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COMPAC launch Unique Calacatta – inspired by the beauty and elegance of natural stone

COMPAC have just launched Unique Calacatta, a quartz worksurface that offers a stunning contrasting grey veining design on a pure white background.

Inspired by the beauty and elegance of natural stone, Unique Calacatta offers a mechanical and chemical performance that is superior to nature’s own.

Combining traditional skill with innovation, COMPAC has been able to create a worksurface that makes it possible to decorate private homes and public spaces with elegant overall compositions that transmit serenity and harmony.

The striking contrast of pure white with the powerful grey veins characteristic of marble will give any space clad with Unique Calacatta a truly magnetic personality.

Architects and designers can now specify this new finish for their projects with the confidence. Every reference in this new product category is unique on the market, because just like in nature, each slab presents different nuances and patterns in design.

Added to this is an enviable set of technical specifications, the natural hardness of quartz comes hand in hand with a waterproof, hygienic finish offering even greater resistance.

This means that Unique Calacatta is especially appropriate for intensive use areas such as kitchen surfaces, floor tiling or wall cladding.

For more information www.compac.es.

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Windows and doors: time to review your suppliers?

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Residential windows and doors have an impact on a building that is completely disproportionate to their cost and the overall value of the project. Of course they are essential to the function and performance of the building but the aesthetic and even emotional impact they have on a residential property, for tenents and owners, should never be underestimated.

The process of opening every project out to the market is not practical which means that a hardcore of window suppliers and brands will supply most specifiers’ needs. But there is also a great deal to be said for shaking the tree now and again to see what else is out there. After all, that is probably how you met your present suppliers…all those years ago.

Still the most effective way of identifying new potential suppliers are exhibitions. However, the failure of Interbuild and decline of other events means there is quite simply no comprehensive ‘one-stop-shop’ exhibition for professional specifiers currently.

However windows, doors, glass and other elements of residential glazing such as conservatories and porches particularly for the private and public sector housing markets, have commanded their own exhibitions and forums for almost 40 years.

Following the demise of a specialist show alongside Interbuild, a new event with the unlikely title of ‘The FIT Show’ – it is an acronym of ‘Fabricator Installer Trade’ – now provides the most comprehensive buyers guide to windows, door, roofs and anything to do with (mostly) residential glazing there has been for perhaps 10 years or more. Although its core visitor base are the companies and individuals that manufacture and fit the stuff, it is thorough and the most comprehensive and useful event around through which an effective review of glazing products and suppliers may be carried out.

With its maiden outing almost three years ago The FIT Show, which takes place this April at The International Centre, Telford, has now grown into a substantial event that will feature around 180 exhibitors in four halls representing most of the major brands of windows and doors – including composite, sliding and bi-folding – available in the UK. Add in legions of hardware, manufacturing machinery, widgets and support services and it is pretty much everything a window ‘professional’ could possibly need.

After a break of almost two years since the last FIT Show the majority of exhibitors will have something new on their stands that is being shown for the first time anywhere, so planning is recommended rather than a simple stroll around the aisles; there is much to detain the unprepared visitor.

Despite the propensity of exhibitors to keep their new wares under wraps until the event some details have leaked out. We know, for example at least four brand new window systems will be revealed at The FIT Show although one of these, a product called Lumi, has been seen at public shows over the past year. Called ‘a product that truly reinvents the window’ by the judges of a recent awards programme, Lumi offers virtually seamless, edge-to-edge glazing through windows, and residential, sliding and bi-folding doors. In fact doors, especially those of the composite and bi-folding persuasions are at The FIT Show in droves.

A spectacular must-see is the electronically tintable glass being show for the first time anywhere in the UK. Tintable in stages using amongst other things a smartphone app, it is the product of US manufacturer SageGlass, a Saint-Gobain company. And here’s the rub: the firm has replaced the whole of one curtain-walled end of an exhibition hall – no less than 314 metres2 – with its product, in what is the ultimate exhibition demo. Clayton Glass, with a stand in that very same exhibition hall, is the UK agent for the product.

