Architects Journal
December 2012

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A typology of spans

Seemingly effortless, Moxon’s glass and steel viaduct around Taunton Castle belies the complexity of its construction, writes Felix MaraPhotography by Simon Kennedy
Bunhill Energy Centre brings district heating to Islington

Tim Ronalds Architects’ timber-clad complex serves refurbished Ironmonger Row Baths
Conflict: planning officers back housing scheme on planned ‘super sewer’ site

Planners have recommended for approval Harper Downie’s scheme for 475 homes on the riverside site which Thames Water has proposed for one of its ‘super sewer’ tunnel shafts
Dreaming of a life beyond carbon monoxide

Ian Martin calls in Tracey, Banksy, Damien and Grayson to imagine Preston’s Progressive Omnibus Terminus
In pictures: Battersea Power Station first phase

New images showing Ian Simpson’s and dRMM’s first instalment for the Battersea Power Station redevelopment in London have been unveiled
The AJ readers' architecture personality of 2012

We asked AJ readers to name the person that had the biggest impact on the profession over the last 12 months, with Olympic cauldron designer Thomas Heatherwick topping the poll
10 Design bags massive Chinese college job

Hong Kong-based 10 Design has been appointed to design a 550,000m² college in China
10 ways the Olympic spirit can help solve our housing crisis

Letter from London: It has been a year of triumphs, but also of missed opportunities, writes Paul Finch
161 schemes by 137 practices: The AJ in 2012

The AJ published 161 schemes by 137 practices this year – and 62% were not in London, writes Christine Murray
2012: The year of... Campaigns for change

In 2012 the AJ launched an iPad magazine, the AJ CPD portal, and the Women in Architecture and More Homes Better Homes campaigns
2012: The year of... Cultural meaning

Just what is the relationship between culture and architects, asks Jay Merrick
2012: The year of... Material pluralism

A diverse use of materials has stood out in the architecture of 2012
2012: The year of... Shifting perspectives

A wealth of architecture coming out of Northern Ireland, the Olympic Games, and the Venice Biennale all made 2012 a year of suprising architectural culture
2012: The year of... Sustainable design

London 2012 was a sustainable highlight of the year, but what happens next is the big question
3DReid and bblur unwrap Gibraltar Airport terminal

3DReid and bblur architecture have completed a 19,600m² terminal for Gibraltar Airport
5 houses by 5 practices: AJ 06.12.12 digital edition

Digital edition | The Architects’ Journal | 06.12.12 | Number 21 | Volume 236
'A complete waste of time': your reaction to outline planning shake-up

The government’s decision to abolish ‘burdensome’ detail layout and scale in outline planning applications has been met with scepticism by the profession
A for effort: Haworth Tompkins’ Dyson Building

Smart, tough and open, but Haworth Tompkins’ Dyson Building for the Royal College of Arts could be too clever for its own good, writes Felix Mara. Photography by Philip Vile
A prosperous 2013? Your predictions for the next 12 months

A new runway for Heathrow, Royal twins, redrawing the greenbelt and a boom in part-time students - the AJ’s readers give their predictions for 2013
AAVA reveals polished-black Blackheath homes plan

London-based AAVA has submitted plans for this nine-flat scheme, clad in polished, black stainless steel for a ‘challenging site’ in Greenwich
Adam Knibb unveils timber clad pool house

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] Emerging practice Adam Knibb Architects has completed this pre-fabricated pool house in Crawley
Aedas blames global reshuffle for big losses

Aedas made pre-tax losses in excess of £950,000 in the 12 months to 31 December 2011, recently filed accounts have revealed.
AJ Footprint exclusive: Bill Bordass on receiving his OBE

Bill Bordass reflects on his career and the challenges of bringing building energy use into the public eye
AJ Footprint exclusive: BioRegional’s Sue Riddlestone on her OBE

From Guangzhou where she is working with BioRegional’s Chinese partner China Merchants Property Development, Riddlestone reflects onher OBE and BedZed in China
AJ Footprint exclusive: Howard Liddell on his OBE

Howard Liddell tells the AJ about his forthcoming projects and what having his contribution to sustainable architecture recognised means to him
AJ Footprint's Women in Sustainable Architecture

In the run up to the AJ Women in Architecture Awards, here’s AJ Footprint’s pick of the women who are influencing sustainable architecture today
AJ readers pick the schemes to watch in 2013

The Walkie Talkie tower, Battersea Power Station’s rebirth and the Olympic park’s legacy mode are among the most-anticipated schemes for 2013, according to the AJ’s readers
Alex Moulton, inventor of Moulton bicycle, dies aged 92

Engineer who created Reyner Banham and Norman Foster’s favourite bike, has died. Foster described the Moulton bicycle as the ‘greatest work of 20th century British design’.
Allies and Morrison finally wins planning for Vauxhall twin towers

Allies and Morrison has won approval at the second attempt for a £400 million twin-towers project at Vauxhall, south London
Anglo-German KHBT reworks 1970s villa

[FIRST LOOK + DRAWINGS + DATA] London and Berlin-based KHBT has completed the refurbishment of this 1970s villa in Offenbach, Germany
Apply now for a sustainability position at AHMM

AHMM are seeking a sustainability professional to join their London office
Architect sought for Irish healthcare campus

[Requests to participate to be received by 7 January 2013] Peamount Healthcare is seeking an architect-led design team for improvements to its healthcare campus in Ireland
Architect sought for South Shields community hub

[Requests to participate to be returned by 7 January 2013] South Tyneside Council is seeking an architect for a new community hub
Architectural education is a Faustian pact

It all started going wrong when architects lost control of money, writes Professor Mike McEvoy
Architecture 00:/ get £50million filip

London Mayor Boris Johnson and PM David Cameron have announced a £50 million package to kick start the Old Street Roundabout regeneration project
Architype unwraps timber-clad Caerphilly primary school

[First look + plans + project data] Architype’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Cwm Ifor Primary School, in Caerphilly, has opened its doors
Armstrong and Fuller at the V&A

Protocells and the future of architecture
Armstrong Atelier centres on its peerless building prowess

