesthetic sense. 7. Bonhams, W1 by Lifschutz Davidson SandilandsExemplary urban infill on an extremely complicated site. Grand new entrance and refurbished Deco facades. 8. Ashmount Primary School, N8 by Penoyre & PrasadExemplary zero-carbon school and nursery which carefully manipulates its plan and cross-section to draw in natural light and reveal woodland views. 9. Levring House, north London by Jamie Fobert Architects LtdSpacious and luxurious Danish-brick-clad house on the corner plot of a typical London mews. 10. Foyles,
APHC raises awareness of water efficiency following heatwave Published: 24 August, 2016 Following the heatwave conditions experienced across parts of the UK this week, the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) is emphasising the importance of saving water all year round and the vital role quality plumbing and heating installers play in providing members of the public with water efficiency advice. The end of August has seen temperatures soar to 27°C across certain areas of England and Wales. In light of the hot conditions, APHC is reminding plumbers and heating engineers that, while heatwaves are often cited as a reason for saving water, installers should be encouraging consumers to be water efficient all year round. APHC believes advising members of the public on how to be more water efficient through techniques such as grey water usage and the installation of water efficient devices could also help customers on water meters to make significant savings on their water bills. More information and useful water efficiency tips are available online at www.waterwise.org.uk. John Thompson, chief executive at APHC, said: “In hot weather consumers are often advised to be sparing with their water usage in order to prevent against potential droughts, however, it’s only by adopting water efficient habits all year round that we will ensure we continue to have access to supplies of fresh, clean water in the years to come. “Quality plumbing installers play an essential part in this and should be regularly providing water efficiency advice to members of the public as part of their customer service package.” Source link
As part of an ongoing commitment to promote diversity and inclusion and inspire a wide talent pool in the construction industry, the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) has today (2 June) launched Role Models, a new on-line publication celebrating the diversity of British architects. Through inspiring and frank interviews with 12 individuals who volunteered to be profiled, RIBA’s new publication, challenges stereotypes of what an architect looks like, and shows the different ways in which it is possible to navigate the inevitable highs and lows of a competitive profession to forge a successful and rewarding career. Role Models includes profiles of: • Maral Rahmantalab, an Iranian-born female architect, who experienced discrimination on her journey to forging a successful career. Maral wants her story to inspire others to appreciate that their differences can be their strengths and they bring something unique and valuable to the construction industry. • Stephen Ware, who is profoundly deaf and took part in the project to prove that disability is not inability. Stephen explains how exclusion would hold back the construction industry. • Daniel Kerr, who explains how difficult it can be for people to understand something they know little about. Daniel hopes that sharing his story as a transgender person will help others understand how people are more likely to achieve success when they can be themselves. RIBA President Elect and Equality & Diversity Champion, Jane Duncan, said: “Diversity is crucial to the future success of our industry and RIBA is committed to providing the necessary leadership to drive out inequality from our construction industry. The Role Models project has given a voice to a diverse cast of inspiring individuals. These 12 features powerfully show that whatever your gender, background, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or education, you can succeed in architecture. “I urge the whole industry – students, colleagues, mentors and employers – to read, share and learn from these frank and revealing profiles.” Alongside the publication of Role Models, RIBA has launched a package of digital resources for anyone inspired by the role models’ stories. More at www.architecture.com/RIBArolemodels -ends- Notes1. For further press information contact Gagandeep Bedi, RIBA Press Office 020 7307 3814 gagandeep.bedi@riba.org 2. Role Models will be launched on 02 June at the RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD. To attend, please contact Gagandeep Bedi, RIBA Press Office 020 7307 3814 gagandeep.bedi@riba.org 3. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com 4. Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA 5. The Role Models project was undertaken with the support and guidance of Architects for Change, the RIBA’s advisory group for diversity and inclusion Posted on Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Source link
Industry leading training provider, Develop Training Ltd (DTL), is warning that firms will face a dash for compliance when new electrical wiring regulations are released next month. DTL says many firms will be caught unawares by the scope of the changes in the new British Standard requirements for electrical installations. The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, which form the basis of the updated BS7671:2018, will require significant retraining for all UK electricians. It is due for publication in July but the major changes to the previous edition have already been announced, and they look set to have a big impact on the UK’s 265,000 electricians and electrical fitters as well as the organisations that employ them. DTL says many operatives will need to attend a three-day course, rather than the one-day refresher courses that have previously sufficed after an update was released.This could place a huge operational burden on organisations employing multiple electricians. DTL is recommending that only those who have gone through 17th Edition third amendment training in the past six months will be eligible for a fast-track one-day course. However, with all new installations having to be designed to meet the new standard from January 2019, DTL says the stakes are too high to risk skimping on training. Chris Wood, CEO of the training company, said: “The new regulations reflect the changing technological, regulatory and political environment. For example, there are new introductions covering energy efficiency, electric car charging and the way that wiring should be supported to protect it from a building collapse in the event of fire. There are many other changes, which amount to a very significant evolution in the regulations. Clearly, the fallout from a non-compliance event could be immensely damaging for any organisation that employs electricians. So the new edition is sure to have major implications when it comes to training people to ensure that the regulations are met.” DTL answers FAQs here: www.developtraining.co.uk/blog Visit www.developtraining.co.uk/training/electrical to book on to an 18th Edition training course www.developtraining.co.uk
