The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
Architects can help avert climate disaster – kilogram by kilogram of CO2
The profession is ideally placed to guide clients through the maze of sustainable retrofit, says Kunle Barker
Opinion
Comment from leading voices in British architecture on news, practice and discourse
The UN’s Race to Zero is working – architects should join it
In little more than a year, half the FTSE and many of the biggest clients in the UK built environment sector have signed up to the UN’s global net zero campaign. As COP26 approaches, architects should join them, writes Chris Brown
We need a new development model: out with the new, in with the old
Investors, developers, end-users and government need to look at existing buildings differently, write Jacob Loftus and Ben Cross of property developer General Projects
Nevermind the net zero targets, what’s the plan Boris?
With the clock ticking on the climate crisis, green Tories are beginning to voice frustration at the lack of detailed policy, Will Hurst found in Manchester
Yes, we need to retrofit Britain – and yes, we can afford it
The issue is not that we cannot afford to retrofit our energy-inefficient built environment on the government’s budgets, but that we cannot afford not to, says Smith Mordak
Why does the Stirling Prize shortlist feel like a huge step backwards?
Retrofitting of existing buildings is essential if we are to avoid a climate disaster, so it’s both surprising and disappointing to see that this year’s Stirling Prize shortlist fails to include a single example, writes Cristina Monteiro
To drive down carbon emissions on every project, we need to change the Building Regs
Part Z, a proposed amendment to the Building Regs drafted by industry sustainability experts, already has impressive support – but you and your practice can help us build on that, writes Will Arnold
Why don’t the makers at Make help it get ahead of the pack?
Big-name firms like Ken Shuttleworth’s are failing to live up to their climate pledges but there's an opportunity for them to lead if they care to take it, writes Will Jennings
Make mine a plant-based building please
The escalating climate emergency means construction must clean up its act without delay. A solid rule-of-thumb is to specify materials derived from plants, argues Joe Giddings
Lords committee is asking the wrong questions about housing demand
An inquiry into the UK’s housing stock is focused on economic growth rather than housing need or the climate emergency – but we can put them straight, says Smith Mordak