Armstrong Ceilings has refreshed its Atelier stand at The Building Centre.
Atkins scoops comp for Chinese mixed-use development

Atkins has won an international competition for a mixed-use development in Shenzhen, China
Australian 'ARB' to merge with construction regulatory bodies

Victoria planning minister Matthew Guy has announced plans to merge the governing bodies of the building, plumbing and design sectors in the southern Australian state
Autumn Statement: £1bn loan for Nine Elms tube extension

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £1 billion loan to extend the Northern Line to Battersea Power Station in London
Autumn Statement: £5bn capital projects boost announced

Billions saved by cuts to Whitehall budgets could lead to the construction of more schools but architects fear design timescales may be compromised
Autumn Statement: Chancellor exempts new offices from empty rates

Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to make newly built commercial buildings exempt from empty property rates
Bartlett students display work at Zaha designed Roca London Gallery

The school’s MArch students have teamed up with the Roca London Gallery to put on their end of year show
Battersea Power Station phase one scoops planning

Ian Simpson Architects’ and dRMM’s 800-home phase one redevelopment of Battersea Power Station has won detailed planning permission
Battersea Power Station views at risk as apartments go on sale

As the first residential properties are lined up for sale, campaigners warn that one of the most iconic views of Battersea Power Station will be lost
Battle continues to save Preston Bus Station

Heritage bodies are working on a plan to save Preston Bus Station from demolition by finding dramatically cheaper refurbishment options.
BDP chosen to design Chinese broadcast centre

BDP have been selected to design a 2,000m² complex for the Shanxi Broadcast & TV Channel
BDP in hunt for Danish hat-trick

BDP has been shortlisted to design a major extension to Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen.
BDP wins pivotal role in Christchurch rebuild

AJ100 big hitter BDP has secured a key role in the rebuilding of Christchurch after the devastating 2011 earthquake
Be Inspired accolade for McAslan's King's Cross refurb

London station redevelopment beats off strong international competition to take Be Inspired Innovation in Building Award
Beastly seasonal greetings

Ian Martin talks to the animals
Better homes, warmer homes

Quality housing standards can help save lives in winter, says Christine Murray
BIG designs big pin-like tower for Phoenix

[FIRST LOOK] Danish practice BIG is to design a 128m-tall observation tower in Phoenix, Arizona
BIG reveals its twist on high-rise housing in Miami

World-renowned Danish practice BIG has been appointed to a major residential project in Miami
Binom bags Norwegian island job

London practice Binom Architects has been commissioned to design an artificial island in Norway
Blackburn College tenders new build sports facility

[Expressions of interest are due by 9 January 2013] Blackburn College is on the lookout for an architect to design a new build sports and leisure facility
Books Received - February 2013

Footprint’s pick of the best green reads this month
Books Received - January 2013

Footprint’s pick of the best green reads this month
Boom time USA as workloads soar

US architecture workloads have grown at their fastest rate in five years
Boris Johnson names leading architects as design advisers

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has appointed architects including Terry Farrell, Sunand Prasad, Bob Allies and NLA chair Peter Murray to advise him on regeneration schemes in the capital
Brits among finalists vying for Bari bonanza

Two London practices have made the shortlist for a major redevelopment along the central railway corridor in Bari, Italy
Building resilience

We should heed Giddens’ advice on city resilience and climate change, writes James Pallister
Bye bye Brum library: £450m Paradise Circus overhaul approved

Glenn Howells Architects has won approval for its £450 million makeover of Birmingham’s Paradise Circus, spelling the end for John Madin’s Birmingham Central Library
Cabe boss steps down

The director of the Cabe team at the Design Council, Nahid Majid, has left the organisation after just 10 months in the high-profile role
Cabinets of Curiosity

Rakesh Ramchurn visits the V&A’s new permanent exhibition dedicated to the craft of furniture-making
Campus Aarhus N

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Canadian/Hong Kong team beats stars to win Kowloon art venue

Canadian-based practice Bing Thom Architects with Ronald Lu of Hong Kong has seen off the likes of Foster + Partners and Mecanoo to design one of the first buildings within the West Kowloon Cultural District
Carillion launches exciting new portal: STN

STN (Sustainability Talk and News) is an exciting new online portal, which will host a range of opinion, comment, videos, presentations and case studies, looking at key issues of sustainability from the building services and construction industry, across the world.
Cash shortage closes British Council for School Environments

The UK’s leading campaign group for better school architecture has been forced to close with immediate effect due to funding uncertainty
CGI International Raises Global Game at Glasstec 2012

Having welcomed visitors from over 50 countries during this year’s Glasstec exhibition (Dusseldorf, 23rd – 26th October 2012), CGI International, a leading manufacturer of fire resistant glazing, is well on course to become the world’s number one independent supplier of fire glass products to the building industry globally.
Chief claims Cabe 'healthy' despite Majid's shock departure

Design Council deputy chair Paul Finch has dismissed suggestions that the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is on its last legs, claiming ‘the best is yet to come’
Coalition blamed for 270k homes shortfall

Around 270,000 fewer homes are planned because of the coalition government’s decision to scrap regional spatial strategies (RSS), a report has claimed
Competitions: Editor's Pick, 05.12.12

Birmingham’s Millennium Point, the Caravanserai community site and Springfield Park in Clapton. The Editor’s pick of this week’s top competitions
Competitions: Editor's Pick, 13.12.12

Copenhagen housing, a healthcare campus in Ireland and Toronto’s transmission line ideas contest. The Editor’s pick of this week’s top competitions
Competitions: Editor's Pick, 20.12.12

The Garden Museum, South Shields community hub and Coventry retirement villages. The Editor’s pick of this week’s top competitions
Contest opens for £14m Copenhagen housing

[Submissions must be received by 8 February 2013] Nordic Built has opened a two stage international design competition for a £14 million residential development in Denmark
Contest opens for New York ‘folly’

[Submissions must be received by 7 January 2013] New York’s Socrates Sculpture Park and Architectural League are seeking proposals from architects and designers for a two month residency
Costs: Flooring and Lifts

A step in the right direction. Here, Neil Barnett, resource cost services manager of BCIS, the Building Cost Information Service of the RICS, provides the latest sample cost breakdowns for various types of flooring and lifts.
Crowd funding campaign launches for energy generating flooring

