Tag: design

Architecture & Building

The world’s best cities for architecture fanatics

17th April 20230

A city can be shaped by many things, the food or people for example. However, nothing can define a place as distinctly as its architecture.  

St. Petersburg, Russia  

Firstly, much of St. Petersburg’s architecture is baroque and neoclassical. Baroque architecture focuses on elaborate ornaments, detail, and decoration. Neoclassical architecture response was to go back to simple, massive, classical form of the Greek and Roman era. The Rocco movement came about in the 18th century, it had elements of its own: think curves, pale colours and light-hearted themes. The style made its way around Europe where it found favour with the female rulers in St. Petersburg. 

Saint Petersburg
Photo: Alamy

Athens, Greece 

The ancient Greeks had a unique style of architecture. Athens was the centre of ancient Greek theatre, a city embellished with open-air structures constructed on the sloping hillside. Visiting the buildings and the ruins in Athens is like taking a step back in time to ancient Greece. In addition, the stonework dates back to 400 BC.

Athens, Greece
Credits:  Harrieta171 assumed (based on copyright claims).

Budapest, Hungary  

Notable architecture styles in Hungary include Historicism and art Nouveau. It also has many Romanesque, gothic, renaissance, and baroque styles. However, art nouveau came into fashion in Budapest in the late 19th century, and the city remains one of the best places to see the style today. Its characteristics are curving forms, organic shapes, use of iron and glass, and colourful flourishes. 

Budapest

Rome, Italy  

The types of architecture used were: Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic. Roman architecture is famous for its domes, arches, amphitheatre’s, temples, and many other factors that made it unique. The Romans were great innovators. Today the city is one of the biggest centres for architecture.  

Italian Architecture in Rome,
Photo © Dreamstime.com.

Hanoi, Vietnam  

Vietnam architecture is a composition of both Asian and European styles. They often used French colonial architecture, which is a style used by the French during colonization. They combined the two styles and added eastern and western traditions to the buildings. For example, they used red tiles on the roof. They used the colour yellow a lot because it is associated with royalty in Vietnam. 

Vietnam
Credits: iStock

Barcelona, Spain  

The two most popular styles of Barcelona architecture are Catalan Gothic, a medieval style and modernism. Architect Antoni Gaudi wanted to create organic, urban spaces in the city he loved. The main features of Barcelona include signature ceramic and stained-glass mosaics, as well as stonework and ironwork. 

Barcelona, Spain
Credit: © Jean-jacques Serol

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

 Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building and a seven-star hotel. Dubai’s original architecture, from the 19th century, was influenced by Iranian, Indian, and Islamic designs. However, nowadays it’s becoming more modernised.  

Burj Khalifa Dubai Architecture

Marrakech, Morocco 

Finally, Morocco is full of Islamic architecture. It’s famous for horseshoe arches, Islamic domes, towers, and ornate and complex geometric designs.  The presence of riads, palaces with interior courtyards and gardens and open skylights, are specific to Morocco and essential to Islamic design because of their emphasis on privacy. The lack of street-level windows and the use of clay walls also lends to the feeling of intimacy and grace. 

Morocco
Getty

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Advice Center

Common reasons why HMO’s get refused 

12th April 20230

Although, HMO’s can be a great investment there are a range of factors you need to keep in mind. An HMO refusal can be inconvenient and expensive. Councils can refuse to licence HMO’s if the property doesn’t meet certain conditions. Or, if the licence applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold the licence.  

Here is a list of common reasons why HMO’s may get refused –  

The bedroom sizes are too small –  

To avoid refusal, the bedroom sizes in your home must be at least:  

  • 4.64 square meters for a child under 10 years old  
  • 6.51 square meters for a person 10 years old or over  
  • 10.22 square meters for 2 people aged 10 or over  

All rooms that are being used as sleeping accommodation must have a ceiling height of at least 2.14 meters over a minimum, of 75% of the room area. If any floor area has a ceiling height less than 1.53 meters, it will be disregarded when calculating room size. The council will also consider the shape of the room and useable living space, to determine whether its suitable.  

Too many rooms/changes of use –  

When converting your house into an HMO it is important that you use the correct change of use. This is often one of the main reasons they get refused.  

Standard houses and flats belong to the use class C3. These are usually occupied by a single household.  

Whereas, depending on the number of occupants, an HMO is either use class C4 or sui generis. If the HMO is occupied by 3-6 people is C4. Furthermore, if the HMO has 7 or more occupants, its sui generis.  

The area of the HMO –  

Before you make any big decisions, you should speak to your local council and planning department and seek advice. You might find out that there are policies restricting HMO’s. If many properties have been converted into HMO’s, you might have a harder time getting permission.  

