The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
Before you design with timber, ask how a fire would be tackled
Architects designing timber buildings actively need to get the fire and rescue service on board, argues Professor James Glockling
Opinion
Comment from leading voices in British architecture on news, practice and discourse
How Lego play sessions can smooth the retrofit journey
Retrofit projects can be hard to get over the line. Ditching ‘archispeak’ while embracing Lego play sessions can help secure client and user support, argues James Beckly
Why is Labour failing to join the dots on housing delivery and the climate?
The government needs to add retrofits, climate-safe building and sustainable infrastructure to its to-do list, says Martha Dillon
We need to talk about Saudi Arabia
In the spirit of an agony aunt, Jeremy Till responds to the most common justifications made by architects and consultants working in Saudi Arabia
Four ways to scale up the use of timber in retrofit projects
Mass timber is poised to play a major part in design and construction if we can overcome the barriers, writes Ed Williams
ARB’s new draft Code of Conduct weakens its provisions
Astonishingly, the proposed new code of conduct will dilute provisions – particularly regarding climate and clients – precisely when they should be being strengthened, says Jeremy Till
Building upwards rather than outwards will create more sustainable housing
Optoppen – the practice of adding storeys to existing buildings – not only avoids creating more car-reliant communities but favours lightweight timber construction, which also captures carbon, writes Joe Giddings
It’s time for architecture to make space for nature between our buildings
The spaces between our buildings should be as important as the buildings themselves, says AJ editor Emily Booth
Why on earth isn’t the government engaging with architects on retrofit?
Without architects’ close expert involvement, government plans to retrofit millions of homes will be prone to unintended consequences such as mould, argues Kunle Barker
Architectural education is changing. But is it changing fast enough?
Progress has been made in equipping students to deal with climate change yet climate literacy can still fall between the cracks, argues Hattie Hartman