A year ago most people would not have believed that the global economy would crash and the tax payer would end up propping up some of the world’s biggest banks. There was also a general aversion towards reducing CO2 emissions and a reluctance to accept the relevance of sustainability – going green was seen by many as costly and unnecessary. Now many objections have been uprooted: we are better informed about how to make sustainable choices and as costs rise we want to become more efficient

A timber frame home incorporating old and new build methods is taking shape in Hampshire. Sally Spencer paid the Forest Energy House a visit

Peak Oil & Power Down – In Britain most of us live our lives consuming energy as if it will never run out and the construction industry continues to construct building which are inefficient and will become expensive to run. We do however have a choice and this involves building to Zero Energy Development (fossil fuel) or ZED standards to reduce energy consumption to a third of current levels allowing clean renewable energy to be generated on site to power our homes

The Evolution of a design classic

I think that it is fair to say that the best ideas are the simplest. Objects like the field gate have evolved over millennia through constant improvement and refinement. An analogy could be made with the wine bottle, which having reached the state of practical perfection may never be improved on. The essential design principles on which these objects are based allow for regional interpretation based on tradition, economics or the materials to hand

In December last year I was asked to meet Mr Richard McRae (an Independent Forestry Consultant) at the Canadian High Commission to discuss UK Architects perceptions about using British Columbia (BC) Timber. This article briefly outlines some of the key issues discussed

In this paper, I shall put forward the case for timber as an economic and practical façade cladding material – the sustainable alternative to metal and masonry

To do this I am using the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus as an example of what can be achieved under a tight budget and programme and then built to the highest environmental standards. I shall discuss the development of the cladding from initial conception through the process of working closely with the specified joinery sub-contractor to completion

The British have always liked the ‘characters’ – those individuals set apart from ordinary folk by their unconventional behaviour. John Fuller, an eccentric in true English tradition, and known variously as Mad Jack, Honest Jack and (because of his 20 stone weight) Hippopotamus, was Squire of Brightling for some 57 years.

The town of Battle is considering different options for the town centre. Local businesses worry that the proposed pedestrianisation scheme will kill off town trade so another option is to use a tree planting scheme which would make Abbey Green look more pleasant but retain parking spaces which are crucial for trade to the local shops.