Pharos Architectural Controls strengthens European presence with the appointment of Teodora Marian

Pharos Architectural Controls is pleased to announce the appointment of Teodora Marian as Regional Sales Manager - Central and Southern Europe.

With her master’s degree in Nuclear Power Engineering and over 20 years of experience designing complex systems in both the UK and Romania – including more recently 8 years specialising in lighting and control solutions – Teodora offers a valuable combination of technical expertise and industry knowledge.

She has previously worked with respected industry names such as Lutron, Enttec and Architectural FX, providing support to designers, integrators, and developers across the UK and Europe.

Teodora shared her enthusiasm about joining the team: “I’m truly excited to become part of Pharos. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great brands and professionals who have helped shaped my career. Having followed the impressive growth and development of Pharos, I’m eager to help bring their innovative lighting control solutions to even more markets across Europe”.

Pharos CEO, Simon Hicks added “We’re thrilled to welcome Teo to Pharos. Her strong engineering background, hands-on knowledge of lighting controls, and passion for international sales make her a fantastic fit for our team and for driving sales growth across the central and southern European region”.

Teodora’s appointment highlights the strategy at Pharos to strengthen its team with experienced industry professionals who can best serve its growing customer base and extend its leadership in architectural lighting control solutions.

For more information, visit www.pharoscontrols.com

Architecture Unknown scoops two prizes at the BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards

Manchester’s Architecture Unknown is celebrating two wins at this year’s BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards.

The Ancoats-based practice scooped two prizes this month for its work on Peel Park Community Centre in Salford.

Charlie Butterwick and Daniel Kelso, founders of Architecture Unknown, took home the ‘Most Community-Focused Architecture Practice 2025’ and the ‘Best Community Centre Project 2025 (Northern England).

Peel Park opened its doors in February this year. The impressive £950k project was built using a zero-carbon, modular design system called WikiHouse – making it one of the greenest buildings in Salford.

WikiHouse is often described as the IKEA of construction, offering the opportunity for anyone to get in on the build. In June 2024, around 60 local school children were among the local volunteers who helped to get construction underway at the centre. More than 100 volunteers from the Little Hulton, Salford, also came down to lend a hand on the construction site.

Director and Design Lead, Daniel Kelso from Architecture Unknown, said: “Well over 1000 hours of donated sweat equity has gone into making this building, the award really honours that hard work.

“For Architecture Unknown, Peel Park is the heart of what we do; community lead architecture that creates artistic and functional spaces that will enrich an area for many years to come. We a very proud to win the awards as they celebrate our talented team, our core business values and the passion behind our design.”

The BUILD awards recognise those who work seamlessly as a team, listen to and truly hear their clients, and those who innovate through their process from start to finish.

Awards Coordinator for the Build Magazine Architecture Awards, Kaven Cooper commented on the success of this year’s winners: “Learning more about our winners’ journeys is always a delight, and this year’s Architecture Awards process has been an exhilarating process.

“It’s so wonderful to see the positive impact our awardees have on the rest of the world, especially as their creativity and dependability ripple out across surrounding communities by means of their designs and creations. Here’s to the next half of 2025, and beyond.”

To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the dedicated professionals selected for them, visit:

 https://www.build-review.com/awards/architecture-awards/.

The UK’s best new architecture – RIBA National Awards 2025 winners announced

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the winners of the RIBA National Awards 2025 for architecture. The Awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the best of UK architecture and provide insight into the country's design and social trends.

Winning projects range across every corner of the country, from the Isle of Wight to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Diverse in scale, from Astra Zeneca’s monumental curved “triangular” research facility (The Discovery Centre), and London College of Fashion’s striking “vertical campus” in Stratford, to the sensitive conservation of two dilapidated farm buildings in the Isle of Wight (The Old Byre) and the transformation of a former Battersea shop unit into a flexible home and office at Costa’s Barbers.

