Cover Photo:


Titanic Belfast Photography by


Christopher Heaney for lead consultant/architects Todd Architects.


See page 26. May 2012


Reflecting on the technological developments and learning on offer at this year’s Ecobuild event, I can’t help but think we are in the midst of a major step change in the journey towards truly


sustainable design. Having adapted our mind- set to the concept of building green and having largely succeeded in getting our heads around the principles involved; the focus is now shifting. The next hurdle to overcome is ensuring our buildings are actually living up to their often lofty expectations.


Many of the seminars and conferences taking place over the duration of Ecobuild focussed on closing the gap between


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predicated and actual performance (see page 20 for more). And, the inaugural Green Building Awards, taking place 9-10 May, are also firmly focussed on banishing the superficial assessments and false promises that have become rife within the sector. In a bid to restore credibility to the term ‘green design’ the Green Building Awards will have a genuine focus on how buildings perform in use, and it will be interesting to see which buildings are heralded as exemplars. One thing is for sure; it’s clear that a desire to be green and an attitude of ‘well, we tried’ is no longer going to cut the mustard. Also in this jam-packed issue; our National Planning Policy Framework vox pop reveals


MAY NEWS 4


A news update including Zaha Hadid’s double honour and the exhibition that promises to get you front row seats for the Olympics.


COMPETITIONS & TENDERS 9 The latest projects out to tender and an update on who’s won what competitions.


INDUSTRY NEWS 10 A look at the movers and shakers in the sector.


SHAKEN: NOT STIRRED 12 Four industry experts debrief the new National Planning Policy Framework.


CONTRACTS & PROJECTS 14 We report on recently completed projects, providing a detailed insight into the products specified.


BLUEPRINT SET 16


Take a closer look at a Salford social housing improvement project that claims to set the standard for sustainable retrofit.


QUESTION TIME 18


We discuss: What is it that enables a building to become timeless?


26 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT We shine a light on the newly opened Titanic Belfast and Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art.


34 KBB IN REVIEW


36 WINDOWS & DOORS The latest developments to enter the marketplace.


37 EYES WIDE OPEN


Setting up alone offers a world of opportunities, but also a host of potential obstacles - here litigation consultant Christopher Burgon shares his experitise.


38 A DYNAMIC APPROACH Sudlows’ Sam Wicks explains how Computational Fluid Dynamics can improve the efficiency of cooling architecture.


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41 PRODUCT INNOVATIONS A comprehensive product specification guide.


47 LAST WORD Are Renewable Heat Incentive’s slipping off the UK agenda? Rexel’s Brian Smithers discusses.


49 CLASSIFIEDS ArchitectNews.co.uk | Architects Choice | 3


what the industry really thinks of the new guidelines (pg.12), we explore the true meaning of timeless architecture (pg.18), and take you aboard the Titanic Belfast as it opens to the public (pg.26). We also investigate how the architects behind the new, floating Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art extension achieved a flawlessly modern finish (pg.28), and reveal the potential pitfalls facing the increasing number of architects choosing to set up alone as job shortages continue to bite (pg.37).


Rebecca Gibson, Editor


20 ECOBUILD IN REVIEW Another opportunity to soak up the learning on offer at the show.


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