Features

Barangaroo House, a freestanding, three-storey restaurant, has become one of the first projects in Sydney to utilise Accoya wood cladding, a world-leading high-performance, sustainable wood product, and the distinctive Japanese charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban.

Tracey Bamber, Managing Director of Zip Water UK, discusses the role that a drinking water system plays in a commercial building’s sustainability credentials.

Up, up and away – GEZE UK has helped a stunning new airport hotel prepare for ‘take off’ with a range of products that have given it a real ‘wow factor’.

Sustainability remains top of the agenda in the construction industry, focusing on everything from carbon footprint of the supply chain and sustainable materials to works traffic management and paperless reporting systems. But there is one area in particular where construction companies can drive significant profit margins by being more sustainable; waste reduction.

John Rennie from NBT discusses the use of wood fibre insulation from the Pavatex range to enable thermal performance improvements to Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Hard or soft, Brexit will have wide-ranging impacts throughout the construction industry, many already flagged up and others which have yet to be seen. Given that innovation in construction products often outpaces the development of corresponding standards and regulations, the lead up to – and post- – Brexit has the potential to throw curve balls when it comes to accepted product standards for new ideas. Lack of guidance on the performance of new solutions could be an issue for all throughout the build process, from architects to building control.

The Luna at 18 Lun Fat Street in Wan Chai is the new residential tower from Make Architects for client Vanke Property (Hong Kong) which sets a new standard for high-quality serviced apartments in Hong Kong.

Margot Krasojevic has designed a medical cannabis farm for both rural and urban agricultural programmes. In light of Spain recently becoming an advocate for the use and distribution of medical marijuana, this project is part of the initiative to use architecture as a tool for this legal transition, as well as addressing necessarily relevant growth conditions. As with all her work, this project embraces sustainability as part of the environmental growth considerations, using carbon-negative materials, native of the hemp plants surrounding the building.

The Oasia Hotel in the Central Business District, Singapore, is by all means and standards a unique project, redefining what a high-rise can be in humid tropical climates.

Brian Sofley, Managing Director at ASSA ABLOY Security Doors, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, explains why a new approach is needed to improve fire safety within the building industry.