If you are serious about windows, doors and glass and glazing then The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show really should not be missed. 12th, 13th 14th April 2016, at The International Centre Telford. www.fitshow.co.uk.
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Architect Dame Zaha Hadid has died

Famous ‘starchitect’ Dame Zaha Hadid has sadly passed away at the age of 65.

The Iraqi-born designer was the first woman to receive the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal this year in recognition of her sometimes controversial but always avant-garde work.
Her designs can be found all around the world and include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, the Riverside Museum in Scotland, Guangzhou Opera House in Guangzhou and MAXXI National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome.

Official statements say that Zaha suffered a fatal heart attack on in a Miami hospital, where she was in the process of being treated for bronchitis.

We take a look back at the amazing, sometimes controversial work of an architect who has always been ahead of the curve:

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Dame Zaha Hadid was an inspirational woman, and the kind of architect one can only dream of being. – Riba president Jane Duncan

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For three decades now, she has ventured where few would dare. If Paul Klee took a line for a walk, then Zaha took the surfaces that were driven by that line out for a virtual dance. – Archigram founder Peter Cook

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She was an inspiration. Her global impact was profound and her legacy will be felt for many years to come because she shifted the culture of architecture and the way that we experience buildings. – Stirling prize winner Amanda Levete

zaha-and-her-buildingZaha quote

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Looking to improve an interior space? Decorative casings add style and practicality

Most of our lives are spent within buildings, at work, socialising or relaxing, so it’s essential that our built environment is designed and constructed with care and attention. From the layout and ‘flow’ of a building to the very fixtures and fittings within its walls, every aspect needs to be considered when attempting to promote healthy and vibrant spaces in which to exist and thrive.

We spoke to Martin Taylor, MD of Peterborough-based decorative casing company, Encasement Ltd, about the importance of good design and how column casing and wall lining solutions help combine aesthetics with practicality.

Q) Martin, what role do decorative casing solutions play in helping a building achieve its maximum potential visually?
“In simple terms, if it wasn’t for column casings and interior wall cladding solutions, building interiors would be considerably less attractive environments. Yet, as they are designed to integrate as part of the fabric of a building, their importance may often be overlooked or taken for granted by the building’s occupants.

Very few people stand back to admire a laminated plywood column casing at a school or the brushed stainless steel wall lining in a prestige office building, yet they are key elements in interior design and integral to the aesthetics of countless building environments.

However, it must be remembered that these products are not just about decoration. For column casings their primary purpose is to conceal unsightly structural columns, whether they’re steel or concrete, while wall linings provide a durable surface for high traffic areas.

Apart from improving aesthetics, column casings are also designed to be durable. Our ‘Circa, laminated plywood column casings, for example, are resistant to impact damage and scuffing, making them virtually maintenance free. It’s a similar story with our ‘Polyma’ GRP range, which is highly resilient and can even be hosed down to keep them clean, which is a feature exploited at a project in Manchester’s new Smithfield Fish market.”

Q) With that level of versatility, are you seeing an increase in the use of good quality casing installations on building projects? As architectural trends shift, are you finding that they’re becoming more prominent?
“Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned, column casings are both practical and decorative. Their role, however, has been transformed since the mid 1980s from being a purely functional device for concealing structural steelwork to one of visual and decorative importance. Although they were initially used by a relatively small number of architects, they are now commonplace, with their aesthetic values and appeal being a key consideration during the specification process.

As a result, the demand for wider choice and enhanced aesthetics from architects, interior designers and specifiers has increased significantly in recent years, which have been key influences on the growth and development of our company. As styles and tastes invariably change from building to building, it is essential that designers have the broadest palette to work with. This has resulted in our product range becoming the most comprehensive available in the UK.”

Q) The positive effect that an interior can have on users of public buildings is very real and cannot be overstated. From the colours on the walls to the brightness and positioning of the lighting, every aspect has to be carefully considered. Is this an area where you feel Encasement products have something tangible to offer?
“Definitely, and it is an area in which we have a proven track record. Some of our most recent projects include Winchester College, Birmingham Dental Hospital and University College London, all of which are very different buildings requiring different solutions to integrate with the interior design.

