By Paul Trace, Director, Stella Rooflight.. .....    Over the past decade, the specification of rooflights in historic and sensitive buildings has evolved significantly. Advances in performance, detailing and thermal efficiency have  broadened what is possible, while planning authorities and conservation officers have  become increasingly familiar with rooflights as a legitimate way to introduce natural light  into traditionally challenging spaces.  Alongside this progress, h

Rethinking urban living: The role of acoustic balcony glazing in inner-city high-rise living Cities in the UK are becoming taller and noisier. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of households living in a flat, maisonette or apartment increased by 21% to 5.4 million.​ 1  In London, over half of the homes built since 2002 are in high-rise buildings.​ 2     While high-rise living may address housing shortages, the quality of life for residents is often impacted by issues such as

Soft curves, dappled details and minimal form – luxury architectural hardware brand Croft has drawn inspiration from the tactile elements of nature across a range of its core collections. From the sweeping movement of Lunar to the refined elements of Bark, each product captures a beautiful fragment of the natural world, all meticulously designed and handcrafted in the UK. Bark Croft’s newest launch, Bark is inspired by the rugged texture of bark to bring a natural yet contemp

When a top development location became available in the leafy suburbs of a prime area in the South  of England, it was ideal for a successful businessman to build two homes for family members. As the slightly remote location could cause the properties to be vulnerable when the homes were  unoccupied, the family sought a chic solution for physical security that would harmonise with the  character of the architecture but give complete peace of mind.  They quickly chose Equilux

Pyroguard, the world’s leading independent provider of fire safety glass, has developed a  thinner, lighter glass specifically for balustrades that achieves A2 fire-rated performance and contains less encapsulated CO2. In partnership with Q-Railing, a specialist in balustrade systems, the product has been successfully tested and is the first approved balustrade system of its kind to reach the market. The new Pyroguard Balustrades Evo range has been introduced to meet the grow

At the 2025 Steel Window Association  awards, the Commercial Project winner was West Leigh ’s Len House project. Andy Bawn, MD of West Leigh, tells us all about the company today. Len House, Maidstone – West Leigh’s meticulous restoration of this Grade II listed Art Deco landmark, featuring like-for-like W20 steel windows and doors, curved frames, and bespoke detailing to preserve its historic character   What is your core business? Andy Bawn, Managing Director for West Leig

Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS), a leading specialist in heritage fenestration and architectural metalwork, proudly supported the Glasshouse Street Christmas Charity Collection for The Whitechapel Mission , joining forces with BAM  and fellow subcontractors to make a meaningful difference this festive season. Pictured left is ASWS’ Site Manager Jono helping deliver their donations to The Whitechapel Mission over the Christmas period, while right is just some of the ge

ISO-Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system has been specified to provide energy efficiency improvements to an Edwardian property in Oxfordshire. The move sees WINFRAMER units retrofitted as part of an initiative to bring the poorly insulated solid walled house built in 1909 in Oxford, up to current energy efficiency standards, providing better quality accommodation for the homeowner along with long-term cost savings.   Passivhaus certified and fir

By Wojciech Brożyna - MD Aluprof UK  - The Architecture & Building Expo 2025 (ABX 2025) took place at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Dublin on 8-9 October 2025. The event served as a key meeting point for architects, architectural technologists, building professionals and specifiers from across Ireland and beyond. The show featured a broad exhibition scope from smart-home systems and modular building to insulation materials, security systems and façade solutions. This year