The power of architecture to influence and transform communities was central to many of this year’s winners. Appleby Blue Almshouse in Southwark showcases how thoughtful sequencing can foster communal interaction and thereby reduce social isolation. Similarly, Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing is designed to cultivate an open, connected community for its 53 homes.

Meanwhile, the red-brick Sidcup Storyteller has become a focal point in the high-street regeneration of the area, while the fire damaged Sheerness Dockyard Church has been sensitively restored into a vibrant community facility. Transformation also takes more human forms. HMP & YOI Stirling offers a therapeutic, trauma informed design that integrates the surrounding landscape and supports rehabilitation at this women's prison, while Hope Street, in Southampton, offers a quietly radical model for supporting women in the justice system, demonstrating how architecture can be a powerful agent for meaningful social change.

Restoration and conservation are equally prominent. In London, the Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben, stands as a masterpiece in conservation and heritage preservation, while the renovation of the Young V&A in East London takes a dark site into a bright, energising cultural destination. In Scotland, the sensitive restorations of two Grade A listed buildings, Aldourie Castle Estate and Fairburn Tower, highlights the merits of local skills and traditional techniques.

Commenting on the winning projects, 2025 RIBA Awards Group Chair, Simon Henley, said:

“Congratulations to each of this year's RIBA National Award winners. Each of these 20 winning projects is a powerful testament to the diversity and depth of our profession. They demonstrate how architecture is not just a creative force, but also central in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.  

This year’s winners reflect the many and varied ways architects are being asked to work, and their incredible motivation and breadth of expertise. As a profession, we now look to the past as much as the future, and to care and repair as we do to build. We continue to innovate but we also seek continuity, and in so doing to make work of every scale that is engaging and thoughtful. The power of architecture to transform society and inform our way of life is on full display in every winning project.” 

The 20 RIBA National Award 2025 winners are:   

8 Bleeding Heart Yard by GROUPWORK - A highly detailed retrofit of a lifeless 1970s office building into a richly layered, sustainable workplace.   

Aldourie Castle Estate by Ptolemy Dean Architects Ltd - An elegant and exemplary conservation of a Grade A listed estate using local materials and crafts. 

Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects - A contemporary almshouse in Southwark cleverly designed to reduce social isolation for older generations 

Citizens House by Archio - A community led development off 11 affordable homes in a former backyard garage site in Lewisham. 

Costa’s Barbers by Brisco Loran and Arrant Industries - A Battersea shop unit has been imaginatively converted into a flexible home and office. 

Elizabeth Tower by Purcell - Housing the symbolic bell and timepiece of the nation (Big Ben), the most comprehensive restoration of Elizabeth Tower in 160 years is a masterpiece in conservation and craftsmanship. 

Fairburn Tower by Simpson & Brown for The Landmark trust - A meticulous conservation effort has restored a dilapidated Category A listed structure using traditional craftmanship. 

Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects - An inventive and finely detailed extension to a late 19th century house, working at the intersection of ethics and aesthetics. 

Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing by Barefoot Architects - 53 timber-framed affordable homes form a sustainable, co-housing development in Bridport that is designed to embrace community.  

HMP & YOI Stirling by Holmes Miller - A therapeutic, trauma-informed women’s prison that provides spaces that promote dignity, equality and meaningful rehabilitation. 

Hope Street by Snug Architects - A quietly radical model for supporting women in the justice system, the modest architecture balances opposing needs to leave a lasting impact.   

London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison - A monumental piece of civic architecture, the new LCF brings together six former sites into one “vertical campus” on Stratford’s East Bank waterfront.  

Niwa House by Takero Shimazaki Architects - A timber framed, tranquil, Japanese style home designed to be fully wheelchair accessible. 

Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects - A twice fire-damaged Grade-II* listed church has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility.   

Sidcup Storyteller by DRDH Architects - A bold new red-brick library, cinema and co-working space has become the centrepiece of the high-street regeneration of Sidcup.   