A new Kickstart campaign aims to get schools generating their own electricity through kinetic energy harvesting flooring
Crown Paints Showcases On-Trend Shades For Specifiers With 2013 Spring/Summer Colour Influences

Crown Paints has unveiled its renowned Colour Influences collection for Spring/Summer 2013 – featuring inspired shades that will shape future specification projects.
David Lock housing scheme among £225m 'de-risking' fund winners

Housing developments in Exeter and Milton Keynes are set to benefit from the government’s new £225 million ‘de-risking fund’, aimed at unlocking major housing projects
Design contest opens for Caravanserai workshop

[Submissions must be received by 9 January] A contest has opened to design a 280m² open workshop space made from recycled construction waste on the Ash Sakula-designed Caravanserai community site in Canning Town, east London
Design Council launches Behavioural Design Lab

How design and study of behaviour can help reduce energy consumption
Devereux says workload 'strong' despite plunging to £1.9m loss

London-headquartered Devereux Architects made a pre-tax loss of £1.9 million in 2011, recently published accounts have revealed.
Digital edition: AJ 13.12.12

Digital edition | The Architects’ Journal | 13.12.12 | Number 22 | Volume 236
Digital edition: AJ Specification, December 2012

Floors, stairs, lifts & wayfinding
Double tops: Chris Dyson wins planning for Fashion Street twinset

Chris Dyson Architects has won the go-ahead for two schemes on opposite sides of Fashion Street in London’s East End
Droylsden Academy

Ryder Architecture
Dyer House by StudioKAP

[5 houses by 5 practices] StudioKAP: Dyer House, Falkirk
Earls Court developer: 'Large schemes need many hands'

Gary Yardley, Capital and Counties’ investment director on winning outline planning permission for the contentious redevelopment of Earl’s Court
Ecophon: Dining at Butlins sounds good

A striking sound solution from Saint-Gobain Ecophon has been incorporated in to the radical redesign of The Deck Restaurant at Butlins in Bognor Regis to ensure the new dining area looks good and sounds good too.
Ecophon: Top class acoustics at St Michael’s

Purpose built to service a new housing community in Peterborough, St Michael’s Primary School will help solve the shortage of school places in the area. Recently opened, the school will accommodate more than 200 pupils once the housing estate is fully occupied.
Eleven more join class action against RMJM as litigation snowballs

Another eleven former RMJM staff have joined a class action lawsuit against the struggling practice
Embodied energy: traditional masonry vs modular

A report by FACIT homes calls for embodied energy to be considered in Code for Sustainable Homes
Energy force

Sustainability has gained so much momentum in recent times that architects simply cannot afford to ignore it. Ramon Arratia of Interface explores its many different facets and clarifies why we must acknowledge that achieving it is a team game
English Heritage tenders £8,000 shopping parades study

[Requests to participate must be received by 31 December 2012] English Heritage is seeking proposals for a study of suburban shopping parades
EPR bags planning to convert Nestlé office tower to homes

EPR has won planning to overhaul the St George’s House office tower in Croydon and convert it into flats
EPR submits Nestlé Tower revamp plans

[First look + plans] EPR has submitted a planning application to overhaul St George’s House in Croydon
Exeter-based LHC's Devon eco-cafe regenerates a former stable block

Former stable blocks turned into eco-cafe using locally sourced materials
Farrell joins star architects vying for Hong Kong M+ museum

Terry Farrell with Herzog & de Meuron, Snohetta and Shigeru Ban are among the finalists competing to design a new museum for Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Culture District
Farrell's sky-high Lots Road revamp finally starts on site

Terry Farrell and Partners’ redevelopment of Lots Road Power Station in Chelsea, west London, has started on site – six years after being approved by then deputy prime minister John Prescott
Fees increase as 2013 looks set to be a ‘turning point’ for architects

Latest data sees architects fees rise for the first time since recession began
First look at Foster's $250 million NY library scheme

Foster + Partners has revealed the first images of its long-awaited, competition-winning scheme to overhaul New York’s Central Library
Five years on, work starts on Zaha's Oxford college scheme

[New images] Construction is finally set to start later this month on Zaha Hadid’s long-awaited extension to the Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College, Oxford
Floors, Stairs, Lifts and Wayfinding

This month, mini-case studies shed light on wayfinding, floor, staircase and lift design and specification and we look at ways of safeguarding against slippery floor surfaces and new lift control and porcelain plank products
Footprint in the AJ

The year of sustainable design
Footprint’s green seasonal greetings

Green cards received at the AJ
Footprint's 5 things to do this week

This week’s things to do include reading the AJ’s sustainability year in review and reports on the sustainability of the Olympic Games
Footprint's 5 things to do this week

This week catch up on Hattie Hartman’s sustainability action points for the year ahead and get your nominations in for the AJ Women in Architecture Awards
Footprint's 5 things to do this week

This week’s events include plenty of festive drinks and a tour of the campus buildings at the University of East Anglia
Footprint's pick: 10 Christmas gifts for the eco-minded

From recycled skateboard fridge magnets to pedal-powered phone chargers, short courses at CAT and more
FootprintWire 02.01.13

Today’s green news: Artist creates art installation from recycled Christmas trees in New York
FootprintWire 03.01.13

Today’s green news: Beijing-based People’s Architecture Office has designed an adaptable housing unit mounted on a tricycle
FootprintWire 04.01.13

Today’s green news: Pilot project for climate resilient architecture creates floating pavilion homes
FootprintWire 07.01.13

Today’s green news: Does biomimicry offer the answer to climate resilient architecture?
FootprintWire 08.01.13

Today’s green news: dmvA Architects experimental modular student accommodation features facades with solar panels and green walls
FootprintWire 09.01.13

Today’s green news: Bamboo and recycled materials used to construct low-impact eco school in Thailand by 24H Architecture
FootprintWire 10.01.13

Today’s green news: MIT Media Lab’s WristQue detects the humidity and temperature of a space and adjusts controls accordingly
FootprintWire 10.12.12

