Features

In recent news, The Irish Times revealed that 70% of Irish construction firms have cut exposure to the UK ahead of Brexit and have begun looking for new opportunities elsewhere in mainland Europe. Like most other industries, Brexit has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the construction industry, with the risk of currency volatility looking to be one of the industry’s main issues for longer-term projects.

Here, Technical Secretary at the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA), Terry Wain, discusses specification best practice in a niche yet growing sector of the liquid roofing market – hot melts.

Many in the ground source heat pump (GSHP) industry are encouraged by the proposed refinements outlined in the Government’s 2016 response to the Renewable Heat Incentive consultation. At the time, the Government made clear it intended to pass legislation in the spring of 2017 but the unexpected General Election put paid to that schedule, says Simon Lomax, Managing Director at Kensa Heat Pumps.

Thailand-based organic-focused architect practice, Chiangmai Life Architects, provides earth and bamboo architecture construction and design for offices, resorts, homes or public landmark features. Here, FC&A explores its latest project for a sports hall at an international school in Thailand.

Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado, USA, is a community-based botanical garden that aims to educate and enthuse its visitors around the importance of conservation. With green intentions at its core, the Denver Botanic Gardens team further implemented its environmentally-friendly ethos with the inclusion of the Science Pyramid.

Firman Glass has evolved over the previous 40 years from a replacement glazing business in the early ‘70s to one of the leading independent glass processors, tougheners and structural glazing operations in the country.

The story of ENIGMA started with renowned Catalan Chef Albert Adrià’s vision to create a ‘frozen and enigmatic’ restaurant project that was to reflect his cuisine as well as his career. His vision took shape when 2017 Pritzker Prize winner, RCR Arquitectes, drew its design idea in watercolours and decided to bring it to life with the help of Neolith by TheSize, manufacturer and designer of sintered stone.

Andrew Mitchell from NBT discusses the benefits of woodfibre insulation and why it’s moving beyond the specialist timber and ‘eco’ construction market and into the mainstream.

Here Andrew Gill, Marketing Manager at Brett Landscaping, discusses the current issues facing installers and end-users of porcelain in the UK.

“Man darf nie beim Alten stehen bleiben” (“You must never remain standing still”), a quote that visitors are greeted with when they are guided through the innovative museum of German-based thermal break solutions manufacturer, Schöck. These are the wise words of the company’s Founder, Eberhard Schöck, and this message is unmistakably the ethos behind the company’s groundbreaking thermal solutions.