In addition, some products in our column casing range are designed to also be used in exterior applications, where they’re used to conceal structural steelwork and improve aesthetics.

Our ‘Forma’ metal casings and ‘Polyma’ GRP ranges are perfect examples and are widely used in both interior and exteriors applications. The exceptionally wide selection of finishes available, particularly in the Forma range, provides specifiers with an even greater scope of options enabling them to be specified with diameters from 250mm up to 1000mm or as square, rectangular or even hexagonal forms.”

Q) Would you say, then that Forma and Polyma are your most popular products in your column casings range?
“That’s an interesting question. While the versatility of ‘Forma’ metal casings makes them the ideal choice for many projects, our plywood ‘Circa’ and ‘Quadra’ ranges were the first that we launched and they are still, arguably, the most popular.”

Q) Why is that?
“Apart from being highly cost effective, the main reason is that they provide specifiers and contractors with a diverse palette of finishes from plain colours, wood grain and metallic, as well as textured and real wood veneers, to name but a few. Whilst ‘Circa’ is available as a plain casing for on site painting and decoration, by far the most popular finishes are durable decorative laminates.

‘Circa’ and ‘Quadra’ are designed specifically for interior decorative applications and they are used in almost every building type from education, retail, hotel, sports and leisure, as well as the health sector and commercial office buildings.

This versatility has also influenced the choice of sizes available, which is also very wide, to allow specifiers to select not only circular and square, but also extended circles and rectangular options, which use additional infill panels to give greater flexibility while ensuring they are still easy to install.”

Q) One of the more recent additions to your range has been the ‘Vecta’ wall lining system, which has already been installed in a number of buildings that many of us are very familiar with. Can you tell us a little more?
“We introduced Vecta just a few years ago and the system enables us to provide a high quality solution for interior wall linings, bulkheads and reveals, many of which are 100% bespoke and require immense precision during installation, which is why we also launched our specialist installation service at the same time.

Vecta has been widely used in retail, education and commercial buildings, such as Tesco, South Bank University and Prêt a Manger, as well as prestigious office developments, including Wellington House and the Carmine Building in Paddington, London.

These buildings experience high volumes of foot-fall and as such, everything within the building needs to be high quality, durable and in-keeping with the overall design features of the space. ‘Vecta’ is just one of the solutions we offer that is helping our customers enhance their surroundings for their clients, staff and anybody who uses the building.”

Q) Your company strapline says ‘sustainable building solutions’ and you must use a reasonably high volume of timber in the manufacture of your products. How important is it to ensure that timber is sourced legally and ethically? What efforts do you make to ensure that this happens?
“The use of timber as a structural and decorative material has grown considerably over the past 10 to 15 years, as it is one of the most environmentally friendly materials available, especially since sustainable and managed sources have increased and stronger regulation on illegal supply have been introduced.

I feel very strongly about sustainability, compliance and the ethics of using only certified sources of legal timber. As a direct result of our approach, we are currently the UK’s only supplier and manufacturer of pre-formed plywood decorative casing products that holds an FSC® ‘Chain of Custody Certification’ from the Forest Stewardship Council.

This is important for us, as both our ‘Circa’ and ‘Quadra’ column casing ranges are manufactured from FSC® certified plywood. This makes them automatically compliant with sustainability codes and environmental procurement policies.”

Q) Architects and designers are primarily focused on developing and improving our built environment; how does your product range help specifiers achieve this goal? “Our column casings provide a perfect mix of practicality and aesthetics. We’ve taken a lot of care to ensure our product range meets both of these key criteria while ensuring that we always remain competitive and maintain high quality standards throughout our business.

Also, by specifying and installing Encasement products manufactured from FSC® certified plywood, they can have a positive effect on improving the BREEAM rating.