Here are some basic rules to follow –  

  • Inner bedrooms are not acceptable (This is a bedroom which can only be accessed by passing through another room, such as a lounge, kitchen or bedroom.) 
  • No common areas are to be used for sleeping purposes  
  • No one is allowed to sleep in a room without any access to natural light, heating, and ventilation.  
  • So, children, 11 years or older should not share a bedroom with their parents.  

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House in multiple occupation
Architecture & Building, Planning Permission

Planning A Porch Extension For The First Time

4th April 20230

First impressions are important to people. So you should create a warm welcome for guests by adding a stylish and functional porch extension to the front of your home. 

What Is A Porch Extension?

A porch is a single storey structure. That can be enclosed and projects out from the front of the house.

Designing The Porch –  

A porch not just adds an extra bit of storage for shoes, or coats, it can be completely bespoke to suit your needs. A porch also can provide extra security benefits because it creates a barrier between your front door and the outside. Closed porches also are energy efficient because they prevent heat escaping and it saves you a bit on your bills. There are many different porch designs and choices when it comes to building one. Starting from brickwork, front doors, windows, and roof options. However, when you are making these choices, you need to make sure you are integrating the design of your original house.  

Planning Permission –  

A porch is considered to be permitted development. This means that you do not require an application for planning permission, provided: 

  • The ground floor area would not exceed three square meters 
  • No part would be more than three meters above ground level.
  • No part of the porch would be within two meters of any boundary of the dwelling house and the highway 

You would also need to check if you live in a listed building or a conservation area before you start your project.   Prices of a porch extension –  The prices of a porch extension can vary depending on what you want to do to the property and if you have a budget. Adding a porch typically costs around £1000-£1,200 per meter square. Installing a porch will very likely increase your home’s value. When it’s time to sell your home, some sources say the average return on investment for a porch addition is around 84%.  

Porch extension
Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/13159023902288428/

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Building Control

Why The building act 1984 is important in construction

16th March 20230

What is the building act?  

The building act 1984 is a UK regulation consolidating previous legislations concerning the construction process, and the design and specifications for building and their component parts.  

Why was the act introduced? 

It empowers the secretary of state to make regulations for the purpose of:  

Securing the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people in or about building. As well as, others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings.  

What is the purpose of the building act 1984? 

So, the building act sets out the legislative framework for the building control system.  

The building act empowers and obliges local authorities to enforce the regulations in their areas. These regulations include:  

  • A right of entry into buildings of prosecution  
  • Enforcement in relation to non-compliant building work 
  • Dangerous structures and demolitions.  
  • Setting the status of approved documents 

What happened if you don’t follow the regulations?  

First, the local authorities may prosecute them in court where an unlimited fine may be imposed. Also, prosecution is possible up to two years after the completion of the offending work.  

Here is an example of a man who went against all building regulations –  

Mohammed Ali Khan labelled a reckless homeowner, illegally knocked down his £800,000 3-bedroom, West London home. Then, Khan got a contractor to demolish the property without any permission from the local authorities.  

Furthermore, the councils building control services investigated after worried neighbours contacted the authorities over safety concerns.  

Finally, Khan was taken to court where he denied two charges of breaching the building act 1984. In addition, Khan was found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of £6,043.34. Despite the prosecution, there is still a ‘dangerous structure notice’ in place which will remain until the remaining front façade is removed or the house is re-built, the council said. 

 (Image: Hounslow Council)

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Architecture & Building

New Murabba: Saudi Arabia’s latest mega project plans 

14th March 20230

About the New Murabba –  

Riyadh will officially be the home to the world’s largest modern downtown. The New Murabba is reportedly the size of 20 empire state buildings.  

Firstly, the crown prince announced on February 16th the launch of the New Murabba development company. The development will have over 80 entertainment and culture venues, walking trails, an immersive theatre, a new landmark called The Mukaab, “ever-changing, immersive worlds”, and a museum. 

The size of the project – 

So, the downtown is scheduled to be completed by 2030. The project will cover an area of 19 square kilometres and will have over 25 million square meters of floor area.  

New Murabba will accommodate over 100,000 residential units and 9,000 hotel rooms. Additionally, over 300,000 jobs will become available. Furthermore, there will be 1.4 million square meters of office space and 980,000 square meters of retails space.  

The Mukaab –  

Located at the heart of the futuristic city lies The Mukaab. Which will be one of the largest built structures in world. 

The skyscraper will be 400 metres high, 400 metres long, and 400 metres wide, and will be an immersive destination brought to life by digital and virtual technology. 

The exterior of the structure will feature a delicately carved geometric pattern as a tribute to the kingdom’s Islamic history. In addition the Mukaab is inspired by modern Najdi architecture. 

 Also, holographics will also play a key role at the site, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in various environments. 

Image Courtesy: New Murabba website

Will this project help the economy?  

