The UK Construction Blog

Bystrup’s innovative T-Pylon design has been unanimously agreed by the judging panel as the winner of the Pylon Design competition run by the Department of Energy & Climate Change, National Grid, and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

National Grid will now work with Bystrup to develop their T-Pylon design further. National Grid has also said that it wants to do further work with Ian Ritchie Associates on their Silhouette design, and New Town Studio’s Totem design. The winner will receive £5,000 prize money and the 5 other finalists will each receive £1,000.

Six finalists (see them here) from a field of 250 entries were featured at the London Design Festival and, according to the judges, generated huge public interest.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne said: “This is an innovative design which is simple, classical and practical. Its ingenious structure also means that it will be much shorter and smaller than existing pylons and therefore less intrusive.

“This competition has been a great success in bringing forward new and creative approaches to a pylon model which has not changed since the 1920s. We are going to need a lot more pylons over the next few years to connect new energy to our homes and businesses and it is important that we do this is in the most beautiful way possible.”

National Grid executive director Nick Winser said: “In the T-Pylon we have a design that has the potential to be a real improvement on the steel lattice tower.  It’s shorter, lighter and the simplicity of the design means it would fit into the landscape more easily.  In addition, the design of the electrical components is genuinely innovative and exciting.

However, the Totem and Silhouette designs are worthy of further consideration – both of them have strong visual appeal and characteristics that could work well in different landscapes. We are genuinely delighted at the prospect of working with all three companies to develop some real options for the future.”

Bystrup’s innovative T-Pylon design has been unanimously agreed by the judging panel as the winner of the Pylon Design competition run by the Department of Energy & Climate Change, National Grid, and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

National Grid will now work with Bystrup to develop their T-Pylon design further. National Grid has also said that it wants to do further work with Ian Ritchie Associates on their Silhouette design, and New Town Studio’s Totem design. The winner will receive £5,000 prize money and the 5 other finalists will each receive £1,000.

Six finalists  from a field of 250 entries were featured at the London Design Festival and, according to the judges, generated huge public interest.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne said: “This is an innovative design which is simple, classical and practical. Its ingenious structure also means that it will be much shorter and smaller than existing pylons and therefore less intrusive.

“This competition has been a great success in bringing forward new and creative approaches to a pylon model which has not changed since the 1920s. We are going to need a lot more pylons over the next few years to connect new energy to our homes and businesses and it is important that we do this is in the most beautiful way possible.”

National Grid executive director Nick Winser said: “In the T-Pylon we have a design that has the potential to be a real improvement on the steel lattice tower.  It’s shorter, lighter and the simplicity of the design means it would fit into the landscape more easily.  In addition, the design of the electrical components is genuinely innovative and exciting.

However, the Totem and Silhouette designs are worthy of further consideration – both of them have strong visual appeal and characteristics that could work well in different landscapes. We are genuinely delighted at the prospect of working with all three companies to develop some real options for the future.”

High-end architects led the top financial performers of 2011, as consultants’ staffing levels, salaries and fee incomes all edged up.

Architecture practice RTKL – a US-based subsidiary of Arcadis – was the top financial performer in Building’s top 200 consultants league tables this year, raking in £190,000 per UK employee.

High-end architects KPF and Foster + Partners rounded out the top three financial performers, making £175,000 and £161,000 per employee respectively.

The fastest growing firm in 2011 was Stanton Williams, the architect to overhaul Kings Cross public square – where fee income almost doubled from 2010 to 2011.

Forty percent of consultants said they were looking to increase staff over the next year.

Mobile CAD Surveying featured in Architext Magazine 2011 (pages 60 – 61)

Mobile Surveying Solutions

The University of Bradford has created a unique student village which is now ready for its first residents – The Green. The Green has achieved the highest ever BREEAM rating for any building, at 95.05% – the highest accredited award for sustainable building development and operation. The development has beaten more than 1 million buildings assessed through this leading environmental standard since it was launched in 1990.

The Green is one of only 15 buildings in the world to achieve BREEAM’s highest classification of ‘Outstanding’, and the rating announced today sees the development top this premier list.

Consisting of 1,026 bedrooms across four-storey townhouses and six and seven storey apartments, the BREEAM rating has been made possible through meticulous planning of the design and construction methods.