Today’s green news: Light therapy lamps run by renewable energy installed at Swedish bus stops
FootprintWire 11.12.12

Today’s green news: Algae project in Paris harvests energy for the building while recycling grey water
FootprintWire 12.12.12

Today’s green news: Students design wooden cafe from salvaged scaffolding boards and parquet flooring for RCA’s student union
FootprintWire 13.12.12

Today’s green news: Vietnam’s Vo Trong Nghia Architects use bamboo for a cost-effective housing prototype
FootprintWire 14.12.12

Today’s green news: Yazdani Studio proposes dynamic solar facade for Seoul office building
FootprintWire 17.12.12

Today’s green news: STL Architects proposal for Helsinki Library incorporates a green roof and transparent building envelope
FootprintWire 18.01.13

Today’s green news: Steven Holl Architects win design competition for first buildings in Chinese eco-city
FootprintWire 18.12.12

Today’s green news: Gensler’s skyscraper HQ for PNC Bank is naturally ventilated by a double skin facade
FootprintWire 19.12.12

Today’s green news: Eco-tourism chalets in the Sri Lankan rainforest achieve LEED Platinum
FootprintWire 20.12.12

Today’s green news: Studio Roosegaarde has created lights from salt crystals grown around LEDs
FootprintWire 21.12.12

Today’s green news: A Saudi Arabian spa development uses a facade of perforated titanium panels to reduce the need for artifical lighting and provide passive cooling
FootprintWire 4.12.12

Today’s green news: Kjellgren Kaminsky wins competition to build Passivhaus school in Sweden
FootprintWire 5.12.12

Today’s green news: Organic food farm in Shanghai utilises 78 shipping containers
FootprintWire 6.12.12

Today’s green news: Photographs of London smog on its 60 year anniversary
FootprintWire 7.12.12

Today’s green news: IN_TENTA design low energy, low footprint mobile hotel pods
Forbo: Tessera Mix – The Evolution Of Random Lay Carpet Tiles

In line with current interior trends, Forbo Flooring Systems has refreshed its best selling Tessera Mix random lay, batchless carpet tile range with eight new contemporary colourways.
Foster pays tribute to 'deeply talented' colleague Nigel Curry

Norman Foster has led tributes to his former colleague Nigel Curry who died aged 48 from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma last month
Foster's fantastic plan isn't just an airport, it's a £50bn leap into our connected future

Foster’s ambitious estuary project is about a great deal more than just an airport, says Paul Finch
Fosters' turnover and workforce up but profits dip

Foster + Partners has added more than 100 staff to its workforce following a ‘stable year’ for the AJ100’s leading practice
Framework launched for six retirement villages in Coventry

[Requests to participate to be received by 18 January] Coventry’s ExtraCare Charitable Trust is seeking architects for a £8.5 million framework
French architect plans new gallery for film star farm

An art gallery is to open in the historic Somerset farm buildings featured in the Johnny Depp film Chocolat.
Garden Museum seeks architect for revamp

[Requests to participate to be received by 20 January 2013] The Garden Museum in London is on the hunt for an architect-led design team for an expansion project
Gehry's New York tower scoops major skyscraper prize

Frank Gehry’s 8 Spruce Street residential tower in New York has been awarded the coveted Emporis Skyscraper Award for 2011
GKD: Shining protective shield for research centre

Sun protection facade as a sustainable design element in Lake Nona
Glasgow says goodbye to Sir Walter Scott

Why do Glasgow’s ‘stakeholders’ have more say than citizens on the fate of George Square, asks Rory Olcayto
Glasgow, the 70s and 'the spirit of municipal generosity'

If the seventies were as grim as recent events suggest, why were we so happy then, wonders Rory Olcayto
Going for 'Fold': Studio Egret West's golden Sidcup scheme finishes

[FIRST LOOK] Studio Egret West’s £20 million housing project in Kent has reached practical completion
Good tree management can make or break a project

Arboricultural consultant and chartered surveyor Ben McWalter calls for trees to be thought about early in the design process
Government begins consultation on curbing planning review rights

The government has started consultation on radical plans to limit residents’ rights to challenge planning decisions
Government U-turn: Consequential improvements plans scrapped

The government has abolished plans to force homeowners building a conservatory or extension to make improvements to their existing property
Graphic and Novel

Chris Ware’s boundary-pushing new comic book drives its narrative by fusing architectural framing devices with reader interaction, discovers Rory Olcayto
'Great educator' Alan Colquhoun dies aged 91

Architect, teacher and critic Alan Colquhoun has died aged 91
Green Construction Board reviews UK carbon reduction progress

A year since it was founded, the Green Construction Board has published a report detailing carbon reduction progress within the construction sector
Green Sky Thinking 2013

[15-19 April 2013] Green Sky Thinking will be held again in april next year with a programme of over 50 events
Grimshaw unveils designs for Frankfurt Airport Terminal

Grimshaw has completed a masterplan for the for Frankfurt Airport Terminal
Grimshaw’s profits up but staff numbers down 12%

Grimshaw’s pre-tax profits have increased 37 per cent despite a small drop in turnover
Hackney seeks design team for Springfield Park overhaul

[Responses are due by noon 10 January] The London Borough of Hackney is seeking a design team for the redevelopment of Springfield Park, Clapton
Hadid's turnover hit by Arab Spring - but China booms

Zaha Hadid Holdings has seen a slump in its Middle East work following the ‘Arab Spring’ and its turnover fall from £43million to £34million
Hairy House by Hayhurst and Co

[5 houses by 5 practices] Hayhurst and Co: Hairy House, Hammersmith, London
Hall McKnight Brick Awards double

The MAC Belfast arts centre wins Best Public Building and Supreme awards in international brick building design contest
Hassell and Populous to take on major Sydney leisure project

Hassell and Populous have scooped the deal to design a major exhibition and entertainment precinct in Sydney.
Hatcher Prichard scoops Welsh terrace comp win

Hatcher Prichard Architects with Ramboll have seen off more than 100 practices to win the competition to redesign the Welsh terraced house
Hawkins\Brown completes £7.5m Jericho health centre

[First look + project data] Hawkins\Brown has completed its 4,330m² New Radcliffe House community health centre for the University of Oxford
HKR founder declared bankrupt

