More Focus – Page 298
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FeaturesThree-part harmony
Mixed tenure high-density housing underpins the whole sustainable communities agenda - but can you really engineer social harmony? Richard Fairhead, project director at architects 3DReid explores the realities of getting people with a mix of incomes and lifestyles to co-exist side by side
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FeaturesIt's a people thing
Chris Oliver outlines the borough of Barking and Dagenham’s enterprising efforts to connect its inhabitants with the opportunities springing up around them
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FeaturesAfter the flood
Building on the Thames Gateway’s floodplain involves risk, but with careful planning this can be minimised
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FeaturesHe’s cracked it
Paul Andreu’s Beijing theatre has been dubbed the Egg. But how do you get into it? And what do you see when you do?
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FeaturesThe fit-out philosophers
8build was formed by senior managers at ISG who spent years observing the follies and failings of the traditional industry – and set out to solve them with their own company. Katie Puckett finds out more about their thinking
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FeaturesHow hard can it be?
We can all recognise great leaders, but it’s a bit trickier working out what makes them special. PLACE, a new training programme, set out to discover whether the leadership X-factor existed in construction and found that four names kept cropping up. Lucy Handley spoke to each of them
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FeaturesWhen will they ever learn?
The government is trying to renew 3,500 schools in 15 years using teams of confused officials, increasingly resentful contractors and a system that combines surreal bureaucracy with huge wastes in time and money. Eleanor Goodman and Katie Puckett explain why Building Schools for the Future continues to underachieve
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FeaturesIsis neutron facility
Thomas Lane goes to south Oxfordshire to find out why you need very big tweezers to pick up very small objects …
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FeaturesSpecialist cost update: Envelope
The cost of a building’s envelope has increased 10% over the past 12 months, and a similar rate is forecast for the next two years. Gardiner & Theobald reports on the costs and lead times of curtain walling, roofing and stone construction and restoration
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FeaturesIs the HSE understaffed?
Some agree with the Goverment's plans to shrink the HSE, others argue that this is directly responsible for the increase in construction deaths.
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FeaturesDomestic air-conditioning unit
Fujitsu General has introduced the AGYV, a split air-conditioning unit that it says is designed to fit unobtrusively into homes in general, and conservatories in particular.
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Features
Get off the fence
Whether it’s timber, concrete, steel or plastic, a garden fence has to be sturdy and secure. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans looks at the life-cycle costs.
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FeaturesPermeable paving: So what if it’s raining?
Housing As the UK dries out after the floods, the idea of a river view may not be as appealing as it was. But these houses in Holland are designed to rise as the water does. Bill Holdsworth finds out how they work, and whether they could catch on in ...
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FeaturesLocks to help disabled people
Door lock maker ERA Products has extended its range of locks to include five that meet the needs of disabled people.
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Features
Outdoor sockets with translucent lids
Wiring device maker MK Electric has added two sockets with translucent lids to its Masterseal range, which allow users to view the on/off neon indicators of outdoor wiring devices without opening them and protect the plugs in environments in which they could be exposed to dust or water.
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Features
Dual-control shower valve
Douglas Controls, a supplier of thermostatic controls and accessories, has introduced a dual-control version of its Avance Elite thermostatic shower valve called the Avance Elan.
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Features
Prefabricated chimney
Schiedel Chimney Systems has launched a prefabricated chimney set for semi-detached properties.
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Outdoor LED spotlights
Ansell Lighting has introduced an LED exterior spotlight called Sierra Luxeon.
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Sustainable carpet range
Milliken Carpet Europe has launched a modular carpet collection called Plan A, which comes in a choice of six patterns.