More Focus – Page 319
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FeaturesWould you install a wind turbine on your home?
David Cameron is determined to install a mini turbine on his roof despite problems with planning – is he wasting his time?
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FeaturesDouble or nothing
Engineer Carolina Lameiras used to be a member of the ICE. Now she’s studying for an IStructE chartership. In the last of our series of heads to heads, she asked the presidents of both institutes the same tough questions
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FeaturesGadgets, glorious gadgets
Thomas Lane takes a look at the latest high-tech site accessories, and discovers that 3D television is already working in the labs ...
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FeaturesGrace under pressure
You can throw what you want at the Currie & Brown chief executive – sackings, redundancies, takeover bids, irate shareholders, even a fire alarm – but he’ll never agree he’s got his back up against the wall. Emily Wright meets one cool customer
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FeaturesSustainability: Domestic power masterclass
With wind turbines for sale at DIY shops and a stampede breaking out for renewables grants, has micro-power generation really arrived? Simon Rawlinson of Davis Langdon considers the options for domestic low and zero-carbon systems, and adds up the costs
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FeaturesVeiled in emeralds: Zürich museum
This extension to a Zürich museum is a beguiling marriage of romance and modernism
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Features
Cost update: March 2007
Peter Fordham of Davis Langdon reports on the latest trends for materials and labour costs. And overleaf we have details of pay awards, including new deals for plumbers and electricians
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FeaturesJust what is it like to live in an Ecohome?
Sustainable housebuilding is all well and good, but it means little without sustainability-minded houseowners to back it up. Lydia Stockdale visited three ecohomes to see how the residents have adapted to a greener lifestyle
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FeaturesA different beast
Aintree’s makeover doesn’t have much in common with the troubled Ascot redevelopment – or any other stadium for that matter. Martin Spring checks out the view from BDP’s flamboyant grandstands
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FeaturesWhat has the RIBA ever done for me?
... asks architect Tarek Merlin, in the latest in our series of head to heads with leaders of the professional institutes. RIBA president Jack Pringle endeavours to provide some answers
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FeaturesMoney isn’t everything
Don’t let your choice of frame be determined by cost alone. Other factors, like ease of construction, fire resistance and sound performance can benefit you far beyond the bottom line, says Andrew Minson, director, technical services and head of structural engineering at The Concrete Centre
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FeaturesSheds: a new approach
Concrete industrial buildings are now an attractive and cost-effective alternative to the ubiquitous metal box, says Jenny Burridge, The Concrete Centre
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FeaturesEconomic sense
An independent study for The Concrete Centre has found that concrete-framed buildings can cost up to 5% less than their steel-framed equivalent. Also, the frames have a lead time of four to six weeks compared with up to 18 weeks for steel, and they save money in cladding and internal ...
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FeaturesSmart grey matter
Much of the drive for innovation in housebuilding is focused on increased efficiency and reduced costs. Recognising this, the concrete industry is delivering a range of construction approaches that are cost-effective and efficient but still provide the traditional, inherent benefits of concrete. Jeff Dyson, head of housing solutions at The ...
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FeaturesGood form
Working on high-rise developments demands two major requirements: the provision of a safe working environment and the reduction of weather-related downtime. A new generation of enclosed formwork meets both needs. Andrew Minson, director, technical services and head of structural engineering at The Concrete Centre, reports
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FeaturesDoing the rounds
Developer Asticus chose concrete for a cylindrical London office block. The results were beautiful – and saved money. Guy Thompson, head of architecture and housing at The Concrete Centre, reports
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Features
Set for life
Embodied energy is only one part of a building’s impact on the environment. Specifiers should look at the bigger picture, reports Andrew Frost, sustainability manager of The Concrete Centre
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FeaturesGo with the flow
Climate change could make floods more frequent, and traditional hard landscaping can worsen them. Fear not: permeable concrete paving can help replicate natural drainage, reports Alan Bromage, head of civil engineering at The Concrete Centre
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Features
Top of the class
Now pay attention at the back – the government has made it clear that design is not to be neglected in its ambitious school building and refurbishment campaign. Swotting up on concrete’s advantages in education buildings could get you top marks, says Andrew Minson, director, technical services and head of ...