The managing director of London-based HKR (Horan Keogan Ryan) has insisted that the reported bankruptcy of practice founder Jerry Ryan will have no effect on the business
Hollins Lane by Roz Barr Architects

[5 houses by 5 practices] Roz Barr Architects Hollins Lane, Marple Bridge, Cheshire
Home 2013

13-15 January 2013, London
Housing sector slowdown continues in Canada

Canadian housing starts have plummeted, official data has revealed
Housing starts to hit 115,000 in 2013, says RICS

The housing market will pick up in 2013, with starts expected to edge up towards 115,000 in England
Hudson bags Norfolk country park prize

Winning scheme will create new visitor centre with café and conference centre to improve facilities for schools and community groups
Hurst House by John Pardey Architects with Ström Architects

[5 houses by 5 practices] John Pardey Architects with Ström Architects: Hurst House, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Iain Connelly to become next RIAS president

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has ‘unanimously voted’ for Iain Connelly to replace Sholto Humphries as its next president
Ian Shaw completes beton concrete swimming pool

[FIRST LOOK + DRAWINGS + DATA] Frankfurt-based Ian Shaw Architekten has completed this in-situ cast outdoor swimming pool
In pictures: Shell centre revamp submitted for planning

A detailed planning application for the Squire and Partners-masterplanned redevelopment of London’s Shell Centre has been submitted for planning
Interface to trial carpet tiles from recycled fishing nets

Interface and the Zoological Society of London have completed a pilot project collecting and recycling fishing nets in the Phillipines
International contest launched for new uni campus in Canada

[Registration should be completed by 15 January 2013] The University of Manitoba in Canada has launched an international design contest for their Fort Garry campus
It’s official: Rem Koolhaas to curate Venice Biennale

OMA-founder Rem Koolhaas has been officially named as the next curator of the Venice Architecture Biennale
It's all in the detail: a Christmas quiz

From stunning theatres to innovative new schools and castle retrofits, the AJ has published Britain’s finest built work over the past year. But can you guess which building the detail is from?
Jason Bruges unveils WWF HQ entrance proposal

[First look + plans] Jason Bruges Studio has designed an entrance installation for Hopkins’ £15 million World Wildlife Fund (WWF) headquarters project in Woking, Surrey
Keith Williams’ Athlone Art Gallery opens

[First look + plans] Keith Williams Architects’ new €3.4 million Luan Gallery overlooking the River Shannon in Athlone, Ireland has officially opened
Kitchen Garden by Coffey Architects

[5 houses by 5 practices] Coffey Architects: Kitchen Garden, Lancaster Grove, London
Klik Systems win two Luminaire Design Awards At NSW IES Awards, 16th November 2012

Klik Systems is delighted to announce the win of two Awards of Commendation for Luminaire Design at the IES New South Wales Lighting awards, held on Friday 16th November at The Convention Centre at Darling Harbour
Large hike in Feilden Clegg Bradley's profits

Bath and London-based Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) has revealed a healthy set of trading figures which show a 28 per cent rise in profits
Large 'kinetic' sculpture installed in refurbed Victoria offices

[FIRST LOOK] Artist Conrad Shawcross has completed the installation of a large snowflake-like sculpture at a recently completed office revamp in Victoria, London
Last stop yet again for Preston's Brutalist masterpiece

The 20th Century Society has vowed to fight Preston council’s recommendation to demolish the city’s iconic Brutalist bus shelter ‘every step of the way’
Layout and scale dropped from outline planning applications

The government has abolished the requirement to detail layout and scale in outline planning applications
Legal dispute over KPF's Helter-Skelter resolved

Brookfield Multiplex has settled a multi-million Pound legal dispute over KPF’s £800million Pinnacle skyscraper project in the City of London
Levitt Bernstein scoops planning for Acton affordable housing

Levitt Bernstein has won planning permission for 31 flats for key workers on Du Cane Road in Acton, west London
Light fantastic

The LED revolution is engulfing the entire lighting industry, and in 2013 it looks set to hit the commercial office sector. Kuldeep Vali of Concord at Havells-Sylvania explains how changes to legislation and design will bring LEDs into the workplace
linearchitecture unveils 'brick box' home

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] linearchitecture has completed a ‘finely detailed brick box’ home in a conservative suburb of Belfast
Liverpool students’ winning stone bench design installed

A new stone bench - the winning design of the City of London Stone Bench Competition 2012 - has been unveiled in the Square Mile.
Lord Salisbury: ‘Hatfield is not a style war’

The 7th Marquess of Salisbury Robert Gascoyne-Cecil outlines his project to overhaul the district around Hatfield House, his ancestral home
Lords back RIBA Future Homes Commission report

Leading peers from the House of Lords have thrown their weight behind RIBA’s Future Homes Commission’s recommendations for tackling the UK’s dearth of housing
Manchester’s new sound

You’d never guess there were 290 noisy, talented pupils in Roger Stephenson Architects’ clever new building for Chetham’s School of Music, writes Philip Griffin Photography by Daniel Hopkinson
McGarry-Moon bags planning for concrete addition to Victorian cottage

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] Northern Ireland-based McGarry-Moon Architects has won permission to extend an existing cottage in Kingston upon Thames
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from AJ Footprint!

