APPOINTMENTS & COMPANY NEWS 47


and effi ciency (51%) as advantages. 41% also see greater quality as an advantage, 39% cite a reduction in the environmental impact and 37% see a benefi t of design fl exibility.


Climate change is having a signifi cant impact on building exterior design and specifi cation Almost all (96%) respondents say climate change is affecting facade design and specifi cation choices in one or more ways. 59% of respondents say climate change is affecting the choice of materials chosen. 56% say there is greater importance placed on insulation and 41% say there is greater use of surrounding planting. Over a third (35%) say there is greater consideration of the building’s orientation.


While most building materials are designed to withstand some degree of expansion and contraction, excessive heat can push these materials beyond their limit. The impact on the building’s fabric can also adversely affect the quality of the indoor environment and the wellbeing of the occupants. With more intense sunshine, higher temperatures and increased radiation, the UK renovation and homebuilding sector is having to re-evaluate material choices as well as design features to ensure greater resilience.


Over seven in 10 (72%) respondents agree that climate change has a signifi cant infl uence on building design from an aesthetic perspective. Respondents are most likely to say that the main facade design trend


they expect to see in the next three years is exterior living walls. Smart facades (39%), minimalism (32%) and a return to traditional materials such as brick or stone (32%) are also expected to prove popular.


More needs to be done to achieve long-term sustainability Discussions


around sustainability,


futureproofi ng and a fabric fi rst approach have become increasingly prominent for housebuilding. One of the trends we are seeing for the exterior is more natural products such as fi bre cement cladding. A strong, versatile and sustainable material containing cement and fi bres,


it uses


fewer raw materials and less energy in its manufacture and produces less waste than some traditional building materials. However,


almost all (97%) survey


respondents report that they are experiencing one or more challenges when it comes to


innovating new ways to improve the sustainability of building projects. The obstacles that the architects and building specifi ers are most likely to be facing are caused by economic factors outside of their control such as the cost of materials (65%) and the cost of construction (62%). Challenges which the industry has more control over include: •


A lack of standardisation or guidance on sustainable building practices (35%)


• A lack of training and awareness of sustainable design principles (34%)


• A lack of operative training and awareness of sustainable building practices (29%)


While many architects, developers,


contractors and manufacturers involved in residential construction have been proactive in making modifi cations to reduce carbon emissions, there is much more to do. 48% of architects admitted that they expect sustainability measures they are introducing on current new builds to be out of date within 15 years. Collaboration across the industry will be essential to overcome these barriers and create buildings that stand the test of time. Visit the website to read the full Cedral report entitled ‘Building the Future’ which examines the construction industry’s attitudes towards emerging design trends, sustainability and meeting the UK’s chronic housing needs.


Cedral also carried out a survey of UK homeowners with the fi ndings published in a report, ‘Fit for Purpose’. The research suggest that homeowners are increasingly focused


on long-term sustainability and


resilience and are more interested in having a timeless exterior than following design trends. Visit the website for the results of the study.


Lisa Grosse is brand manager at Cedral 01283 501555 www.cedral.world


ADF NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025


WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


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