The Green has been designed with a community, village feel in mind. Whilst it is its own self contained community it has great connectivity into the main campus and is in within easy of the City Centre, just a 5 minute walk. Regular bus services pass by the village into the City Centre, Leeds and other parts of the Yorkshire Dales. 2 new bus stops are being installed in preparation for the new students arrival in September.

At the centre of the Village is ‘The Orchard’ which is central hub building that has the Accommodation and Management office, laundrette and a small retail/coffee shop. The Orchard overlooks the central area and biodiversity pond which reuses rain water, provides a home for a number of animal and plant species and acts as a passive coolant in summer. There will garden areas in which students can plant their own vegetables and herbs.

BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria, from energy to ecology. They include aspects related to energy and water use, the internal environment (health and well-being), pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes.

The enhanced BREEAM rating of ‘outstanding’ was introduced in August 2008 to recognise a new standard of sustainability for exemplary developments. A score of 85% against criteria over different areas must be obtained to achieve Outstanding, compared to 70% for an Excellent rating. There are also higher minimum standards under Outstanding – for example 10 out of the 15 available credits for reducing CO2 emissions must be achieved, compared to the 6 required for an ‘excellent’ rating.

The buildings are made of pre-fabricated open panel timber wall frames from a sustainable source. Bathroom ‘pods’ were sourced locally and installed using a crane as completed units to maximise productivity and reduce waste.

There are interactive displays showing students what energy or water they are using, enabling them to compare their energy use against their neighbours in real-time. The building materials used, and the high standard to which the houses and apartments have been insulated and made airtight, means that rooms require little heating.

Radiators in the rooms have thermostatically controlled valves, and mechanical heat recovery ventilation units circulate fresh, filtered air, with an 80% recovery of existing heat from the building, resulting in a continuous supply of fresh air. All rooms in the flats and houses are lit with low energy lighting.

Water saving measures include…Aerated taps and showers that result in less water being used – as the water streams are mixed with air. Water is heating using solar panels, which pre-heats water for showers and taps. Dual flush toilets and rainwater is used to flush toilets. The pond in the centre of the village is used to harvest rainwater, as are the roofs of the buildings.

The houses and flats have extensive recycling facilities. Students are encouraged to consider every single bit of waste to assess if it can be recycled. This fits with current practice in the University – there are no bins in lecture theatres, social spaces or offices. Instead a range of recycling facilities can be found helping to seperate waste for recycling effectively.

Students will be encouraged to grow vegetables and dining rooms are large designed to enable the households to eat together. A team of Green Ambassadors will teach fellow residents how to live in the most sustainable way possible, and those that are careful with their energy use will get a rebate on their bills.

RIBA has pointed the finger at the “shameful shoebox homes” produced by the UK’s top housebuilders in a new report released today.

The ‘Case for Space’ report, based on 80 sites across England, ranked housebuilders’ typical room sizes and found that the average new three bedroom home currently being built by the leading firms is around 8% smaller than the “basic recommended minimum size”.

The RIBA said this was leaving “thousands of people across the country short-changed” and revealed it had asked business leader Sir John Banham to lead major new inquiry into British homes.

But the scope and timing of the report was condemned by the Home Builders Federation, which said it “missed the point” and failed to address the current national debate about the planning system.

Using space standards from the London Plan, the RIBA’s report claimed that the floor area of the average new three bedroom home is only 92% of the recommended minimum size “therefore missing the space equivalent to a single bedroom which could comfortably accommodate a single bed, bedside table, wardrobe, desk and chair.”

RIBA chief executive Harry Rich said: “Our homes should be places that enhance our lives and well-being.  However, as our new research confirms, thousands of cramped houses – shameful shoe box homes – are being churned out all over the country, depriving households of the space they need to live comfortably and cohesively.”

Rich insisted it was the right time to address the issue, despite the current focus on housing supply.

“In a rush to build quickly and cheaply we risk storing up unnecessary problems for the future,” he said. “There does not need to be any contradiction between building or refurbishing enough homes and making sure that they are of the highest quality.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson also signalled his backing.

He said: “In London we want to see new developments that enrich the capital’s architectural vernacular and that will be admired and cherished for decades to come…it is vital that we build more homes to boost the economy, but as RIBA’s campaign rightly points out, we must not compromise on quality and design to do so.”