Footprint is taking a break for the holidays. We’ll be back on 2 January.
Minister grants listing immunity for Broadgate Square

Culture secretary Maria Miller has granted a certificate of immunity from listing for the remaining parts of Arup Associates’ 1980s Broadgate office complex
Morphosis co-founder Thom Mayne lands AIA Gold Medal

US architect and Morphosis co-founder Thom Mayne has been awarded the 2013 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal
Moussavi and McAslan named on Moscow shortlist

Two UK practices have made the shortlist for a major museum scheme in Moscow
Moxon reveals dramatic cable net crossing for River Dee

Moxon Architects and structural engineer Flint & Neill have unveiled plans for a £1 million foot and cycle bridge over the River Dee near Braemar in Scotland
MPs urge government to 'go back to drawing board' on planning free-for-all

A parliamentary select committee has demanded that the government reconsiders its proposed planning free for all, claiming the overhaul of permitted development rights is misguided
New construction orders hit six-month low

Construction new orders fell at the sharpest pace in three years last month, while output hit a six-month low
New Design Network emerges as ACN readies for revival

A group of local review panels and architecture centres have joined to create a new national design review network, while the troubled Architecture Centre Network could be revived ‘within weeks’
New practices: 31/44 Architects

The latest in a series of practice profiles looking at architects who have recently decided to go it alone either through choice or redundancy
New practices: SODA (Studio of Design and Architecture)

The latest in a series of practice profiles looking at architects who have recently decided to go it alone either through choice or redundancy
New Thermally Efficient Wall Tie for 150mm Cavities

ANCON has become the first UK wall tie manufacturer to offer a Type 2 stainless steel wire tie for insulated cavities up to 150mm wide
New UEL professor Tony Fretton: ‘Self-confidence is the key’

Tony Fretton reveals his thoughts about the University of East London and what he hopes to contribute as its new visiting professor
New Year, new contest: major Vauxhall competition on cards

The RIBA’s competitions office is to open a contest in the New Year to redesign an area in Vauxhall, central London
Newham Council reject 'Mega Mosque'

Newham Council has dealt a severe blow to NRAP Architects’ plans to build a ‘mega mosque’ with confirmation that it has refused planning permission
Newts put the brakes on York shopping centre

A £90 million shopping centre project in York designed by DLA Architecture has stalled following the discovery of a growing population of newts
NEX revamps Architectural Association bookshop

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] Emerging practice NEX has designed the interior and furniture for an architectural bookshop within the Architectural Association’s Grade I-listed building in central London
NHBC raises concern about overheating in new homes

A report produced for the NHBC by the Zero Carbon Hub as found evidence that new properties are increasingly at risk of overheating
NHS Guy's and St Thomas' £25m redevelopment, London

[Requests to participate to be returned by 23 January 2013] Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London are now calling for architectural design services for the proposed redevelopment of the Block 9 and Prideaux buildings at St Thomas’ Hospital.
Niall McLaughlin scoops King’s Cross gold

Niall McLaughlin has beaten an all-star shortlist including Amanda Levete, Carmody Groarke and Duggan Morris to win a contest for a new canopy in King’s Cross
Nick Johnson: 'Owning a home is a very colonnial obsession'

Nick Johnson, former deputy chief executive of Urban Splash, on the UK housing crisis and why alternatives to home ownership are the way forward
No New Year Honours for Olympic architects

This year’s honours failed to recognize a single architect who worked on the Olympics
Norman Foster pays tribute to 'remarkable' Alex Moulton

Norman Foster has described bicycle inventor Alex Moulton, who has died aged 92, as a ‘remarkable man and a brilliant engineer’
Nottingham University launches £7m architecture framework

[Requests to participate must be received by 2 January 2013] The University of Nottingham is seeking architectural services for a three year framework agreement
OBEs for Liddell, Bordass, and Riddlestone in New Year Honours

The New Year Honours saw three sustainability professionals recognised for their contribution to the industry
Obituary: Ada Louise Huxtable (1921 – 2013)

Architecture critic and writer Ada Louise Huxtable, has died aged 93
Oscar Niemeyer: 1907-2012

Oscar Niemeyer, the Brazilian architect whose curved concrete creations helped shape 20th Century architecture has died at the age of 104
Out in the cold: new figures reveal the plight of the regions

As London and the South weather the economic storm, the UK’s other regions suffer slow growth and a lack of demand
Pally Veldrome
Part 1: time for a rebrand?

Part 1 should be a launchpad degree for budding politicians, planners, developers and - of course - architects, writes Alison Coutinho from the The What Now? Collaborative
Pedder and Scampton wins Southend beach hut comp

Islington-based practice Pedder and Scampton has scooped the competition to design a series of beach huts on Southend seafront
People power

As the market turns towards recovery, competition for candidates with BIM and Revit experience will get tough. Lindsay Urquhart of Bespoke Careers sees a job market where practices will have to work harder to get – and keep – the best people
Picture perfect

[THIS WEEK] When does architectural photography flatter to deceive? asks James Pallister
Plan of Work 2013 face-off: ACA hits outs at ditching of stages A-L

The Association of Consultant Architects (ACA) has accused the RIBA of ‘cosying up to contractors’ in its revamped Plan of Work
Planning portal: An architecture of circumstance would help local character evolve

Guidance needs to change and planners need to stop meddling and micromanaging areas outside their expertise, says Piers Taylor
Populous nets Russian stadium job

London 2012 Olympic Stadium architect Populous has secured a deal to design the Rostov stadium in Russia ahead of the 2018 World Cup
Post-riot report: Skilled architects key to Tottenham’s revival

High quality architecture is among the key recommendations of an independent report into the regeneration of Tottenham in north London
Preston votes to knock down bus station

Preston City Council has voted in favour of the demolition of the Lancashire city’s iconic Brutalist bus station after a 12-year battle over the structure.
Product Profile: Lafarge's Thermedia0.6B structural concrete

Thermedia 0.6B reduces heat losses by 40 per cent and improves insulation properties by three times over conventional concrete
Products: The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

A selection of the products specified for Sidell Gibson Architects and John Miller + Partners’ Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Public still lack awareness as government aims for Green Deal ‘buzz’

The government has announced funding for Green Deal marketing as a report finds public are unaware of the scheme
Race on for new Canadian Uni campus as global contest launched

Architects from across the world have been invited to bid to transform a university campus in Winnipeg
Reader offer: February 2013

Win a copy of Green Architecture Now: Volume 2, Taschen’s latest roundup of sustainable buildings from around the globe
Reader offer: January 2013

Win a copy of The Making of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a new book which tells the story of the Olympic Park
Reduced fees and falling salaries: Welcome to the ‘new economy’

State of the Profession Survey shows architects have little faith in government initiatives and place most confidence in overseas job markets
Resurrected Architecture Centre Network to be UK-wide

The successor to the Architecture Centre Network (ACN) will go beyond just England to cover the entire UK
Revealed: 12-strong shortlist for Welsh terrace comp