Our products are used in projects across the UK in just about every sector of the construction industry and the entire range has been configured to provide the widest possible choice, as well as being easy to specify. We also offer some very specialised solutions, such as the Metza range, which provides up to two hours fire protection for mezzanine floor columns.

In addition, The ‘Vecta’ wall lining system allows specifiers to source a range of specialised interior finishing and decorative casing products from a single company with high levels of expertise and experience in this sector.”

Encasement’s latest ‘column casing solutions’ e-brochure is available for download from the company’s website and covers every product in the range as well as providing details on materials, sizes and finishes available alongside an extensive technical information section. Further information is also available from their website at www.encasement.co.uk or by calling 01733 266889.
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Architects and developers unveil a new kind of home for the 21st century

Urban Splash and shedkm announce the first phase of their new and innovative ‘hoUSe’ project.

Offering customers bespoke, architect-designed homes along the canal in New Islington, Manchester, the development gives buyers the power to choose the layout of their home.

The first 43 hoUSes adopt a traditional terraced approach but internally layouts can be configured to tailor one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes with an open-plan or more traditional feel. The hoUSe project represents an alternative to the established mass house-building schemes across the UK in terms of design and delivery.

These homes in New Islington are made of volumetric timber pods that are delivered to site with minimal disruption to neighbours. The benefits of building homes in this manner is that all standards and tolerances can be monitored in a factory-controlled environment, meaning the houses are warm and incredibly energy efficient, as well as flexible to plan and adapt. With a striking modern design, featuring familiar pitch roof motifs, the hoUSe has proved incredibly popular with the first 43 homes selling out prior to launch. It’s not just the method of construction that is revolutionary but also the manner in which hoUSe was conceived.

Architects shedkm and developers Urban Splash came together to generate the concept in the first instance and this evolved into a delivery system and a search for the right sites; it can easily be adapted for a range of different locations across the UK.

The hoUSes on the New Islington plot are long and slender and range from two to three storeys. The grey exteriors are broken up by thick-banded black window bays that offer occupants with views out over Manchester, while also allowing an abundance of sunlight to enter the rooms. Internal configuring means that owners can select between ‘loft’ or ‘garden’ living, which means that you can opt for the communal areas to be located at the base or top of the house. This approach to upside down living was pioneered by shedkm and Urban Splash at Chimney Pot Park, where gardens were located at first-floor level to create parking spaces below and best use the space available of a tight urban site. This development is now regarded as an exemplar housing scheme in the area.

Director at shedkm, Ian Killick said “We’re delighted to see the first phase of the hoUSe project completed at New Islington. This concept has been a long time in the making and we believe that it is a game-changer to tackle the current housing shortage this country is facing. They also happen to be homes that people are proud to live in.”

Urban Splash Chairman Tom Bloxham MBE added “hoUSe is born from our desire to create something for customers who want to live in well-designed homes and stay in the city centre. We noticed that within UK cities there is a real lack of diversity in terms of new residential stock and our traditional customers – those who had bought and enjoyed Urban Splash flats – would ultimately get older, richer and end up moving to Victorian and Georgian terraces in the suburbs.”

“hoUSe is our way of offering them something in the city. It’s a really exciting prospect and I am as excited by this as I was by our first lofts over 20 years ago. At prices less per square foot than city centre flats, lower maintenance costs than old Victorian houses or blocks of flats, big floorplates, high ceilings and huge windows they have already been well received and I’m certain will be a big part of Urban Splash’s future.”

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Flush Tilt-Turn Window System creates design perfection

Profile 22 has launched a unique externally Flush Tilt-Turn window system designed for commercial applications, especially medium and high rise buildings. The distinctive sleek, urban and modern design of its flush exterior frame avoids the overlapping of framework associated with conventional PVC-U systems, making it especially suitable for applications such as new-build apartments, housing hotels, offices, universities and colleges.

