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First In Architecture

5 Useful Things for August

Published 23 days ago • 2 min read

5 Useful Things

Welcome to our August 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 Watch

Archwalks - Canary Wharf

Take a walk through Canary Wharf and explore how London’s former docklands became one of its major business districts. This Archwalks episode looks at its transformation, the Foster + Partners-designed Crossrail Place, sustainability in the district, and how Canary Wharf compares with the idea of a ‘15-minute city’.

2. Something to Browse

RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize

The shortlist for the 2026 RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize has been announced, highlighting six projects led by early-career architects. The selection spans education, adaptive reuse, community spaces and environmental design, making it a good one to browse for some fresh project inspiration.

3. Something to Consider

The Architecture Drawing Prize

The Architecture Drawing Prize celebrates architectural drawing in all its forms, with entries open to architects, designers and students. Hand-drawn, digital and AI-assisted work is considered together, with judging based on technical skill, originality and how successfully the drawing communicates an architectural idea. Entries close on 11 September 2026.

4. Something to Watch

Cumbria Cottage Retrofit

This cottage retrofit in Cumbria is a useful look at how a traditional home can be upgraded using a fabric-first approach. Architect Bob O’Neil talks through the use of wood fibre insulation, airtightness detailing and MVHR, and explains how the project was transformed from a cold, damp house into a warmer, better-performing home.

5. Something to Read

The Apple House - Okra

The Apple House by Okra is a lovely example of a small community-focused building using locally sourced natural materials. Its timber structure, hempcrete walls, cleft oak cladding and unfired clay floor make it an interesting project to explore if you are interested in low-impact construction and material choices.

We hope you find something here that perhaps you haven't stumbled across before. We'll continue to keep our eyes open to anything we think you will find useful or enjoy, and keep you updated every month with our 5 Useful Things.

This month's selection comes from Emma and Mario. Thank you, as always, for reading our emails and showing us your love and support. It really means a lot.

All our best,

Emma and the First In Architecture Team

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