Student Hub, Queens Business School Belfast by TODD Architects - An innovative and sustainable learning space that blends sensitively into the surrounding woodlands. 

The Discovery Centre (DISC) by Herzog & de Meuron / BDP - A welcoming, “triangular” medical research facility for AstraZeneca blending thoughtful placemaking with scientific innovation.   

The Old Byre by Gianni Botsford Architects - This conversion of two understated farm buildings on the Isle of Wight creates a new home while also offering residency and working spaces for visiting artists.  

Triangle House by Artefact - A playful and inventive extension to a 1950’s suburban home in Surrey 

Young V&A by AOC Architecture and De Matos Ryan - The former Museum of Childhood has been reimagined into a light, bright and energising cultural destination for young visitors.  

RIBA National Award 2025 winners will now be considered for the highly coveted RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new architecture, the shortlist of which will be announced on 4 September. 

Crawfords Group appointed as South East Utility dealer

Marubeni-Komatsu Ltd (MKL) are pleased to announce the appointment of a dealer to cover a portion of the South East area – the Crawfords Group. Covering Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, and South Berkshire, Crawfords will be offering the full range of Komatsu Utility equipment including mini excavators, midi crawler and wheeled excavators, skid steer loaders and compact and Agricultural spec wheel loaders.

“We are excited to appoint the Crawfords Group, a long established business, as our Komatsu compact dealer for the south east of England. We look forward to working with them and are confident their local knowledge and established network will provide exceptional service to those using the innovative range of Komatsu Utility machinery in the south east.” Brian Graham, Managing Director at Marubeni-Komatsu Ltd.

“Komatsu is a renowned and respected brand, and we are delighted to bring their compact range to our customers,” said Wes Crawford, Managing Director of Crawfords Group. “This partnership reflects our continued commitment to providing high-quality solutions across multiple industries, including construction, landscaping, and utilities.”

Crawfords Group is a leading provider of agricultural, horticultural, viticulture and automotive solutions, offering sales, service, and support across the South East and beyond. With a strong reputation for exceptional customer service, Crawfords Group delivers premium brands and innovative solutions.

As a key partner, Crawfords will have stock available from all depots, ensuring equipment is available for immediate delivery. This will be supported by their dedicated team offering expert advice, product demonstrations, and aftersales support.

To ensure seamless integration and support, all Crawfords departments - sales, service, and parts - will receive in-depth Komatsu training over the coming months. In addition, Crawfords will be appointing a dedicated a Group Construction Sales Manager with significant construction industry experience to lead this new division.

This appointment strengthens Crawfords position as a trusted machinery partner, delivering exceptional service and industry-leading brands to professionals across the South and South East.

Marubeni-Komatsu Ltd have been the sole distributor of Komatsu construction and utility equipment in the United Kingdom since 1972. They are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Marubeni Group – a leading international corporation.

Website:  crawfordsgroup.co.uk

JCB secures full EU type-approval for pioneering hydrogen engine

JCB has passed another significant milestone on its pioneering hydrogen technology development programme after securing the first full EU type-approval of its hydrogen engine for use in non-road mobile machinery.

This means that JCB’s hydrogen engine has been approved for sale and for use in machines and third-party OEM equipment in each of the 27 EU member states, and all other territories recognising EU type-approvals (e.g. EEA and EFTA territories).

The EU type-approval certificate has been issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 and certifies JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine to prevailing EU Stage V emissions norms. The EU type-approval follows earlier landmark rulings by licensing authorities in nine countries in mainland Europe allowing the engine to be used commercially in machines in those countries under ‘new technology’ provisions.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project, said: “This is another very significant moment for JCB’s hydrogen programme, It was not so long ago that some said that it was ‘game over’ for the internal combustion engine in Europe. For JCB to have secured full EU type-approval is proof positive that the combustion engine does indeed have a promising future in pursuit of a net zero world if hydrogen, a zero CO2 fuel, is used instead of fossil fuels.”