The AGM of SELECT, the campaigning trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland, has reported another year of successful awareness raising, outreach and training initiatives. Kevin Griffin was re-elected as President of SELECT and Kenny Duncan was re-elected as Vice President at the meeting and Technical Update, which was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh in Inverkeithing, Fife. Moreover, the AGM also welcomed Darrell Matthews as the organisation’s new managing director and wished outgoing MD Newell McGuiness, who has served for 29 years, every happiness in his retirement. The technical main topic over the course of the year had been working on the 18th edition of BS 7671, on which many hundreds of hours had been spent to ensure amendments would be practical and would meet international standards. “For the third successive year, SELECT delivered awareness training to all local authority verifiers. This year we travelled to eight locations around Scotland delivering updates on BS 7671 and BS 5839. These events are an important part of maintaining our relationship with local authority building standards staff, which helps us represent members’ interests around the Certification of Construction Scheme,” said Mr Griffin. A strong year was also recorded at SELECT’s Toolbox Talks, where 12 events in 2017 had a record number of attendees. More than 650 members had come to hear about updates to the Scottish Building Standards and Surge Protective devices, a presentation which now features on YouTube. Training played another important role with a 5% increase in demand for SELECT training courses. Over the year SELECT trained 2871 delegates (2044 delegates from member businesses and the rest from non-member organisations) across 267 different courses. SELECT’s 1250 member companies account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. They have a collective turnover of around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people.
The £14.2 million expansion project of a primary school in London has been offered to Morgan Sindall. The project will allow Tufnell Park Primary School to double its capacity from 315 pupils to 630 pupils by 2025. “Tufnell Park is a well-established and much-loved part of a growing community in Islington and we’re delighted to be working together with Islington Council on our third school in the last two years. The new building will enable teachers and staff to continue to deliver an outstanding teaching experience for pupils, ensuring that every child is given the best start to their educational journey,” said Richard Dobson, Area Director at Morgan Sindall’s London office. “Our project team is extremely experienced and adept at delivering high-quality education projects, often working in logistically challenging urban environments across London, and on live sites. We will bring this knowledge to bear on this development, doing our utmost to minimise disruption, engage both school users and the local community and manage the project to a high standard to ensure the journey to completion is a positive one for all stakeholders,” he added. The new building will feature bright and spacious interior with light wells reaching up three floors in the main corridor, as well as double-height foyer with a glass-fronted library designed to give an impressive, inspirational feel to the entrance space. Designed to create a new ‘heart’ at the centre of the school building, the library is located near the main entrance to encourage visitors and the wider community to celebrate learning.The new multi-use games area (MUGA) and halls will be available to both the school and local residents for community use outside of the school day. “Tufnell Park primary school is hugely popular with local families and rightfully so,” said Cllr Joe Caluori. “With strong demand for school places here, we wanted to make sure the expanded school would create a high-quality, pleasant and airy learning environment that helps to get the best out of pupils and teachers – and with facilities and spaces that are fit for the future, too. I am already looking forward to taking a tour of the finished building.” The new building is expected to be completed by the spring of 2020.
An £82.7 million deal has been agreed between M&G Real Estate and Redrow Homes for the funding of more than 180 new build to rent homes in Colindale, North London. The 48-acre project, which is being created by Redrow on the site of the former Peel Centre Metropolitan Police training college, will see more than 2,900 new homes built over the next 10 years. “This new deal with another top UK house-builder, increases our ongoing development pipeline, offering our investors the opportunity to continue capitalising on the UK’s rapidly growing private rental market. We look forward to continued deals of this stature in the sector, providing investors with the chance to increase their exposure to the residential market,” said Alex Greaves, Head of Residential Investment at M&G Real Estate. “This development is a clear statement that renting can be the tenure of choice for an upwardly mobile workforce, which requires the flexibility of renting with high-quality service and support. Colindale has emerged as a property hotspot and is an area undergoing major transformation,” he added. The 186 homes are part of the £1.2 billion Colindale Garden development and they are anticipated to be ready by 2021. “This deal is another exciting step forward for Colindale Gardens and Redrow as we look to create a diverse and sustainable community that offers a range of housing for a diverse mix of Londoners,” said Mark Parker, Managing Director at Redrow Homes East London. “The wider area is fast becoming a hotspot for families and young professionals and our development will offer all the attributes which customers prioritise, including excellent connectivity, green open spaces and an abundance of amenities on their doorstep.” M&G Real Estate is the property investment arm of M&G and one of the world’s largest property investors with £30.1 billion of assets across all the major sectors in the UK, Europe and Asia. Drawing on 150 years of investment experience, the firm actively manages its properties to maximise returns and generate a strong income stream for institutional investors.
