Celebrating the best conceptual and eco-friendly construction ideas, the Kevin McCloud Green Heroes lead the way with innovative, useful, revolutionary gadgets and products. Personally selecting his top green heroes, Kevin has revealed his shortlist for 2022 with the winners displaying their products at Grand Designs Live at NEC Birmingham from the 5th to the 9th October 2022. 

Kevin’s new Green Heroes comprise innovations that conserve wildlife such as insects and bees, use recycled materials, and help to make eco-choices more affordable, and will be displayed throughout the 5-day show in a dedicated showcase. All entries on the shortlist are taking strides forward in developing products for the future that will have an impact on our lives, as well as the planet. 

Vestre Habitat Leaf 

‘Leaf’ is an insect hotel, designed for urban neighbourhoods. Its minimalist design has a sculpture-like character to sit within planters, flowerbeds or borders. ‘Leaf’ is part of the Vestre Habitats series, with products designed to protect and increase biodiversity in cities. 

Alvearium 

Handcrafted bee houses provide shelter for solitary bees. The design pairs a delicate aesthetic with a strong environmental function, with log discs creating nests for individual bees, protecting them from weather and prey. 

PepperSq – Bell pendant lamp 

A new collection of lights handcrafted from recycled cardboard. These elegant lamps provide warm, intimate, and functional lighting for any occasion or space. 

Lakeland paints 

Air Purifying Paint is a protective finish that dries to a hard, washable, durable film. Ideal for interior or exterior walls, furniture, and trim, including use in kitchens and bathrooms. This paint absorbs and neutralises chemicals, pollutants and VOCs for improved indoor air quality. 

Kelp Collection

Combining recycled fishing nets with wood fibre to create 3D printed chair designs. The products can stay within the same material ecosystem once they reach the end of their life-cycle. They can be ground down to create new bio-materials to be reused again and again, creating entirely new objects within a closed design loop. 

Snug Chair 

Designer Olivia Ricketts uses felt to express the beauty of aging within the chair design, this product encourages us to keep furniture longer. 

Teule 

Providing a modular roof tile system to make green roofs more accessible, affordable, and widely used. Made from coconut fibre, its installation is similar to a conventional tile.

Pureair 

A sustainable zero waste air purification system, harnessing the natural power of plants and activated substrates, maximising home working productivity. The designer is a recent Graduate at New Designers. 

Floc 

A recycled wool light, using hyper-sustainable recycled wool. Adding value to the fibres and promote the forgotten industry. 

Aura 

A light made of live mycelium, a sustainable and biodegradable material create from fungi. 

The showcase will also include a selection of Kevin’s favourite Green Heroes shown at Grand Designs Live at London Excel in May 2022: 

Bubble Shower by Kelda Showers – highly efficient showers using 50% less water, leading to energy and water savings. 

Heated Desk by OKOFORM – cost saving, energy saving solution to heat the desk user.

Acoustic Pulp by Baux – 100% bio-based material combining sound absorption, safety and durability with sustainability and modern aesthetics. 

For further information on Kevin’s Green Heroes visit https://www.granddesignslive.com/whats on/kevins-green-heroes 

Grand Designs Live is a must-visit for those looking to find information on and learn about the world of interiors, home design, self and custom build. Hosted by TV presenter and design guru Kevin McCloud and featuring a compelling line-up of industry experts, TV personalities and design experts, including James Strawbridge, Kunle Barker, Max McMurdo, and Jess Grizzle on the Grand Designs Magazine Theatre and the brand-new interiors stage.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Abode, award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen taps, sinks, bathroom taps & showering solutions is excited to announce its Agilis Single Lever Mixer Tap has made the Product Innovation Shortlist at the esteemed Designer Awards 2022.

Part of the Contemporary Kitchen Taps Collection by Abode, the Agilis Single Lever tap is specially designed to transcend generations owing to its highly inclusive contemporary design, and alternative functionality options, which cater to a multi-generational home and lifestyle. Featuring a sweeping L shape body with knurled aerator collar, the Agilis handle is located on the front of the tap body to reduce reach and provide agile movement via a single lever. With just a flick of a wrist, users will be able to operate the water flow: ideal if you are prepping food, have dirty hands or suffer from dexterity problems.

The winners will be announced on 25th November 2022, at Old Billingsgate London as this year’s Designer Awards, and mark 20 years of showcasing the very best of residential and commercial kitchens, bathrooms, and architectural design projects from around the world.

Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at Abode adds, “Every member of the Abode family can see that our drive for excellence and desire to serve the KBB industry to the highest possible standards, is being recognised by the best of the best in architecture and interior design. It is fantastic to see that our unique and creative approach grounded in extensive market research, field trials and rigorous product testing is valued by end users and the design community alike.”

Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode says, “Our commitment to innovation and practicality is at the heart of our design philosophy, delivering the ultimate in safe, user-friendly solutions which are attuned to the needs of today’s multigeneration homes. Inclusivity is therefore inspiring next-level product development in the kitchen, with focus on how a tap can deliver water more efficiently without compromising on style or user safety. In fact, there is now high demand for person-centered home experiences so products like our Agilis mixer tap continue to futureproof the wash zone and deliver all-inclusive design and maneuverability.”

Designed for ultimate ease of use, the Agilis reduces reach making it simpler to access the tap handle and key features include its unique, inclusive design, 120° tap rotation, minimum 0.75 bar pressure, single flow characteristics and 5-year warranty. Simply watch the Agilis informational video on the Abode YouTube Channel to find out more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7II8Lo6Bdk

Leanne adds, “We wish every brand, business and industry professional who is shortlisted at the Designer Awards the very best of luck and look forward to a wonderful evening!”

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Architects and plumbing engineers have a variety of materials to choose from when selecting pipes for a project. Each has its advantages, disadvantages, and best-use cases.

Learning more about these pipe types can help you have productive conversations with your architect and ensure you’re delighted with the end result. 

Various Pipe Options

Below we cover 5 main types of pipe materials along with a few honorable mentions.

Copper

Best able to resist corrosion of all the piping materials, copper pipes have a long history of use and remain one of the most common types found in residential and commercial structures alike.

It’s a versatile option, coming in two main forms: rigid and flexible. It also comes in a range of sizes, listed by diameter in millimeters from outside edge to outside edge. While 15 mm and 22 mm are the most popular, you’ll find 18 mm and variations as high as 108 mm.

There are also varying thicknesses of copper piping:

• Type M is the thinnest and is best for vent, waste, and drain piping. You can use it for water piping too, and it performs nicely in homes for both cold and hot supply lines.
• Type L is the medium-thick option, best to transport drinking water. Like Type M, it also provides a suitable indoor cold and hot supply line.
• Type K is the thickest of copper piping, particularly useful for harsh environments, such as underground service lines.

PVC

The most economical of all piping materials is plastic, and of the various types of plastic utilized in piping, the most common is polyvinyl chloride or PVC.

PVC piping offers resistance to a variety of halogens and acids, low noise-emission, and hardly any temperature conduction. It’s also affordable and easy to install. However, PVC can’t resist solvents, is generally less sturdy and durable, and, therefore, has a shorter lifespan than many of the alternatives. This makes it less useful for outdoor conditions or underground environments, at least without appropriate additional support.

Additionally, while you can use PVC to transport hot water, selecting the right PVC piping for this use can be challenging, especially when accounting for longevity, as PVC is prone to shrinking and expanding in reaction to different temperatures.

PVC is also limited in its sizing options and can be prone to warping and even melting when used to carry hot water.

PEX

Cross-link polyethylene, or PEX, piping is a common plastic alternative for PVC frequently used for incoming water lines because it’s better at insulating heat. PEX is a bit easier to install than copper piping because it’s lighter and more flexible.

The main drawback to PEX piping is that PEX breaks down when exposed to the sun for long periods of time, which makes it inadvisable for outdoor use. 

CPVC

Post chlorinated polyvinyl chloride is more flexible than PVC and can better tolerate high-temperature corrosive water. It also has a lining that increases its resistance to bacterial growth, and it is the easiest type of piping to repair.

CPVC pipes are not cheap, however; they are the most expensive of all plastic piping options. Like PEX, CPVC pipes are also a poor choice for outdoor use as they too can break down under long-term exposure to sunlight.

Galvanized Steel

These were once the most common piping material for residential uses. They are threaded at each end to allow them to be connected with other pipes via joints. They have a layer of zinc coating intended to resist rusting, though it’s not altogether effective at this goal.

While certainly durable, galvanized pipes have fallen out of favor in recent years due in large part to issues with safe potable water transport. Other disadvantages of steel pipes are their outsized weight, short lifespan, tendency to rust in spite of their zinc coating, vulnerability to corrosion, potential for lead contamination, and proneness to clogs.

Other Piping Materials

Other, less-commonly-used types of pipes include:

• Stainless steel
• Cast iron
• Polybutylene and High-density Polybutylene
• Black iron (Note: No longer used for conveying water except, perhaps, in fire sprinkler systems, black iron piping is now used mainly to convey propane or natural gas.)