The Profile 22 externally Flush Tilt-Turn can achieve A++ WER Rating (U-Value 0.8 W/m2.K, in line with Passivhaus standards) with argon-filled triple-glazed units, due to its energy effi-cient six-chamber sash and five-chamber outer frame as well as the inclusion of Profile 22’s innovative Aeroframe thermal barrier. This window design offers superb thermal perfor-mance thus eliminating the need for expensive krypton-filled units. The high performance weather seal system allows for more efficient drainage of water, greatly improving weathering and thermal capabilities.

Profile 22 Commercial Sales Director Andrew Reid said: “The externally Flush Tilt-Turn offers sleek simplicity in its appearance, combined with the functionality of the tilt-turn and the high specification that can be expected from any Profile 22 product, making it the ideal choice for commercial applications of all types. It offers the benefit of a clean finish internally due to concealed hinges, top opening for ventilation or fully opening from the side for cleaning the exterior from inside, and has the option of restrictors for added safety above ground level.”

The Profile 22 externally Flush Tilt-Turn window has a large maximum opening size of 2,300 height x 1,450mm width, with 28, 36 and 44mm glazing options and is available in 28 col-oured finishes.

Product features include:

  • High performance weather seal system – optional triple seal
  • Secured by Design and BES6001 accredited
  • Anti-slam as standard
  • Compatible with common types of hardware
  • Flush, urban and modern design
  • No overlapping of framework externally
  • High performance centre seal system – optional third weather seal
  • Triple glazing can achieve u-values in-line with “Passivhaus” to 0.8 W/(m2.K)
  • Achieves WER A++
  • Design flexibility with maximum opening size up to 2300 height x 1450mm width
  • Glazing options: 28, 36 & 44mm
  • Perfect for medium-high rise buildings
  • Several window styles available in BIM format
  • Available in a range of 28 colours including dual options
  • Sash is neatly positioned inside the frame
  • Six-chambered sash and five-chambered outer frame with “aeroframe” technology
  • Concealed hinges & gearing
  • Overcomes design issues with traditional tilt-turn windows
  • Recycled composite outer frame reinforcement
  • Designed & manufactured in Great Britain

Andrew Reid added: “The demand for a flush style window came from architects requesting a window that is more ‘commercial’ in appearance, with greater colour options and with a higher performance in both weathering and thermal. The simplicity gives the architect carte blanche to build a design around the frames without the distraction of overlap, chamfer or sculpturing.”

Full specification, design and technical advice is available from Profile 22 specifi-er@profile22.co.uk telephone: 01952 290910. BIM objects on this product are available on Bimstore and www.profile22.co.uk.

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How conflict influences architecture

Cities are busy, hectic and diverse places. When groups of different people are forced to live in close proximities, conflicts can understandably arise. How does architecture influence these conflicts and what role does it play in preventing them?

Metropolises are becoming centres for ethno-national and religious conflicts. However, architecture can make a distinct contribution to the problem through its own spatial understandings and practices as well as strategic planning and building policies. These issues are increasingly urgent and need to be addressed in view of the conflicts that we witness today.

Dr Wendy Pullan, Head of the Department of Architecture, Cambridge University and Director of the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research, will deliver the 2016 RIBA East Spring Lecture ‘Architecture and Urban Conflict: How do they connect?’

Across the world, cities are increasingly becoming centres for ethnic and religious conflicts. Although conflict is a subject that has preoccupied sociologists, geographers and political scientists, architecture is a relative late-comer to the debate. There is a clear advantage to a multidisciplinary approach, yet architecture makes a distinct contribution.

Destruction and devastation present unique opportunities to radically rethink our environment. Strategic planning and building policies can be found to enhance particular political views. Architecture is fragile, yet architects have the power to instigate change. This lecture will address these issues, focusing on work done by the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research at the Cambridge Department of Architecture.

Dr Wendy Pullan received the Royal Institute of British Architects‘ inaugural President’s Award for University-Led Research for work on Conflict in Cities.

The ‘Architecture and Urban Conflict: How do they Connect?’ Talk is part of a series of events based around the subject of the RIBA Exhibition ‘Creation from Catastrophe – How architecture rebuilds communities’, which explores the varying ways that cities and communities have been re-imagined in the aftermath of natural or man-made disasters.

