This time last year, I spoke of the ubiquity of construction activity across the nation.

One whole year, a pandemic and a last-minute Brexit deal later, and here we are – a European Union divorcee with three lockdowns and a quartet of tiers under our belt.

Suffice to say, it’s been tough, and together, we’ve been through a lot and witnessed substantial change. The construction sector; however, does remain active and has been a more resilient industry throughout this period of anxiety and uncertainty.

As creatives, the architectural and construction sectors have a habit of responding to worldwide crises and impending challenges with quick thinking and first-class innovation. Take, for example, the housing crisis. Collaboration within the industry has seen professionals create original, affordable housing concepts and design housing schemes from the most unlikely materials. Two prime examples are shipping containers being used for large-scale housing developments or self-build projects, and point-based systems where residents trade services for the monetary value of rent (an award-winning idea, which was explained by Perkins&Will London’s Hala ElKhorazaty in the November 2020 issue of FC&A).

The coronavirus pandemic is certainly not exempt from this reflex of creativity. Architects, designers, builders and engineers have responded to the challenges that have arisen from the pandemic with the more creative ideas. This month, our regular columnist and RIBA Architect, Christopher Sykes adds a positive spin to COVID-19 and looks at how it’s sparked inspiration within the industry.

Meanwhile, we caught up with Hala ElKhorazaty from Perkins&Will London again to find out more about her decade of architectural experience.

ON THE COVER:
The landscape hotel 48° Nord – designed by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter – reinterprets the traditional Scandinavian hytte, a place of retreat and reconnection with wild nature.

Rebecca Kemp
Editor

rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk