Commentaries
Joe Clarke (University of Strathclyde) describes the '7 deadly sins' associated with performance simulation tools.
Simulation tools offer increased opportunities for understanding building performance, but also present significant challenges. To overcome the '7 deadly sins' associated with performance simulation tools, Joe Clarke argues that structural changes are needed involving the roles of construction industry, professional bodies, researchers and software developers.
Kevin Lomas discusses a new tool for the identifying and reducing overheating risk
The risk of overheating in homes is an increasing problem in the UK and elsewhere. Kevin Lomas discusses a ground-breaking new tool developed and launched to assist designers, planners and clients to identify and reduce the risk of summer overheating in dwellings.
Stuart Green explores the promises and pitfalls of Modern Methods of Construction
This article considers whether Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can really resolve the construction industry's challenges of a diminishing workforce and low productivity, whilst also delivering a more energy efficient built environment. Stuart Green explores how an alternative conceptualisation might help to avoid failure.
Alan Short responds to the Climate Emergency and argues we must rethink our dependency on the mechanical conditioning of buildings.
A city comprised of buildings with high energy demand is risky and damaging to the climate. Alan Short suggests that for change to occur, the behaviours and attitudes of the supply side need to change. The main barrier is for clients and their designers to break with the status quo.
Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training. Students need to be able to access and understand existing principles, methods and solutions for carefully defined, problem and evidence-based learning.
The built environment disciplines and their corresponding institutes / regulators must radically update their professional validation criteria for their education programmes now and more closely define the key competences that professionals must have. Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training.
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Living knowledge labs: creating community and inclusive nature-based solutions
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Mediation roles and ecologies within resilience-focused urban living labs
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Negotiating expertise in Nepal’s post-earthquake disaster reconstruction
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J Simpson & J Uttley
Lifetimes of demolished buildings in US and European cities
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M Dodd, N Madabhushi & R Lees
Church pipe organs: historical tuning records as indoor environmental evidence
B Bingley, A Knight & Y Xing
A framework for 1.5°C-aligned GHG budgets in architecture
G Betti, I Spaar, D Bachmann, A Jerosch-Herold, E Kühner, R Yang, K Avhad & S Sinning
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Urban living labs: relationality between institutions and local circularity
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Co-creating interventions to prevent mosquito-borne disease transmission in hospitals
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D Ricci, C Leiwakabessy, S van Wieringen, P de Koning & T Konstantinou
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Developing criteria for effective building-sector commitments in nationally determined contributions
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Latest Commentaries
COP30 Report
Matti Kuittinen (Aalto University) reflects on his experience of attending the 2025 UN Conference of the Parties in Belém, Brazil. The roadmaps and commitments failed to deliver the objectives of the 2025 Paris Agreement. However, 2 countries - Japan and Senegal - announced they are creating roadmaps to decarbonise their buildings. An international group of government ministers put housing on the agenda - specifying the need for reduced carbon and energy use along with affordability, quality and climate resilience.
Building-Related Research: New Context, New Challenges
Raymond J. Cole (University of British Columbia) reflects on the key challenges raised in the 34 commissioned essays for Buildings & Cities 5th anniversary. Not only are key research issues identified, but the consequences of changing contexts for conducting research and tailoring its influence on society are highlighted as key areas of action.