The crown prince Bin Salman has been trying to remake the country’s economy in a bid to bring in outside industry. Also, diversifying the country’s economy so that it is not so reliant on oil seems like a pretty common-sense idea, given that the world is slowly transitioning to renewables. 

Here are some pictures of the New Murabba –  

Image Courtesy: New Murabba website

Finally, check out this video of the New Murabba –

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Architecture & Building

Some of the most popular listed buildings in London 

28th February 20230

In this blog we are going to be taking a look at some of the UKs most popular grade 1 listed buildings. But, before we ger started, what is a grade 1 listed building? If a building is listed grade 1, this is because the site is of exceptional national, architectural or historical importance. There are over 9,000 grade 1 listed buildings in England, and the city of London contains 589 of these buildings. Furthermore, here are some of the most popular ones –  

Buckingham Palace (London) –  

Firstly, let’s start with one of the most iconic and popular landmarks un the UK. During the second world war, which broke out in 1939, the palace was bombed 9 times. The most serious incident destroyed the palaces chapel in 1940. After that, the palace was designated a grade 1 listed building in 1970, protected for many future generations to admire.  

Andrew Holt / Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Admiralty Arch (London) –  

Admiralty Arch located at the end of the mall, was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria. It was designed by Aston Webb, is now a Grade I listed building. In addition, in 2012, the government sold the building for £60m, for a proposed development of a luxury hotel.  

Image: iStock

Spencer House (London) – 

Spencer House is a historic town house in the St James area of Westminster. The house is Grade 1 listed on the National Heritage List for England. In 1758 Spencer House was designed to have authentic Greek details in the internal decoration, and it became one of the first examples in London of the neoclassical style.   

Image: https://www.historichouses.org/house/spencer-house/visit/

Palace Of Westminster (London) –  

Finally, the houses of parliament were first classed as a grade 1 listed building in 1970. Sir Charles Barry the architect of the Palace of Westminster uses the perpendicular Gothic style, which was popular in the 15th century.  

Credits: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186338-d211708-Reviews-Houses_of_Parliament-London_England.html

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Advice Center

Planning Application Rejected? Here’s How To Resolve The Issue

22nd February 20230

If the authority refuses to give you permission for a planning application, they must give you a written reason explaining why it was denied.  If you are unhappy or unclear about the reasons for refusal you should talk to a member of the local authority planning department.  

Withdraw and resubmit –  

Withdrawing and resubmitting the application is the best option if something has come to light that could get your application denied. You should withdraw the application before it gets rejected. Then make the changes and resubmit.  

Apply for a planning application appeal –  

You can ask the local authorities that if changing the plans will make a difference.  You must submit your appeal within three months, if you have a major project, you have up to six months.  

However, the council will send you information on how to appeal. There are three ways of doing so – in writing, at an informal hearing, and a public inquiry. 

 Most councils will ask you to go down the in-writing route. You will get an informal hearing if there is a lot of public interest in the plans. A public inquiry will only take place for the most complex of cases.  

When appealing in writing you’ll need to write down all of the reasons why you think your application should have received planning permission. When writing you should be as detailed as possible and focus on the planning matters.  

Once this has been completed, a planning inspector will visit your home. The inspector will give his decision on the appeal within two to six weeks of the visit.  

Reasons your planning application can be refused –  

  • Protection of green belt land – local authorities are under clear instruction to strongly oppose any schemes involving potential harm to the openness of the green belt.  
  • Negative effect on character and appearance – this can be the most frequent issue. Projects that change the pattern of the houses are usually denied.
  • Loss of a family home – projects that want to convert a house into flats or non-residential places are a common reason for refusing this type of planning application.  
  • Overshadowing – you need to make sure your development doesn’t overshadow the neighbouring properties causing loss of light.  
  • Overlooking homes – causing loss of privacy. 

Accept the decision – 

Finally, your other option is to just accept the decision. Sometimes there will be circumstances in which your planning application will be denied. And there is nothing anyone can do about it.

You now know how to handle the situation, if your planning application is denied. Finding the best option is dependent upon the terms of refusal and on your determination to get what you want. 

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Architecture & Building

Learn all about Biodiversity in architectural design  

21st February 20230

What is biodiversity?  

Firstly, biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is considered important and desirable. Its important because it boosts the ecosystems productivity, where each species has an important role to play.  

How can architecture help biodiversity? 

The impact architecture has on the ecosystem is enormous. In addition architecture can contribute to biodiversity by creating habitat opportunities as part of new developments. Planted roofs, roadside trees, together with larger green infrastructure like parks and wetlands, can foster biodiversity by providing habitat for breeding, shelter and food for birds, pollinators and other animals.   

Architects impact biodiversity in five main ways:  

  • Decisions regarding roofs, walls, landscape 
  • Conservation and rehabilitation of existing structures 
  • Materials used in construction – their sourcing, assembly, and disposal 
  • Adverse effects of buildings in terms of air and water pollution  
  • Resources needed to sustain buildings in use. Energy, water, etc.  

