The ethics of placemaking: Why people should be at the heart of every project

We should never forget about the safety and wellbeing of the people who will ultimately live in the places that we create, writes Martyn Evans

SuDS and nutrient neutrality: A combined approach to sustainable housing development

Balancing the need for new homes and protecting water quality is a challenge with limited guidance available. Etisang Abraham explains measures that could help housebuilders

Designing with empathy: The human-centred approach to architecture

Last year, NVB won BD’s Education Architect of the Year Award. Here, practice director James McGillivray expands on the practice’s mantra: if you don’t understand people, you cannot design for them

When does high-density housing become incompatible with family living?

The redevelopment of Ladywood raises critical questions about urban density and the sustainability of community living, writes Joe Holyoak

Creating communities for all: Jenny Buterchi on PRP’s vision for age-inclusive living

As part of BD’s Boomers to Zoomers series, Mary Richardson went to talk to Jenny Buterchi, partner at PRP and lead of the firm’s Later Living team, to learn more about her vision for design and placemaking that better serve the needs of an ageing population

Harnessing daylight: The overlooked key to biophilic workplace design

There is a reason we feel motivated and inspired when outside, in large open spaces, and surrounded by nature. We evolved for thousands of years alongside the natural light of the sun and have grown to work and respond to those conditions.

CPD 10 2024: Understanding overheating in homes

Sponsored by Zehnder Group UK

This module – sponsored by indoor climate specialists Zehnder Group UK – will explore the factors that contribute to overheating in residential projects alongside the relevant regulations and ventilation solutions that can help combat rising temperatures

The Coach: How do we deal with bereavement at work?

Experiences with grief highlight the need for workplaces to improve their support for bereavement, writes Louise Rodgers

How to create a family friendly workplace that supports your staff during the summer holidays and beyond

Balancing work and family life during summer holidays is challenging for parents and carers, but creating a supportive workplace can make a significant difference, writes Jimmy Bent

Housing providers and charities urge government to adopt accessibility standards for new-build homes

The Centre for Ageing Better says 250,000 more accessible homes could have been built if the previous government had adopted the regulations

Why we should be transforming struggling shopping centres into sustainable urban hubs

Could large shopping centres become dynamic, vibrant, mixed-use, live-work communities in the future? What are the factors that could drive this transformation, and why might it be desirable, asks Matt Bowker

Elevating access: Stannah integrates a 21st-century lift into a 19th-century icon

A narrow ventilation shaft, a 334-step climb and a historic tilt – Building Design speaks to Stannah Lifts about the accessibility challenges overcome in the Elizabeth Tower’s ambitious restoration

Norman Foster showcases scalable housing concept for vulnerable communities

Developed in collaboration with Holcim, the initiative hopes to provide sustainable and resilient homes for low-income or displaced communities

Biodiversity net gain: A crucial but complex step towards nature recovery

The final part of the government’s biodiversity net gain legislation came into force earlier this year. Martin Jones, looks at what this means for developers and designers

Uxbridge Bower: Reimagining the ‘granny annexe’

In Uxbridge, West London, Bureau de Change redefines the traditional annexe with Uxbridge Bower, a compact yet elegant pavilion that fosters intergenerational living

Keeping user experiences enjoyable and secure

Sponsored by Meesons

A positive user experience in buildings is a cornerstone of modern design and architecture, fostering environments where people feel safe, engaged, and inspired.

Shielding silence: The case for measured data in acoustic glazing

As noise pollution in urban areas becomes increasingly critical to public health, Phil Brown outlines the case for using measured data as standard for acoustic glazing

Why terraces and modern back to backs are making a comeback

With the potential to offer a strong sense of community and efficient use of land, these traditional typologies are often attractive to residents and developers, writes Matt Bowker

Improving access to Hugh Broughton Architects’ Clifford’s Tower restoration would have had ‘catastrophic impact’

Architects respond to project being pulled out of RIBA Yorkshire Building of the Year

Under The Big Roof… Charity unites generations and nurtures skills that last a lifetime

Forest School Camps required a new hub where volunteers of all ages could meet and work together. Mole Architects and Invisible Studio delivered, writes Ben Flatman

Boomers to Zoomers: Designing for the Generations

As BD launches its new campaign, Ben Flatman sets out the challenges and themes that it will explore

Why we need an intergenerational approach to urban design and architecture

Ben Flatman introduces BD’s new ‘Boomers to Zoomers: Designing for the Generations’ campaign

Designing buildings for good mental health requires real changes to policy

Alex O’dell urges the building industry to do more to create places that promote health and wellbeing

The Coach: Are you leading your team, or just managing them?

Louise Rodgers explores the concept of how becoming a “design coach” can help deliver more effective management and leadership

How we perfected our tactical ‘bible’ for unlocking backland sites

James Dowen shares his practice’s insights into how to make the most of these challenging sites

New buildings to provide single-sex toilets under proposed legislation

Why we need long-term planning to meet society’s housing needs

Politicians must stop opting for short-term bribes and instead pursue large-scale policies to build a community-led economy to deliver the homes we need, writes Chris Brown.

Lighting the way in architecture

Light is a foundational aspect of architectural design and practice - affecting how a building looks inside and out, and how that building influences its context and immediate environment.