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AJ 23.05.24: Belgium

AJ 23.05.24: Belgium

The Belgium issue offers a deep dive into why this perhaps unlikely country has become a happy hunting ground for UK-based architects. As editor Emily Booth observes in her introduction, 'centuries of shared trade and cultural history over the choppy North Sea mean the similarities and the links with the UK run deep' - but it is the substantial opportunities for work that are the real draw for the UK's practices today.

In a special projects round-up, we explore these opportunities through the work of UK names currently working in Belgium, including Counterspace, DRDH and David Chipperfield Architects. Meanwhile, our building studies include the retrofit of a fire station, and the transformation of an industrial building into a residential development by local practices ATAM and Notan Office, respectively.

In News we reveal the 2024 AJ100 Awards Shortlist, including Practice of the Year and Employer of the Year. We also meet director of the Flanders Architecture Institute Sofie De Caigny, and explore Maccreanor Lavington's plans for a post-'Brusselisation' retrofit scheme.

In Culture, Florian Heilmeyer reviews Rotor, a book exploring the works of artist-turned-builder Marcel Raymaekers, while an essay from Ellis Woodman sings the praises of the Flanders-style open call.

Elsewhere David Grandorge explores what's changing in Belgium - and what is not in the UK - while The Coach answers burning questions on redundancy, including what do next if it happens to you.

This month's sketchbook comes curtesy of Robert Coz, director at ADAM Architecture and the latest Hellman takes aim Kier Starmer's grey belt development plans.

£16.00



AJ 24.01.24: Housing

AJ 24.01.24: Housing

The AJ’s first issue of 2024 explores what is set to be one of the year’s most pressing and hotly-debated topics: housing. Our building studies include Child Graddon Lewis’s Harrow Road scheme which, following the election of a Labour council, was amended to offer 100% affordable homes. Plus projects from Urban Projects Bureau and CRCLR-Haus, alongside Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture, offer a look at innovative and community-driven homes.

In News we dissect the boom in life sciences projects - including explaining how architects can tap into this treasure trove of work - and look ahead at Zaha Hadid Architects’ upcoming retrofit of a 1960s modernist tower.

In a special In Memory, friends and colleagues reflect on the life and talent of photographer Ben Blossom, who recently passed away after a short illness. And, in a Technical Profile, Hattie Hartman talks with Glasgow-based John Gilbert Architects about the importance of building performance evaluation in tackling the climate crisis.

In our Culture pages, Betty Owoo reviews Housing Atlas: Europe 20th Century, wondering what happened to the contribution of women in an otherwise worthy compendium. Plus, in Opinion, David Grandorge ponders the rising demand for social housing, and The Secret Architect heads across the Atlantic for a thoroughly ‘80s themed PCSA meeting.

Finally, in Sketch Club, we meet Fraser Morrison of Farshid Moussavi Architecture, while Hellman asks which messes Rishi Sunak will be able to clean up in time for this year's general election.

£16.00


AJ 24.04.25: Small Projects

AJ 24.04.25: Small Projects

To celebrate the 30th year of AJ Small Projects, we have shortlisted 30 schemes which are showcased in this special issue. Their range and creativity encapsulate what the AJ Small Projects award has always been about: giving well-deserved recognition to projects realised on more modest budgets.

In the issue you’ll discover a home that works with a restricted site and a mature plane tree; a deep retrofit of a cold, leaky 1970s house using natural, local and recycled materials; a pilot project for improvements across an entire block of 153 flats; and a contemporary interpretation of a traditional cottage in the Scottish Highlands.

In addition to the Small Projects shortlist, we also publish a building study on Pollard Thomas Edwards’ landmark development for Haringey Council that mixes homes, healthcare and social purpose, part of the first large-scale social housing programme of its kind in a generation.

Within News, you can read a feature on Part W’s campaign to shine a light on the urban barriers hampering women, and check out the UK’s pavilion at the Osaka World Expo.

In a packed Culture section The Ghost of Ian Nairn, via Ian Martin and Jason Hazeley, expresses his Outrage at today’s London: ‘Look at the Olympic Park: 560 acres of showing off, where there used to be paint shops and railway sidings ... Now what have you got? Basketball, Waitrose and ABBA.’ There is also a review of Dinah Bornat’s new book on child-friendly design, and a write-up of the RIBA’s recent youth event, Festival of the Future.

