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Reuse, conservation, and learning: looking ahead to what will shape architectural practice in 2025
Eleanor Jolliffe draws inspiration from her book collection to explore how conservation work and ongoing education are shaping her architectural practice, highlighting key themes for the profession in the year ahead
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It’s time for designers to electrify
Suzanna Lashford is leading efforts to help the UK’s construction sector shift to sustainable energy solutions, advocating electrification as the only sustainable path forward for new developments
Wellbeing isn’t delulu – it’s key to creating healthier places
Marking the end of 2024, Sophie Thompson examines how the challenges of modern life are reshaping our relationship with place
Public Practice: Translating architectural skills into public sector impact
Leonora Aigbokhae explains how her transition from private practice to the public sector has expanded her role and impact as an architect
What’s stopping us from doing even better in 2025?
As the construction industry makes strides in sustainability, Anna Beckett asks why we can’t achieve even more in the year ahead
Meeting housing targets is not enough – 2025 must deliver better homes for those who need them most
Martyn Evans argues that meeting housing targets isn’t enough – it’s time to prioritise affordability, quality, and a shared vision for the future
The Coach: why listening to your mind and body is wisdom, not weakness
In the midst of relentless deadlines, seasonal stress, and the demands of daily life, Louise Rodgers shares why listening to your mind and body is vital
Why architects need to prove their worth – and charge for it
How can architects justify charging more? Matt Thompson argues that proving their worth is the first step to solving the fees crisis
Planning more clearly is the way to delegate decision-making
Nicholas Boys Smith explores how collaboration, clarity, and existing legislation could help ensure the planning system works for all
With a little help from the government, can boomers accelerate the retrofit revolution?
From tackling climate change to lowering bills, boomers are uniquely positioned to lead the charge on retrofitting Britain’s ageing housing stock – but government support is essential to unlock their full potential
With a little help from the government, can boomers accelerate the retrofit revolution?
From tackling climate change to lowering bills, boomers are uniquely positioned to lead the charge on retrofitting Britain’s ageing housing stock – but government support is essential to unlock their full potential
Notre Dame reopens: the power of craft, culture, and community
Five years after the fire that devastated Notre Dame, Liz Smith reflects on the cathedral’s reopening to the public
Workplace culture: the overlooked crisis in architecture and how to fix it
The consultation on the ARB’s new code of conduct is an opportunity to shape the profession’s future – but does it address the real issues?
Heritage, sustainability, and dysfunction: the lessons of the M&S decision
The drawn-out battle over M&S’s Oxford Street site reflects systemic planning failures that must be addressed
How public sector procurement reform can unlock innovation in architecture and empower SMEs
Procurement processes must evolve to enable a broader range of architects to contribute innovative solutions to housing and infrastructure
Labour must deliver on its promised planning reforms to drive economic growth
The Office for Budget Responsibility seems unconvinced about Starmer’s growth agenda, but crucially it did not take into account the economic impact of the government’s proposed planning changes, writes Paul Smith
Is the age of the starchitect at an end?
As team culture grows, how does architecture retain its public appeal, asks Eleanor Jolliffe
The Coach: understanding and overcoming humiliation at work
Louise Rodgers on how to transform humiliation into a tool for personal and professional growth
Grenfell exposed the fatal flaws of design and build contracts
Design responsibility should not be forced onto the shoulders of builders, argues Tony Bingham
Could the government’s curriculum review save the D&T GCSE and fix the green design skills gap?
A renewed focus on Design & Technology education is vital for equipping young people to tackle global challenges, write Rachel Bronstein and Matilda Agace
Built environment professionals confront the enormity of the challenge ahead in Gaza
Emma Dent Coad on how Architects for Gaza is fostering hope in the aftermath of widespread devastation
What next after the Office for Place?
With the closure of the Office for Place, questions arise about how to maintain focus on design quality, placemaking, and sustainability in the built environment, writes Ben Derbyshire
A remedy for the high street: repurposing retail spaces into healthcare hubs
Transforming empty retail units into healthcare hubs could revitalise high streets, bringing accessible services to the heart of our communities while supporting sustainable urban regeneration, writes Jim Hart
The One in Which People Decide City Living is OK
Thirty years after the pilot of Friends, David Rudlin recalls how the sitcom’s portrayal of city living influenced a generation’s attitudes towards urban life
Trump’s return: US architects brace for challenges over the next four years
From the possible return of neoclassical mandates to a threatened clampdown on immigration, Chris Fogarty assesses the potential impact of a second Trump presidency on US architecture
From CABE to the Office for Place: why trusted advice matters
From quangos to taskforces, the government’s shifting approach to placemaking highlights one constant: good advice only works when it is trusted, writes Martyn Evans
Empty, decaying, at risk: Glasgow’s architectural heritage crisis
Alexander Thomson’s St Vincent Street Church has closed, the city is selling off a Mackintosh building to save money, and Victorian gems lie empty. Glasgow’s architectural heritage is at a tipping point, writes John Stewart
Why Labour may come to regret closing the Office for Place
A short-term decision framed as an efficiency risks losing the momentum on creating sustainable, people-centred places, writes Ben Flatman
True placemaking is about so much more than just a numbers game. King’s Cross is a prime example…
The delivery of much-needed new homes requires patient, joined-up thinking that takes into account factors other than profit and speed, says former HS2 design director Kay Hughes
In defence of well-run competitions – and architects
Chris Williamson calls for procurement reforms that protect architects from exploitative practices, highlighting the need for RIBA-led guidance and fair compensation standards
Saoirse Ronan has given us a timely reminder of the conversations we need to have
As public spaces continue to feel unsafe for many, it’s time to rethink how design can make streets and cities more welcoming for everyone, writes Sophie Thompson
Balancing homes and green spaces: infill’s role in tackling the UK’s social housing shortfall
As infill housing reshapes council estates, questions arise about the loss of green spaces and amenities. Rory Olcayto advocates for infill and resident-led design as a way to meet housing needs while preserving community spirit
What’s stopping us from designing for biodiversity?
As the construction industry grapples with embodied carbon, the impact on biodiversity is often overlooked, writes Anna Beckett
The missing business education in architecture: Why architects struggle to value their services
In an industry where fee undercutting erodes standards and stability, it’s time for architecture to embrace business education and defend the true value of its expertise, writes Nicholas Jewell
