FIA Journal Hello, I hope you're well. After a few weeks of genuinely impressive heat, it feels like things have finally cooled down a little — and I suspect most of us are quietly relieved about that. For a lot of people reading this, June will also have marked the end of another academic year — final submissions handed in, crits done, and a strange mix of relief and uncertainty about what comes next. If that's where you are right now, this month's email is written with you in mind. What...
15 days ago • 3 min read
5 Useful Things 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 To Explore London Planning Data App This planning data map provides easy access to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
FIA Journal Hello, I hope you’re well and have been enjoying the warmer spring weather. This month marks one year since we launched our House Extension Details book, which honestly feels both very recent and very far away at the same time. One Year of the House Extension Details Book When Aida and I first started working on the House Extension Details book, I don’t think we fully appreciated just how much work it would become. What began as an idea gradually turned into months (then years) of...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
5 Useful Things 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 Read Future Homes Standard Just in case you missed the latest announcements around...
2 months ago • 2 min read
FIA Journal Hello, April feels like it's gone by in a blur — there's a lot on at the moment, and I suspect I'm not alone in that. This month's reflection is something I've been thinking about a lot lately, partly as a reminder to myself as much as anything else. I hope you find it useful. Slowing Down Your Thinking There's often an underlying pressure to move quickly in architecture. To get drawings out, resolve details, respond to comments, and keep everything progressing. When there's a lot...
3 months ago • 2 min read
5 Useful Things 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 Useful Layers of London How has London changed over time, and what stories are...
3 months ago • 2 min read
FIA Journal Hello, I hope you’re well and that the start of spring is treating you kindly. Having a Poor Memory and Why Documentation Is Everything One thing I’ve come to accept is that I don’t have a particularly strong memory. I used to see that as a weakness — especially in a profession where it can feel like you’re expected to remember regulations, details, standards, and solutions without hesitation. But over time, I’ve realised that relying on my memory isn’t actually the goal. What...
4 months ago • 2 min read
5 Useful Things 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 New Building Regulations Notes Template Our new Building Regulations Notes Template...
4 months ago • 2 min read
FIA Journal Hello, I hope you’ve been enjoying the new look and feel of the FIA Journal this year. At the start of the year, we decided to shift the newsletter slightly. Rather than simply sharing updates, we wanted to include more reflection — short thoughts on practice, learning, and the profession, alongside the usual resources. This month, I’ve been thinking about something that crops up often in architecture. The Pressure to Sound Clever in Architecture Something that has always stood...
5 months ago • 2 min read