Rounding out the issue are our editor’s pick of competitions; a column by Kunle Barker on nature; RIBA president Muyiwa Oki on apprenticeships; plus more from David Grandorge, Sketchbook and Hellman.

£16.00



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AJ 24.10.24: Climate resilience

AJ 24.10.24: Climate resilience

Many of the excellent schemes showcased in this month’s AJ put biodiversity and climate resilience at their core.

The reimagining of the Gascoigne Estate is at the heart of Barking and Dagenham Council’s ambition to regenerate Barking as one of London’s greenest, most affordable and sustainable neighbourhoods. White Arkitekter has developed a landscape-led scheme and the practice benefits from having an in-house landscape team.

When it comes to working with water, rather than fighting it, Rotterdam offers a cornucopia of inspiration with its Seven City Projects and a number of other climate-resilient schemes such as the Keilehaven Tidal Park, designed by De Urbanisten.

Also featured in the issue are two retrofit projects: the Edinburgh Futures Institute by Bennetts Associates and Pricegore’s Nottingham arts centre.

In News, we report on how the team behind London’s Earls Court regeneration is embedding climate change shock absorbers into its huge plans. There is also a feature on why Southwark Council’s housebuilding drive has stalled, as well as coverage of the 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize.

Our lead feature in Culture is about the nature-based public art installations at Oxford’s Begbroke Innovation District, while in Opinion, Rory Olcayto asks why there are no architects on the New Towns Taskforce, and the Secret Architect wonders whether the stupidest ideas are the best.

Also included in the issue are sketches by Dimitris Argyros, a column by David Grandorge and our competitions roundup.

£16.00





AJ 25.09.25 Student Prize

AJ 25.09.25 Student Prize

This crop of architecture students will enter one of the toughest early-career jobs markets in the past 15 years: a growing gulf between the supply of students graduating from architecture courses and demand from practices for architectural assistants.

And yet – we have been wowed, once again, by the sheer range on display in the AJ Student Prize, representing every ARB and RIBA-accredited course in the country. This talented cohort addresses issues ranging from intergenerational homes to silviculture and much in-between.

In our crammed special issue you can read a feature in which seven practice directors – including Sadie Morgan and Studio MUTT’s co-founders – offer their advice on how graduating students can prepare for their early steps in practice.

Our investigation into how the ‘broken’ higher education system is hitting architecture departments explores funding cuts and staff industrial action. While apprenticeships offer a welcome route into the profession, funding cuts threaten this approach.

We present the results of our second AI survey, which paints a picture of how architects are getting to grips with AI, showing that text tools are more popular than image generation. There are also tributes to Nicholas Grimshaw, who has passed away aged 85, plus bookies’ odds on who will scoop this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize. And if you didn’t make it to AJ Retrofit Live this month, then read our write-up to discover the top discussion points.

This month’s opinion pieces are from Chris Bryant on behaviour change and Robert Bevan, who argues that ‘Israel’s attacks on Palestinian culture and architecture also signal genocide’.

And if that wasn’t enough, there is our competitions round-up (which includes an extension to the National Gallery), David Grandorge’s photo selection, sketches by Natalia Kulesza and Hellman’s take on the Stirling shortlist.

£10.00




AJ 26.09.24: Student Prize

AJ 26.09.24: Student Prize

In our annual Student Prize issue you’ll see the future of the profession on display, and there is much inspiring and creative work to discover by students completing undergraduate and postgraduate architecture courses in the UK.

Where architectural education can fall down is in the technical and the practical. We take a look at how mentoring schemes are helping engage students in built environment issues at an earlier stage, as a grounding for a possible career in the industry.

We also interview some leading architectural tutors to discuss the how education has changed since the late-20th century, including the impact of tuition fees and the aftershocks of the Bartlett ‘bullying’ scandal.

Earlier this month the Grenfell Inquiry published its final conclusions. The AJ news team take a look at what the findings could mean for architects, and Russell Curtis writes a column about what the inquiry missed: the inadequacies of Design & Build.

Elsewhere in the issue you can read the key takeaways from AJ Retrofit Live; discover which buildings have been shortlisted for the AJ Architecture Awards 2024; and find out what our critic thought of a new, illustration-led book on school design.

Columns this month are written by the Secret Architect (‘AI, take the wheel’) and Scott McAulay, who focuses on how sustainability is being taught within architectural education.

Our competition pick for September is a £100 million Shakespeare campus in Stratford-upon-Avon, while reader favourites David Grandorge, Hellman and Sketchbook round out this bumper issue.

£10.00