The Copper Piping Market

Driving the prevailing demand for copper piping and tubing today is the increased prioritization of their particular advantages of durability, cost-efficiency, reliability, and recyclability over other piping materials.

A major part of the reason for these shifts in prioritization is the persisting modern boom in urbanization. As a result of this, communities must develop more advanced and expanded infrastructure, including bigger and more economical sewage lines. This can affect copper’s price.

The Global Copper Pipes and Tubes Market from Expert Market Research (EMR) describes the increase in global demand for copper piping as particularly strong in the HVAC sector. This is due to copper’s ease of handling, recyclability, and its resistance to temperature changes.

Goldman Sachs predicts soaring copper prices

Planning on building your home a few years from now? It’s worth paying attention to a recent warming from Goldman Sachs and other analyst firms indicating that copper inventories are “nearing depletion.” This combined with a shrinking CAPEX in mining is expected to drive prices significantly higher.

Realize also that getting new copper mines approved can take 8 years or longer due to labyrinthine regulations. So shortages will be difficult to resolve.

Pros and Cons of Copper Piping

Like any piping material, copper has its benefits and drawbacks.

Pros of Copper Piping

Copper pipes are one of the traditional types of pipes used throughout time for good reasons:

• Tolerability: Copper can withstand extreme temperatures in both directions, hot and cold.
• Sturdiness: Copper is durable and unlikely to leak or corrode.
• Reliability: Copper offers greater longevity than other alternatives, typically lasting 50 years or more.
• Reuse: When copper pipes ultimately wear and require replacing, you can recycle the copper for future use.
• Safety: Copper pipes are inhospitable to bacterial growth and won’t pollute the water passing through them.

Cons of Copper Piping

There are reasons why copper isn’t the only piping material used, however:

• Expense: As a global commodity, copper’s value continues to rise, particularly in recent years. In 2021, typical copper piping was at least $285 for 100 feet.
• Theft: Because of its higher cost, copper piping is highly vulnerable to theft on build sites. Anti-theft measures like alarms, CCTV, security guards, and more frequent inspections can add to the overall cost of copper piping and make it unattractive to customers.
• Environmental Impact: While copper may last longer than other piping materials and even be recyclable, the process of mining copper can be brutal on the environment. Therefore, some conscientious home and business owners reject the option out-of-hand, despite all its practical advantages.

When Copper Should Be Used

As noted earlier, copper pipes are the best choice anytime corrosion is a major concern. In addition to plumbing uses, other common and effective applications of copper piping include:

• HVAC
• Electrical
• Industrial Heat Exchange.

Additionally, as the demand and proliferation of electric and hybrid vehicles increase, the demand for copper piping will invariably increase in kind, as these types of vehicles utilize copper piping far more than standard combustion-engine vehicles. It’s expected that demand for EVs will be an additional factor driving copper prices up.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

As part of an exciting regeneration project in Cardiff, Lowfield Timber Frames specified SMARTPLY PROPASSIV panels alongside a supply of their timber kits for a development of 12 two-bedroom houses in Heath, Cardiff.

The homes are built to strict Passivhaus standards, offering improved health and wellbeing conditions for occupants whilst requiring very low levels of energy for space heating or cooling. Additionally, using timber frame for the construction lowers the carbon footprint of the development. 

The major benefit of a Passivhaus build is the reduced energy consumption during the operating life of the structure. This will ultimately lead to reduced energy costs, heating bills, and even lower carbon emissions for the planet.

The average air test result for the 12 homes came in at below 0.5 ACH. A Larsen truss panel (a lightweight wall extension which creates extra wall space to a house insulation) was also used in the project. It was 330mm deep with the finished wall make-up being closer to 500mm.

Darren Jarman, Managing Director of Lowfield Timber Frames, commented: “The Highfields scheme in Cardiff was just one of several passivhaus schemes we have completed over the past 2 years. We now have an external wall build-up that not only meets the passivhaus standards, but also has extremely low embodied carbon credentials.

“The external wall has been fire tested and achieves the airtightness required, all in all, reducing the heating requirements and the running costs of the property.”

SMARTPLY PROPASSIV is an airtight OSB/3 panel with integrated vapour control and air barrier properties for use as structural sheathing in timber frame structures. The airtightness is engineered into the OSB panel substrate, whilst the factory applied specialist surface finish technology provides increased and constant vapour resistance on the warm side of construction. The panels are suitable for both new build and renovations. 

