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5 Useful Things for June

Welcome to our June edition of 5 Useful Things. In these mid monthly emails we share with you 5 useful things we have come across during our work and personal time that we hope you will enjoy. This month we have a variety of discoveries that we hope you will get some value from. If you have stumbled across something that you think our readers would find useful, please let us know! 1. Something Useful House Extension Details - An Architectural Guide Just in case you missed the announcements…...

Can Prefabrication Fix the Housing Crisis? Britain needs to build 300,000 homes a year. Construction costs keep climbing. Skilled tradespeople are harder to find than ever. Something has to give. Prefabrication keeps getting touted as the solution—factories churning out precision-built modules and panels that slot together on site like architectural Lego. It's faster, supposedly more sustainable, and could bypass the skills crunch that's throttling traditional construction. Yet despite...

Welcome to our May edition of 5 Useful Things. In these mid monthly emails we share with you 5 useful things we have come across during our work and personal time that we hope you will enjoy. This month we have a variety of discoveries that we hope you will get some value from. If you have stumbled across something that you think our readers would find useful, please let us know! 1. Something to Listen To The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos While not architecture-specific, this podcast...

Cork as a Building Material: Why it's Gaining Ground Cork has long been known for sealing wine bottles, but its use in construction is gaining momentum—and for good reason. As a natural, renewable resource with excellent thermal and acoustic properties, cork is proving to be a valuable material in sustainable construction. In our latest article, we explore how cork is processed, the range of products available, and what makes it a strong contender for low-impact building projects. We also...

Welcome to our April edition of 5 Useful Things. In these mid monthly emails we share with you 5 useful things we have come across during our work and personal time that we hope you will enjoy. This month we have a variety of discoveries that we hope you will get some value from. If you have stumbled across something that you think our readers would find useful, please let us know! 1. Something to Listen To Design Matters Design Matters is one of the first and longest running podcasts in the...

Designing for Health: The Role of Ventilation in Modern Architecture If you’ve ever woken up to condensation streaming down your windows or battled damp, musty-smelling clothes that won’t dry indoors, poor ventilation could be the culprit. It’s a problem affecting millions of homes in England—with 3.7 million properties failing to meet the ‘Decent Homes Standard.’ Beyond discomfort, inadequate ventilation can lead to serious health risks, including damp, mould, and respiratory issues. The...

Welcome to our March edition of 5 Useful Things. In these mid monthly emails we share with you 5 useful things we have come across during our work and personal time that we hope you will enjoy. This month we have a variety of discoveries that we hope you will get some value from. If you have stumbled across something that you think our readers would find useful, please let us know! 1. Something to Attend Ipad for Architects & Designers Summit Our friend David is hosting his iPad for...

Why Biophilic Design is More Than Just a Trend Have you ever walked into a space and instantly felt at ease? That’s the power of biophilic design—an approach that brings nature into architecture to enhance well-being, reduce stress, and even boost cognitive function. From tropical gardens in train stations to dynamic facades that mimic natural patterns, architects are rethinking the way we interact with our built environment. But what are the key principles behind biophilic design? How can it...

Welcome to our February edition of 5 Useful Things. In these mid monthly emails we share with you 5 useful things we have come across during our work and personal time that we hope you will enjoy. This month we have a variety of discoveries that we hope you will get some value from. If you have stumbled across something that you think our readers would find useful, please let us know! 1. Something Useful SketchUp Free Tool I have been spending a lot of time on SketchUp lately, fiddling around...

Welcome to our February newsletter! January is all wrapped up and over in a flash. How has your start to the year been? Did you keep up with those New Year Resolutions? We've had a busy start to the year, jumping straight back into the Extension Book as we pull everything together and finish off all the drawings and content for the book. We have also taken some time during January to plan for the year ahead and see how First In Architecture can continue to be helpful to you. We have some...