Book your tickets here.

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Will 3D printing spark another industrial revolution?

First we saw hand-production methods, with highly skilled craftsmen wielding untold knowledge and expertise over the structural properties of material and the best way to implement them within a design. Then the industrial revolution changed everything, with machinery and complex equipment trumping traditional handiwork. As the digital age ticks on and technologies such as 3D printing ever improve, is the construction industry on the brink of yet another industrial revolution?

Development of 3D printing actually began in the 1980’s, however it wasn’t until around 2010 that the technology experienced a paradigm shift in opinion regarding its usefulness. Initially considered ‘newfangled,’ expensive and improbable to take off, the process of 3D printing soon began to grab the attention of avant garde architects, designers and progressive construction professionals worldwide.

The pros

In contributing to the built environment, 3D printing has thus far been used to create small, complex components to be implemented in a hybrid design of new and old methods and even to ‘print’ entire buildings. Chinese materials firm Yingchuang New Materials recently produced 10 3D-printed buildings in just 24hrs, using a custom-built printing machine that outputs layers of construction waste mixed with cement. See video below:

With government aims to end the housing crisis within a generation, could 3D printing exponentially shorten the ETA?

Other technologies that are rapidly developing within the sector are also abetting a future that will lean heavily towards 3D printing. Industry-wide use CAD and the rise in usage of building information modelling (BIM) in particular will enable greater use of 3D printing, as much of the information necessary to create a building via computer aided manufacturing will exist as a result of the design process.

3D printing would allow faster and more accurate construction of complex structures and components, whilst simultaneously lowering labour costs and waste production. It might also enable construction to be undertaken in harsh, dangerous environments previously unobtainable by a human workforce – expanding our horizons.

The cons

As well as a wealth of positives, there are equal concerns regarding a 3D printed future. Systemised construction has never been highly successful in the UK. There was a brief boom in panelised systems for high-rise apartment blocks and pre-fab housing following the Second World War, but frankly they were ugly, lacked character and were plagued with condensation problems.

Printers could also pose a threat to the existing workforce, reducing employee numbers throughout the industry, as ostensibly the 3D printer could do the majority of the work.

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Currently, only a limited number of materials can be used, since the same printer might not be able to print the required multiple materials to deliver the rich and diverse built environment we all need to thrive. In addition, utilising the technology on a building site would require expensive and complex equipment, and whilst it is possible to envisage using some simplified version to manufacture specialist components on a more industrial scale, it remains debatable as to whether the method would offer an attractive return in comparison to bricks and mortar.

The bigger picture

Obviously 3D printing has infinite potential in a wide variety of areas outside of construction, such as creating clothing, instruments, prosthetics, art, food, tools and – controversially – weaponry; to name but a few examples. As it becomes easier for businesses to transmit designs for new objects around the globe via the medium of internet, the need for freight services, manual skills and traditional manufacturing and transport techniques might deplete massively. This would result in an entirely different culture; a society free from import and export which could ultimately make or break entire global economies.

American economist and Nobel Prize winner Michael Spence says “the world we are entering is one in which the most powerful global flows will be ideas and digital capital, not goods, services, and traditional capital. Adapting to this will require shifts in mind-sets, policies, investments (especially in human capital), and quite possibly models of employment and distribution.”

Rome wasn’t built in a day but perhaps one day it could be printed in one. We just may be on the brink of the next chapter in our commercial and industrial history, will you say “viva la revolución” or do you stand as a proud Luddite, protecting our current way of life against the influx of technology that could serve as a blight to us as a species?

What are your thoughts on 3D printing? Let us know in the comments section below!

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House wrapped in Marley Eternit clay roof tiles wins Think Brick Design Award

A striking suburban home by Bosske Architects, which is wrapped entirely in Marley Eternit Acme Red Smooth clay roof tiles, has received a prestigious Australian Think Brick design award.