Ways you can increase biodiversity –  

Protect and restore the design –  

This is the first and most important rule. You should get to know local ecology and protect it. If you are building in a degraded area, you should try to understand its past and see if you can restore what was there previously.  

Diversity –  

Furthermore, to avoid disease, pests, and to support biodiversity you should select plants from a maximum of 30% of the same family, 10% of the same genus, and 20% of the same species. 

Use native species –  

If an urban environment is so different, some native species may not flourish in it. If you aim to increase biodiversity in the plants and animals’ kingdoms, the native species will support the wild life.  

How does architecture help the environment?  

Finally, architects need to make buildings that are friendly and green to the environment which can be adaptable to the surroundings. Meaning they need to create more eco-friendly and energy efficient buildings.  

Credits: https://learning.open-city.org.uk/bugs-in-the-city/
Advice Center

How to make your home more energy efficient?  

20th February 20230

Before you remodel your home or design a new one you should consider investing in energy efficiency, especially during this cost-of-living crisis. You will save energy and money and your home will be more comfortable.  

How energy efficient is your home?  

The first step in this process is to find out how much energy your home uses. And what is the most effective way to improve it. If your home has an energy performance certificate, it will help you identify any possible improvements. You can find any current or expired EPC in the UK on the government’s website.  

The main aspects of an energy efficient home –  

There are often 3 main aspects that are crucial when achieving an energy efficient home design, and they are:  

  • Air quality – 

Adding high quality insulation to your home will make it more air tight. The tighter the air the more heat it retains. However, it’s important to install a good ventilation system. This will allow you to remove the moist air that builds up in your home, without losing heat.  

  • Insulation 

Choosing the right insulation is important when it comes to retaining as much heat as possible. There are many effective ways to insulate your home, which can reduce heat loss. For example: cavity wall insulation, floor insulation, windows and doors, solid wall insulation, etc.  

  • Heating and cooling –  

Since the gas prices are increasing homeowners are looking for the best ways to save some money. Once your home is properly insulated you won’t need as much heat to maintain a comfortable temperature. This is a benefit because you will use less oil, gas or electricity.  

Can reducing a home’s energy efficiency help combat climate change?  

Homes that use energy supplied from the burning of fossil fuels are responsible for a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions. This means improving the energy efficiency of a home can reduce the burning fossil fuels.  

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Architecture & Building

A guide to Passive houses: definition, benefits and cost   

17th February 20230

Passive house design is an alternative to regular heating. Instead of having a boiler and radiators, they use a special ventilation system and effective insulation. Read on to find out more about passive house standards  

What is a passive house?  

A passive house is a design standard that is energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and ecological all at the same time. The houses attain thermal comfort with minimal heating and cooling. They achieve this by using insulation, appropriate windows and doors, airtightness, elimination of thermal bridges and ventilation systems with heat recovery.  

Who invented the passive house?  

The idea of the house was created by researchers in Germany however, they were originally called passivhaus. It all started with early conversations in the 1980s, led by academics Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist. Later, their concept was further developed through a number of research projects. 

What are the requirements for passive houses?  

To achieve the passive house standard, you must meet several criteria, such as:  

  • Airtightness – these houses are very airtight and shouldn’t have no more than 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals pf pressure.  
  • Space heating – The energy demand for space heating must not exceed 15 kWh/m2 of living space per year or 10W/m2 at peak demand. This contrasts with the 100W/m2 needed in a typical house.   
  • Thermal comfort – Living areas should be comfortable all year round, with no more than 10% of the hours in a given year exceeding 25°C. 
  • Primary energy – Total energy needed for all domestic applications (heating, hot water and domestic electricity) must not exceed 60 kWh/m2of living space per year. 

Are passive houses expensive?  

Passive buildings don’t require the expensive heating or cooling systems of conventional buildings. This means even though the buildings require high quality materials they are still affordable. Also, they make for a great investment because you save long term on energy bills.  

Advantages –  

  • Affordability  
  • Lower heating costs 
  • Energy saving  
  • More durable buildings  

Disadvantages – 

  • Boxy and ugly – although there are many benefits of passive houses, many people think the homes look boxy and ugly. This is because it relates to the total surface area of all of the external walls (the Heat Loss Area) divided by the total floor area. A lower number means there’s less surface area for heat to escape. 
  • They don’t add value when resold – one of the main reasons that people don’t buy passive houses in the UK is because they don’t add much value. The owners usually live in them for the rest of their lives.  
  • These homes don’t fit in every location – it must be constructed in a location that allows uninterrupted sunshine to reach the south side of the home. In some big cities, this might be a problem. 
  • Noise concerns – because they are airtight noise can’t enter or leave a passive house. tiny noises will be audible throughout the entire building.