From Passivhaus to locally sourced materials the competition to redesign the Welsh terraced house attracted more than 100 entries
Revealed: Farrell’s 560m Chinese megatall steams ahead

Work has started on a 560 metre-tall skyscraper by Farrells in Jinan, China
Revealed: Largest number of entries ever received for AJ Small Projects

All 229 entries to this year’s award are now available to view in the AJ Buildings Library
Revealed: the millions paid by PLP after KPF breakaway

London-based PLP paid more than £2 million this summer to Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) for contracts it took with it when it controversially broke away from the US giant in 2009.
Revealed: the six finalists in George Square contest

The AJ can reveal the designs by the six teams shortlisted in the competition to overhaul Glasgow’s George Square
RIBA opens Millennium Point pavilion contest

[Stage 1 entries to be returned by 8 January] The RIBA has launched an ideas contest to enhance the ‘visibility and image’ of Birmingham’s Grimshaw-designed Millennium Point
RIBA President’s Medals: the winners

Outstanding work by students from London Metropolitan University, the Architectural Association and the Bartlett recognised in student awards
RIBA: Autumn Statement a ‘missed opportunity’ to fix housing crisis

The RIBA has hit out at Chancellor George Osborne for failing to tackle the housing crisis and boost construction
RICS: UK Construction set for 2013 turnaround

UK construction output could increase this year, according to a RICS survey
Rival Bradford Odeon plans revealed

Tim Ronalds Architects has unveiled alternative plans to revive Bradford’s abandoned 1930s Odeon cinema
RMJM's controversial Sheffield Uni scheme approved

Sheffield City Council’s planning committee has voted to demolish the Grade II-listed Edwardian wing of the Jessops Hospital to make way for a scheme by RMJM
Robert Loader-led team wins York Guildhall contest

A team led by ex-Dixon Jones architect Robert Loader has scooped the RIBA-organised ideas competition for the future of the city’s Guildhall and riverside complex
Robert Maxwell remembers architect and critic Alan Colquhoun (1921 - 2012)

Robert Maxwell, the emeritus professor of architecture at Princeton University, remembers his old friend Alan Colquhoun
Rockpanel: SOS Clearing House Salzburg

In 2001, the ‘Clearing House’ was opened in Salzburg, a facility offered by the not-for-profit organisation SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. From this year, new perspectives are also presented by the design of the building itself, which has been re-opened after undergoing a comprehensive renovation during the summer.
Roundtable: How will changes to Part L impact design?

A panel of experts, chaired by The AJ sustainability editor Hattie Hartman and invited by Comar, discuss the thorny issues of indoor air quality and building performance
Russell Jones unwraps Victorian house extension

[FIRST LOOK] Russell Jones Architects has completed this extension to a Victorian house in Camden
Rykwert on Niemeyer: ‘The world’s best known Brazilian, apart from Pelé’

Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012) was undoubtedly one of the most revered architects of our time but his preference for natural curves over the linear resulted in a conflict that can never be resolved, writes Joseph Rykwert
Sanya Polescuk Architects completes the ‘wrap’ of a historic London mews house

The practice has created a live-work space which successfully marries old with new
Scotland outlines £205million shovel-ready projects

Scottish construction projects worth £205million, including a raft of residential schemes, were given the green light today (20 December)
Second time lucky? ShedKM tries again at Littlewoods Pools

ShedKM has been given a second chance to revive Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods Pool building at Edge Lane - this time for developer Capital & Centric
Sefaira analyses energy consumption of Bluewater shopping centre

Work has begun to reduce the shopping centre’s £1.4million annual energy bill
SFS intec: High Fastener Performance - Whatever The Weather

The UK is forecast a cold and snowy winter, with temperatures expected to go as low as -18°c. To further improve snow clearing operations at Bristol Airport, SFS intec has specified its durable 316 grade, stainless steel fasteners and A+ Pink Strip sealant in the construction of a new salt store and snow base.
Shanghai Calling: beware the false sense of security

Student Eleanor Jolliffe is settling into her new working life in China but communication is a challenge
Sheppard Robson reveals £50m London Business School vision

[First look + plans] Sheppard Robson has unveiled its competition-winning vision for a new £50 million home for the London Business School in the city’s Old Marylebone Town Hall
Shortlist unveiled in eco-cemetery centre contest

Feilden Clegg Bradley and Paris-based Baumschlager Eberle Hauvette are among the finalists competing to design a reception building for Alne Wood Park in Warwickshire
'Small projects are a labour of love'

Small projects can make a big impact and lay the foundations for new business, says Christine Murray
Social housing starts boom 48% in Q4

Social housing starts increased by almost a half in the final quarter of last year
Spike in housing starts brings glimmer of hope

Housing shows an unexpected increase as the number of new private projects doubles compared with this time last year. Max Thompson reports
Squire proposes UK's tallest residential tower

Squire and Partners has submitted plans for a 75-storey tower in London’s Docklands
Stanton Williams and Witherford Watson Mann vie for Royal Opera House revamp

Stirling Prize-winner Stanton Williams is up against Witherford Watson Mann in the contest to overhaul the world famous Royal Opera House in London
Star architects shortlisted for King’s Cross pavilion

Carmody Groarke, Amanda Levete and Niall McLaughlin are among architects competing to design a new pavilion for King’s Cross in London
Stephen Taylor's Shatwell Farm welcomes first cows

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] Stephen Taylor Architects has completed a cowshed at Shatwell Farm in Somerset
Sustainable New Premises For Sissinghurst Va Church Of England Primary School Thanks To Alutec

Specified for their sleek profile and excellent environmental credentials, products from Alutec’s Aligator range of aluminium rainwater systems have been installed at a new build primary school project in Kent.
Take three: K4 wins planning for Central Fire Station scheme

K4 Architects has finally won the go-ahead for its contentious redevelopment of Birmingham’s disused, Grade II-listed Central Fire Station
Taking responsibility

Corporate social responsibility may be about doing good and giving back but it can also have unexpected advantages. Tamsyn Curley of Place Careers looks at how organisations can reap the benefits when it comes to getting – and keeping – the best people for the job
TDO builds children's den in the woods