Lord Bamford added: “I could not be more delighted for the JCB team that put so much work into getting us to this stage. Now our focus will be on bringing our hydrogen technology to market. JCB’s customers are patiently waiting for our hydrogen-powered equipment to make a difference on their job sites. They won’t have much longer to wait.”

GB approval was granted rapidly, initially for the ‘new-technology’, and now as full type-approval.

JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop a fully approved combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the exciting £100 million development for nearly four years.

JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines which are powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and generator sets. Real world pre-launch testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment is now at an advanced stage and progressing well.

BCIA President's Blog: Awards - The incredible power of recognition and acknowledgement

Stacey Lucas, President of the Building Controls Industry Association

Earlier this month, we celebrated the best the building controls sector had to offer at the BCIA Awards 2025 ceremony. As usual, it was a tremendous evening but it also got me thinking about the importance of acknowledging innovation and dedication and how award nominations and success can inspire not only the winners but anyone in the industry.

Every single award category was hotly contested and, as the President of the BCIA, I had the very privileged but unenviable task of sitting on the judging panel. It was incredibly tough to choose between the multitude of deserving nominees but it showed me first-hand the huge depth and quality of our inspiring and important industry.

However, even those that didn’t win should take great pride in their efforts and understand that even being nominated and shortlisted is an immense honour. Indeed, even simply being put up for an award can be incredibly transformative. Plus, in a world where competition can be fierce and visibility is critical, awards are more than just shiny trophies – they can be powerful tools for motivation, long-term growth, and credibility.

The importance of validation

Whether winning an award or simply nominated, those participating can often take a significant confidence boost from just being involved. For individuals, this can typically serve as external validation for their hard work, expertise, and impact on the industry – be it their significant involvement in a project or their determination to enhance their development and ensure a brighter future for the built environment.

It's also important to note that receiving acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication can often reassure individuals that they are on the right path in their career – making a huge difference in competitive industries such as ours where self-doubt can be fairly common.

Increased motivation

Recipients or those nominated for awards often find themselves uncovering depths of motivation and drive they never knew they had, too. In fact, simply being nominated and appreciated for their efforts can instil a sense of responsibility to uphold the standard that led to the recognition. As a result, this can often inspire further personal or professional development – leading to a more promising future for the industry in which they work.

Enhanced visibility and credibility

For organisations and businesses, awards can significantly enhance credibility and reputation in the eyes of clients, investors, and others across the industry. The exposure from being named in publications and marketing material promoting the awards and the ceremony can shine a positive spotlight on the organisations participating, even if they don’t win.

No matter if the awards are for innovation, sustainability, customer service, or a particular product, nominations and award wins can often act as third-party endorsements that help businesses attract new clients and build trust.

A competitive advantage

In busy industries such as ours, standing out is absolutely critical. There’s no better way of doing that than by being nominated for, or even winning an award. By serving as a sign of real quality and reliability – key factors in purchasing decisions for money-conscious consumers – awards can help to influence customer choice.

In fact, awards can truly set businesses, organisations, and brands apart from their competition in a highly crowded marketplace.

Employee morale and retention

It’s also worth noting the impact that award success, or even just the honour of being nominated, can have on the business’ employees. Indeed, celebrating the collective success can often see a significant boost to employee morale and productivity.

Furthermore, team members will feel recognised and valued, not only potentially reducing burnout but fostering a positive work culture and improving employee retention rates.

In addition to likely prompting those already in the company to stay, award nominations and success will also have a huge impact on incomings. Those outside the company will be keen to work for an organisation that is having a positive impact on the industry and the environment as a whole.

So, whether winning an award, being shortlisted, or being nominated, this can often be a catalyst for pride, growth, and future success.

Lastly, I’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended the ceremony and contributed to what was an amazing evening. No matter if you were a winner or a finalist, you represented the building controls sector superbly and showed just how innovative and inspiring this industry can be. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event and I hope to see all of you there. 