However, the HBF said the report was over-simplistic by failing to address issues such as land supply, economic viability, regional variations and – crucially – the planning system.

HBF Executive Chairman, Stewart Baseley said: “This report is a disappointing missed opportunity. We’ll happily work with RIBA and others but if they are serious about the future of housing in this country they must support the proposed National Planning Policy Framework and ensure that they fully understand the pressures on land and viability that home builders face every day.

“Even with these constraints developers are building the homes that people can afford, that this country desperately needs and providing billions of pounds of investment in infrastructure and the environment.”

Photogrammetry

The well known Mobile Surveying Solution provider and Measured Survey experts are now offering quite a unique service with their new Photogrammetry Service and Photogrammetry Surveys.

Photogrammetry is the practice of obtaining information about physical objects through the process of recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images. It is most commonly associated with the production of topographic maps through aerial survey, although in recent years it has been increasingly used in such diverse applications as architecture, archaeology, engineering, geology, underwater, and forensic work amongst others. In fact it may be used any situation that requires the generation of accurate three-dimensional data or precise drawings, and is ideally suited to the survey and measurement of buildings and monuments. in any situation that requires the generation of accurate three-dimensional data or precise drawings, and is ideally suited to the survey and measurement of buildings and monuments.

To read more visit: Photogrammetry Services and Example Drawings

We are told that Mobile CAD Surveying have put together the first kit to facilitate the surveying of solar panels, roofing membranes and coverings and that can also be used in many other situations or allied trades, ie aerial contractors, forestry consultants and more.

Incorporating the latest surveying equipment, the Leica Disto D8, Leica Disto TR100 Rise and Fall tripod and the brand new TA360 bracket that allows you to swivel the laser measure in both axis, and offered at a discount too, than if you bought the items separately.

For more:  Solar Panel / Roof Surveyor Kit

The ghostly imprints of weary underground travellers, a man embracing a holy monument in religious intensity and the smooth curves of a modern stairwell: these are just some of the images that the Chartered Institute of Building has announced as the twelve finalists in its annual international photography competition.

The Institute is now calling on everyone with an interest in art, photography or the built environment to log on to its dedicated Art of Building website to decide which image will earn one entrant the prestigious title of ‘Art of Building Photographer of the Year’ with a cash prize of £1500.

Now in its second year, the Art of Building contest aims to encourage people from around the world to capture the built environment in a way not seen before, to inspire and to challenge people’s perceptions. This year, the judging panel included architect, writer and broadcaster, Maxwell Hutchinson; writer, broadcaster, photography critic and editor, Sue Steward and award-winning photographer, Matt Wain.

“With around 2,000 images to choose from, it was an extremely challenging task for the judging panel to reach a decision on the finalists,” says CIOB Art of Building manager Saul Townsend. “The final twelve have all interpreted the brief in a very different way, which should make for an extremely exciting public vote.”

For more details on the competition and to vote for your favourite picture, log on to www.artofbuilding.org. The competition can also be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Art_of_Building

People spend a lot of time and money to make a house strong and durable, good enough to last for years to come and hopefully generations. While doors might not last forever they might just as well stay as long as your house does so it pays to put in a little time and effort into your doors, as you would to your house.

The styling of the door way and associated door furniture is entirely dependent on the type of house the entryway opens into, so a good old sturdy oak might look fine on your traditional country home while a cool, contemporary house needs something that is both stylish and strong like aluminium for instance.

Appearance of the accessories is a deciding factor in the finished look of your door, so find something that not only caters to the look but also survives the kind of environment you live in. Steel accessories are the best for country homes while chromium and brass might lose their shine. However, keep in mind the appearance. A rather posh, modern steel handle on a Victorian mansion would look as good as an antique door knob on a modern chrome plated door.

Home improvements include both security and beauty. So while you can’t sacrifice the security on account of having a glass door that is beautiful, you can try out partial glazed varieties etc., uPVC’s are another option with their inbuilt security mechanisms, apart from the other sturdy, well fitted entry ways.

Company Profile:

Screwfix is the UK’s largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we despatch tens of thousands of parcels every week for next day and weekend delivery to tradesmen, handymen and serious DIY enthusiasts all over the UK.

To view our range of Door Furniture customers can visit the Screwfix website.