[FIRST LOOK + PLANS + DATA] Emerging firm TDO Architecture has unveiled Forest Pond House, a £7,500 mediation space and children’s den in Hampshire
Temporary structures sought for New York's Streetfest

[Submissions should be returned 8 February 2013] Architects and artists collaborating with local design professionals have been invited to participate in New York’s 2013 ‘Streetfest Ideas City’ festival
The AJ’s top 10 iPad and iPhone apps for architects

From The AJ’s own iPad app to online portfolios and sketching tools there are many apps out there for architects
The Architects by Shunt

Dodgy Scandinavian accents, a pair of acrobats in baby jumpsuits and a heavily pregnant woman who extracts a pair of slippers from a wooden cow’s behind: it can only be a night of experimental theatre in London
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

Sidell Gibson Architects with John Miller + Partners
The Diary of an Anonymous Academic # 9

The ninth in a series about the unreported trials and tribulations from the frontline of architectural education. This week: the unit system
The Hellman cartoon: AJ 20.12.12

‘We three kings are gifting towers to you, To blot out your sun and cut off your view’ - Season’s Greetings from Hellman
The Hellman cartoon: AJ06.12.12

A look back into The Hellman Files: This cartoon, form AJ28.11.02 shows how Constable’s Haywain could be improved by property speculators
The Hellman cartoon: AJ13.12.12

A look back into The Hellman Files: This cartoon, from AJ 19.03.98, marks Oscar Niemeyer receiving the RIBA Gold Medal at the sprightly age of 91
The Manser Practice clads second Hilton hotel with Shackerley’s ceramic granite

Gleaming black polished ceramic granite ventilated facades supplied by Shackerley have provided a stunning appearance and a high performance outer envelope for the new Hilton London Wembley Hotel, overlooking Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.
The Woodland Trust's living bridge at Cow Hollow

Engineers team up with Cambridge architecture students to design and build a coppiced willow bridge
The Year in Review: AJ 20.12.12

Digital edition | The Architects’ Journal | 20.12.12 | Number 23 | Volume 236
Third of firms hiring fewer students

AJ State of the Profession survey reveals market is picking up for many but employment hopes for young are still tough
Top model

If you haven’t already done so, implementing BIM technology will be crucial to retaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Will Nicol of Autodesk explores why it is important to make the move sooner rather than later
Toronto opens ‘Green Line’ ideas contest

[Submissions to be returned by 4 February] The Toronto Society of Architects has launched an international ideas contest for the land corridor beneath a five kilometre-long transmission line
Tory think tank calls for ARB abolition

An influential Tory think tank has launched a stinging attack on the Architects Registration Board, urging minister Nick Boles to abolish the body
Traditional Style And Modern Performance With Black Millwork

Composite timber windows from Black Millwork have been specified for a leading development of high quality homes built by Brian Sabberton Ltd thanks to their winning combination of classic aesthetics and modern technology.
Tributes pour in for ‘legendary’ Sheppard Robson technician Warwick Small

Staff at Sheppard Robson have paid tribute to Warwick Small who passed away last week aged 63 following a stroke
Ugly good, Traumkitsch bad

What are the rules of attraction? Stephen Bayley’s Ugly: The Aesthetics of Everything, prompts Jay Merrick to consider what makes us see beauty in the beast
UK-GBC christens Pinpoint, new online sustainability platform

EPR Director Dieter Gockmann awarded UK-GBC gold pin
UK-GBC slams proposed changes to energy certificates

The UK-GBC has hit out over the government’s implementation of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive
Underfloor heating

Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular, both for energy saving and comfort reasons. There are many different systems out there, alongside a variety of fixing and installation methods. Here we look at the different options available to those specifying these products.
Urban Splash sees losses and debts increase

Manchester-based regeneration specialist Urban Splash has posted another set of gloomy figures which show an increase in losses to £15.4 million
URBED's Birmingham regeneration scheme gets go-ahead

Outline planning approval has been granted for a 1,000 home canalside regeneration scheme masterminded by URBED
US construction spending continues to rise

US construction spending has risen for a seventh consecutive month, figures have revealed
Vaizey gives Foster's Sainsbury Centre grade II* listing

Architecture Minister Ed Vaizey has handed a grade-II* listing to Foster + Partners’ Sainsbury Centre - described as a ‘high point’ of the British high-tech movement
Video: A day in the life of MJP's BBC Broadcasting House

[Time-lapse video] See MJP Architects’ £1 billion overhaul of BBC Broadcasting House open for business
Video: What is the ideal density for a city to be sustainable?

Urban planner Pablo Vaggione speaking at Siemens Crystal
Walters and Cohen: attrition of women is a key issue facing profession

Women are often the best students at university, yet are under-represented in practice, say former AJ Women in Architecture Award winners Walters and Cohen
West Ham set to take on Olympic Stadium

Populous’ £429 million Olympic Stadium looks set to become the new home for West Ham United Football Club
What to get an architect for Christmas

SPECIAL OFFER: Give the gift of the AJ, featuring 47 issues of the magazine, 12 issues of AJ Specification, access to 1,500 buildings in the AJ Buildings Library, daily news, and invitations to exclusive events and the iPad edition, free, until April 2013
Will London become more trouble than it's worth? Discuss

The future of London is the subject of a lively RIBA Building Futures Debate, finds James Pallister
Work begins on McAslan's Moscow office tower

John McAslan + Partners’ 38,500m² Mebe One Khimki Plaza commercial office project in Moscow has started on site
Work starts on Capita Symonds’ Manchester research centre

Capita Symonds’ £28.5 million Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) has started on site
Xtralite unveils revolutionary X-Emplar glazing system

Xtralite Rooflights, the UK’s largest manufacturer of rooflights and glazing systems has pushed the boundaries in high performance glazing to unprecedented levels with the launch of its new X-Emplar system.
Your biggest headlines of 2012: a year of triumphs, slumps and debate

It was a year when battle lines were drawn over aviation, architects were the unsung heroes of the Olympics, and the AJ campaigned to raise the status of women in practice. Richard Waite asked the profession for its biggest stories of 2012

Architects JournalDecember 2012

Architects Journal
December 2012