NHBC announces Brickwork and Construction Site Supervisor Apprentices of the Year

House-building apprentices have been recognised at the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) annual graduation ceremony held at its headquarters in Milton Keynes. As a leading training provider for the house-building industry, NHBC’s training is shaping and growing the future workforce.

Ryley McBride, 17 from Whitkirk, Leeds was awarded NHBC Brickwork Apprentice of the Year. Ryley trained at NHBC’s Training Hub in Newcastle and achieved a merit. After struggling in education and finding his GCSEs challenging, Ryley’s will to succeed and resolution to apply himself means he is now building a successful career in construction with Keepmoat.

Ryley said: "Completing my bricklaying apprenticeship with NHBC has set me up for life. I’ve learned the highest industry standards and gained the skills to build quality homes that meet NHBC regulations. The training hub gave me hands-on experience and prepared me for the real world of construction.

“I’d encourage anyone who wants a solid career, good money and a great working environment to go for an apprenticeship. The average bricklayer earns fifty thousand pounds a year. That’s a great wage for me. My goal is to one day run my own company, and this apprenticeship has given me the foundation to make that happen."

Matthew Griffiths, 36 from Poole, Dorset, who works for Bellway Homes, was awarded NHBC Construction Site Supervisor Apprentice of the Year. Joining the construction industry from the armed forces, Matthew has shown excellent organisational and time management skills on site. Holding himself to the very highest standards, he achieved a distinction in his apprenticeship.

Matthew comments: “After serving in the RAF for ten years, I was ready for a new challenge and a more settled family life. I wanted a hands-on career where I could stay active, so I initially explored carpentry but soon realised my skills were better suited to site management.

“The NHBC apprenticeship has been a learning curve and the support and training have been incredible. It’s given me the confidence and qualifications to progress and I’ve recently stepped into an assistant site manager role.

“For anyone thinking they’re too old to change careers, don’t hesitate. I’ll be working until I’m 70, so why not spend those years doing something rewarding. There are so many opportunities in house building, great pay and the opportunity for career progression. I’m now aiming for my Level 6 NVQ with NHBC. If you’re feeling stuck in your job, an NHBC apprenticeship is an achievable and life-changing step into a new career."

Also recognised at the ceremony were Toby Egan, 23 from Cambridge, who works for Taylor Wimpey, and Romana Brodzinska, 34 from Seacroft, Leeds, who works for Watkin Jones and Son. Toby was commended for his dedication, resilience and tenacity, achieving a distinction grade for his NHBC Brickwork Apprenticeship and Romana was recognised for taking a highly organised, communication-led and proactive approach to her NHBC Construction Site Supervisor Apprenticeship. Both received a highly commended award.

Romana comments: "When I started in house building, I never imagined it would turn into such a great career path. Thanks to NHBC’s apprenticeship, I have gained the skills and knowledge needed to progress and now I’m on track to becoming a site manager.

“I’d absolutely encourage more women to consider taking up or changing to a career in house building. There’s a huge need for more women to come into the industry. Women bring a different perspective, strong organisational skills and attention to detail that makes a real impact. NHBC provides top-tier training and support, making it the best choice for anyone looking to grow in this field. The opportunities and the career prospects are great."

Speaking at the ceremony, Darryl Stewart, who is responsible for NHBC’s Training Hubs and apprenticeships programme, said: “Congratulations to all the apprentices recognised today, we are truly proud to be supporting the next generation of home builders.

“Apprenticeships are a great path to a rewarding, well-paid career; they are also a great way for builders to grow a skilled workforce. In most cases training costs are fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy and generous CITB grants are also available. Combined with NHBC’s immersive programmes where apprentices typically complete in just 14 to 18 months and many with merits or distinctions, there has never been a better time to be or take on an apprentice.”

In November 2024, NHBC announced it will be supercharging house-building training with a £100m investment in a new national network of multi-skill apprenticeship training hubs. These will help address the house-building industry’s growing skills shortage by producing an additional 3,000 skilled and site-ready tradespeople each year.