Now in its ninth year, the Think Brick Awards celebrates design excellence in the use of clay brick, concrete masonry and roof tiles by Australia’s best architects and designers. This year’s awards attracted 315 entries with Camino House, a suburban extension project in Western Australia, winning the Roof Tile Excellence award for its innovative use of clay plain tiles as a singular material across the whole building envelope.

Camino House was designed in the manner of an ‘oast’ or hop kiln, with the new part of the building mimicking the chimney forms of the surrounding housing, reflecting the suburb’s history, yet at the same time creating a striking aesthetic. UK-manufactured Acme Red Smooth single camber clay plain tiles were chosen by the project’s architects, Bosske, as a natural product that could be used on the facade, as well as the roof, to create a unifying sense to the form.

Each year the trade association Think Brick Australia runs the awards, in partnership with the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia and the Roofing Tile Association of Australia, to encourage architects, designers and builders to rethink brick, concrete masonry and roof tiles as contemporary and sustainable design materials. The Roof Tile Excellence Award, with a prize of AUD$10,000, is sponsored by the Roofing Tile Association of Australia.

Ms Elizabeth McIntyre, CEO of the Roofing Tile Association of Australia and Think Brick Australia, was one of the judges on the panel.

“The judges chose Camino House as one of the winners this year because it opened their eyes to the incredible design opportunities available through use of roof tiles. The roof structure on Camino House, clad in the beautiful smooth red roof tiles from Marley Eternit, is a striking design that showcases how roof tiles can move from traditional to contemporary application not only on the roof but also on the façade,” said Ms McIntyre.

The project involved the roofing contractors, Carter Roofing & Slating Pty Ltd, working closely with the architect and builder in order to achieve the numerous tile junctions on the continuous clay surface.

Sarah Jackson, marketing product manager from roof tiles’ manufacturer Marley Eternit, comments: “We are delighted that Camino House has been recognised by the Think Brick awards’ judges. The selection of our Acme Red Smooth clay plain tiles as a singular material has created a building which has a sense of permanence and robustness in this raw suburban context and perfectly showcases the versatility of clay plain roof tiles in today’s architecture.”

Marley Eternit’s Acme single camber clay plain tiles are available in a range of eight colours to help match local vernacular and meet planning requirements. The tiles also offer excellent design flexibility, with the ability to be used at pitches as low as 30°, as well as for vertical tiling applications.

The Acme clay plain tile range also boasts impressive environmental credentials, including the ability to achieve an A+ rating in the BRE Green Guide to Specification, BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing accreditation and certified carbon footprint data at product level.

A range of fittings, accessories and ventilation products is also available to complement the tiles. To request a sample or literature please contact 01283 722588 or visit www.marleyeternit.co.uk/clay.

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Planning With Half a Mind; Why Planners Resist Emotion

Many planners ignore people’s emotions when they analyse social problems, and as a result planners often get things wrong, according to ‘Planning Theory & Practice,’ published by Taylor & Francis.’

Planners aim to change how people act including where they live, locate a business, send children to school, with whom, how, and where they travel, and where and on what they spend money.

Planning successfully depends on understanding what motivates people. However most planners continue to ignore how people think and act emotionally, despite social sciences and other professions waking up to the power of emotions as they recognise their influence on how people act. In the article, ‘Planning with half a mind: Why planners resist emotion’ published in Planning Theory & Practice, Howell Baum indicates that the few planners who recognise emotional concerns are more successful than the planners who ignore them.

So, if emotions matter, why do planners ignore them?

Historically, planners gained authority for their profession by claiming to solve problems rationally, without giving any attention to residents’ emotions or their own. As a result, planners who identify with the profession must ignore emotions if they want authority. Crucially, the reason society values planners’ claim to ignore emotions and gives them authority for doing so comes from the culture of the Enlightenment, which regards emotion as a threat to reason and encourages people to pretend they have no emotions. Baum posits that by its very nature, planning as a profession will always resist thinking about emotions, resulting in unrealistic and ineffective planning.

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