The Architecture and Construction News Roundup

The latest news and data from the architecture and construction industry

In Data:

Architecture and Construction News in Numbers

14%

The amount the prefabricated volumetric building systems market is set to grow between 2020 and 2024, according to a report by AMA Research. The organisation expects the use of off-site construction methods to increase in a bid to combat both the severe housing shortage and skills shortages facing the industry. Healthcare in particular is set to be a key driver of growth.

The number of policy propositions contained in the Living with Beauty report, which was drafted by the late Roger Scruton and Create Streets founder Nicholas Boys-Smith for the UK government in order to embed a national requirement for beauty in planning policy. The findings are now being used to form the basis of a new design code currently under development by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

5.9%

The amount UK construction output fell in March according to the Office for National Statistics, the largest monthly fall since records began. This is a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted new commercial work to drop by 7.1% and new private housing work to tumble by 6.4%. Many fear that ongoing supply chain issues will hamper construction even after lockdowns are lifted.

5,300 tonnes

The amount of cross-laminated timber (CLT) used in the planned Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne, the first CLT highrise hotel in Australia, which is being designed by Bates Smart. The CLT is being used to add a further 10 storeys to the existing structure, creating 220 new rooms and 13,000 square metres of floorspace. The lightweight nature of CLT enables it to be used to add height to existing projects in a way that concrete and steel cannot.

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96%

The percentage of local builders in the UK that have stopped work on site as a result of the coronavirus, according to the Federation of Master Builders. 40% of clients have also requested that work be stopped. While many sites are now resuming activity, there are ongoing concerns relating to personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing.

The Key Architecture News This Month

Christo, 1935-2020

Artist Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, better known as Christo, has died at the age of 84. Known for his large-scale, site-specific installations, along with partner Jeanne-Claude, Christo famously wrapped a number of buildings in fabric, including the Reichstag in Berlin and the Pont-Neuf in Paris. He had also planned to wrap the Arc de Triomphe, but passed away before this plan could be realised.

Source: Archdaily

Criticism laid at Indian parliament redesign

A plan to completely rebuild the Indian parliament has attracted sharp criticism, including from sculptor Anish Kapoor. The current building, which was built by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1911, would see a new triangular building placed next to the existing structure, but has been lambasted by Kapoor for a lack of “architectural position, public consultation, parliamentary debate or peer consent”.

Source: The Guardian

Architects face mental health crisis

Four in ten UK architects are experiencing mental health issues during lockdown, according to a poll conducted by the Royal Institute for British Architects. Many architects have faced concerns over falling workloads and furloughing, as well as increased childcare responsibilities. The RIBA has urged practices to prioritise mental health among their workers.

Source: Architects’ Journal

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