For more information about NHBC’s apprenticeships, visit Apprenticeships | NHBC.

Light Forms luminaires specified in huge Birmingham office overhaul

As part of a £38.8m refurbishment of a Birmingham City Centre commercial office space, a wide variety of luminaires from high-performance lighting manufacturer, Light Forms, have been specified into the upgraded building.

The office space sits within Brindleyplace; a large, mixed-use canal-side development in the heart of Birmingham. It is home to restaurants, shops, leisure offerings such as the Sealife Centre, and a number of commercial office buildings.

Wilmott Dixon Construction was appointed by the building owner CBRE Investment Management to combine two separate sites – 8 and 10 Brindleyplace – into one large building. The transformation would also create a more modern space with a focus on smart technology, sustainability and wellness. Not only was this better from an environmental perspective, it would help to attract future occupants of the office and ensure the area remains buoyant and commercially successful.

Given the focus on sustainability, LED lighting was an important part of delivering improved energy savings and a better carbon footprint. A plethora of solutions have been specified by Light Forms, fulfilling many of the lighting requirements of the refurbishment project. These were primarily specified by Wilmott Dixon Interiors, who were responsible for the internal fit-out of the renovated offices.

Light Forms was able to offer a wide variety of solutions for the project given its well-rounded and all-encompassing portfolio. This is alongside Light Forms’ commitment to offering flexible products that can be adapted and customised in a variety of ways to best suit the needs of each and every project.

These include Lightplane 2.5; a compact and streamlined luminaire that provides direct, indirect or direct-indirect illumination. Offering the adaptability that Light Forms is renowned for, Lightplane 2.5 can be suspended, wall or surface mounted. The Brindleyplace office is using the prismatic lens for low UGR, which delivers a more pleasant and healthier working environment.

Elsewhere in the building, Light Forms Cygnus Round luminaires have been used, along with ValueDown. Cygnus Round is a minimalist, high-power LED track spot with a wide range of light sources and optics. ValueDown is a budget-friendly, recessed downlight spot fixture that may be specified in multiple outputs with a beam spread of 15, 25 or 40 degrees.

Other specified solutions include Nova Medium 62, Leo, Indus, Slimline 1.25, TinCan, Lightrod 80 and Panel Up and Under.

Completing the project are the EM surface, EM Recessed and EM Exit. These are all part of Light Forms’ LED Emergency luminaire range, which encompasses both emergency spotlights and exit signs. The lighting configuration and control was completed by Mymesh; wireless controls designed for professional and demanding environments.

Harry Prior, Managing Director from Light Forms said: “Brindleyplace offices are an enviable location within Birmingham city centre, offering ease of access, an attractive waterside setting and stunning architecture. To have our luminaires featured so heavily in this exciting renovation project to bring two spaces together was incredibly exciting. Furthermore, it truly demonstrates how much our portfolio can meet the needs of even the most ambitious refurbishments, including those where sustainability is a key part of the work.”

The overhaul has now linked the two formerly separate sites into one building, creating 212,000 sq ft of office space over nine floors. The location also boasts of the city’s largest available floorplans at over 27,000 sq ft. Other improvements include internal reconfiguration such as the brand-new reception area. Extra facilities have been added including a café, business lounge and conference facilities.

The redevelopment has achieved a number of accreditations, including Fitwel; a standard that measures occupant health and wellbeing. It has also been awarded other certifications including EPC A rating and BREEAM Excellent.

Client: CBRE

Contractor: Wilmott Dixon

Architect: Associated Architects

Consultant: CPW

Controls: Mymesh

Cool Runnings - USM Supports London Marathon Community Pop Up Space

New Balance partnered with Run The Boroughs (RTB) a London based running community to create Everybody’s Local a Soho based pop up space designed to bring RTB into a new location. Based around the idea of cultural exchange, Everybody’s Local allows RTB to reference and reimagine landmark cultural spaces as contemporary meeting point for their community.

Everybody’s Local merges the worlds of performance and culture to create a cross over space for the running community with the look and appeal of a contemporary lifestyle space. Within the space visitors can hang out with like-minded souls over a coffee & pastry, purchase limited edition merchandise and listen to DJ sets whilst relaxing with a beer or wine in the evening.

Set within an archetypal Soho townhouse, The space was designed by Talah Interiors who selected USM as the key furniture partner. USM was was the perfect furniture to create an aesthetic that references sports halls with a combination of clean lines, block colours and geometric shapes. A beige USM long credenza was used to display magazines, the unit encompassed Haller E which incorporates lighting into the systems frame which emphasised the books and magazines. A small USM white side table was used to display new balance running shoes and accessories. A tall shelving unit provided a pop of colour in golden yellow; the unit also incorporated USM’s world of plants system which cleverly incorporates biophilia into the furniture with cut outs in the panels for plant pots. Also, within the design scheme was a USM steel blue drinks trolley which was used throughout the event when drinks were served in the evening.

Farnaz Ali Design Director at Talah Interiors commented “USM felt like an organic fit to the brief set out by Generation.Works. USM's steel modules enable a modular approach to an area which can be increased or decreased depending on its requirements. This playfulness in USM's core design aesthetic crossed over into this reimagined space naturally for this pop-up. The contemporary colour choices from USM also paired magically with the brief to marry everything in the space”.

The pop up store was open throughout the London Marathon weekend of 19th, 20th and 21st April when the capital was at the height of its running fever!!

USM London Showroom, 49-51 Central Street, EC1V 8AB

tel: 020 7183 3470 | www.usm.com

Built to last or should we look towards the past? Exploring the durability of new-build homes

It’s no secret the reputation of new-build housing is becoming increasingly negative among UK residents. In fact, a 2023 study by the CIOB found that almost a third of people would describe new builds as ‘poor-quality’, with over half of the respondents believing that older homes are of better quality.

What exactly are the reasons behind this belief? In this article, the Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) explores how the materials used in new builds compare to those of the Victorian era, and the impact of today’s homes on their residents and the environment.

Modern homes have both obvious similarities and stark differences to those of the 19th century. In the Victorian era, houses were built using local materials, due to the ease of transportation. Following the abolishment of the tax on glass and bricks in the 1850s, brick, timber and glass became standard materials in most homes.

In the 21st century, housebuilders are using more plastics in nearly every part of construction, from flooring to insulation, and fittings for applications like pipes, seals, windows, doors and cables, due to the low cost of the material.

Until relatively recently, copper was the material of choice for transporting water and heat. Plastic pipes have unfortunately become more commonplace, despite growing evidence highlighting its adverse health and environmental effects.

Increasing quality concerns around new build houses also bring into question the durability of the materials used, with common issues including cracks and leaky pipes. It’s no surprise residents are moving house more often, to avoid costly maintenance works.

Meanwhile, Victorian properties are more durable, with over a quarter of the British population living in them. Thanks to the traditional building techniques that prioritised quality materials like hand-crafted bricks and copper pipes, these homes have stood the test of time.

With plastics in all areas of the modern home, this unfortunately impacts on the longevity of today’s stock. Not only do plastics deteriorate more quickly than traditional materials, but they have associated fire and health risks, posing a serious threat to human health.

While modern homes excel in incorporating new technologies, appliances and building quality and environmental standards, there remain lessons to be learnt from the past. The average new build home has a lifespan of just 40-60 years, whereas Victorian properties incorporating natural materials have proven to hold for more than 100 years with some TLC. Among the most resilient materials are copper pipes and plated wiring, natural stone, all-wood floors and steel.

One lesson we can take from the past even predates the Victorians – copper has been used to transport water for over 4,000 years. Unlike plastic, it is fire resistant and infinitely recyclable, rendering it a superior and long-lasting material.

For more information on the sustainability credentials of copper, visit: https://www.cuspuk.com/.