The distinctive green layer of SMARTPLY PROPASSIV is a UV cured coating providing increased and constant vapour diffusion factor. In addition, it provides a smooth and durable surface for taping the connections. 

The panels made to OSB/3 grade, are moisture resistant and can be used in humid conditions (service class 2). The hygroscopic nature of the OSB panel acts as a humidity buffer to help prevent interstitial condensation within the timber frame structure in limited cases of reverse diffusion.

Jarman concluded: “Whilst there are other products available which will achieve the airtightness, we feel SMARTPLY PROPASSIV is the most robust solution available and eliminates the possibility of accidental damage, resulting in a failed test.”

The ambitious project is part of the ‘Cardiff Living’ programme, a 10-year partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential, which will deliver 1,500 new homes at sites across the city.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Leading UK interior design specialists, Brandt Design, add the intensity of colour to one of its Heritage kitchens for a period property in the seaside town of Broadstairs, East Kent. Designed to exude confidence and high character, this deliciously deep purple kitchen truly reflects the homeowner’s lifestyle and love for being creative.

“We pride ourselves on being original by design and we were instantly inspired by this artistic brief for a hardworking kitchen dining space that has dual access and entry to the garden. In fact, the project in Broadstairs presented us with a unique challenge, as we needed to work within the parameters of the period property that has existing architectural features, an inflexible blueprint and limited natural light,” said Julia Steadman, Commercial Director.

Brandt Design therefore chose a parallel layout to allow the kitchen furniture to work in tandem with a series of freestanding appliances. Built-in models would evoke a more contemporary look not in keeping with the classic ebb and flow of the kitchen space, and so a 50s retro-style Smeg fridge, Bertazzoni range cooker and AGA cast-iron cooker in stylish British Racing Green are chosen for authenticity.

To accentuate the homeowners love of cooking, bespoke Heritage Furniture by Brandt Design was the natural choice thanks to its in-frame cabinetry, ability to be hand painted and traditional-style toe-kicks that feature a recessed plinth at the base of the cabinets to look like independent pieces of furniture. Saturated in colour, this rich and luxurious deep purple is Pelt by Farrow & Ball, a bold finish that in daylight reveals more blue undertones and in darker lit areas, it can look almost black.

The need for ample storage is critical in any kitchen and in this case, Brandt Design ensured precise space planning of the furniture in terms of layout, proportions, and sight lines. Julia adds, “Discovering what our clients love to cook and how regularly they entertain at home is a key part of our design process, as we often take this time to suggest added extras like a dedicated coffee station, walk-in pantry or breakfast cupboard to help streamline daily life. Needing to be sensitive to existing architectural features, we recommended using a portion of redundant space behind the kitchen wall and turn it into a practical l-shaped food store complete with three custom shelves and enough space for a toaster.”

The homeowner balances her busy workload and love of cooking with fresh ingredients from this very kitchen, and her fondness for traditional French cuisine is echoed throughout the room thanks to her eclectic mix of colours, country-style décor and choice of antique hardware. There is also an al fresco patio area to support the formal dining space in the main kitchen, so there is plenty of seating space for friends and family, even a working lunch if she wants to collaborate with fellow artists on future community projects she might have.

A large still life balances the overmantel and splashback above the AGA, to bring symmetry to the wash zone on the opposite side of the room, featuring a generous Provincial ceramic sink, Victorian-style Ludlow Bridge taps in Antique Bronze and Swich water filter: all by Abode. A fully-integrated Siemens dishwasher is located to the left of the sink, which lends modern convenience without detracting from the classic furniture and period-style accessories.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Premium British bathroom manufacturer Elisa has announced the introduction of a completely customisable, modular shower collection based around Aquahub – a unique, concealed valve technology innovated in-house at Elisa. This stunning new mixer range offers a fully personalised choice of facias, shower outlets, heads and accessories, all compatible with the central Aquahub valve. Each component is available in a brushed brass, polished chrome or matt black finish.

Machined from high quality, solid brass for extensive durability and reliability, the Aquahub valve is guaranteed for 15 years, and sits at the heart of the Elisa shower system. When updating their bathroom in the future, homeowners can select from a multitude of facias, accessories and colourways to suit their interiors, without the need to replace the Aquahub platform itself.

Built for effortless installation, Aquahub comes with both front and rear mounting options, as well as a choice of single, dual or triple outlets for maximum versatility. Featuring safe thermostatic technology, Aquahub is also fitted with integrated isolation valves for added peace of mind and control during installation.

Emilie
Designed to blend beautifully within any modern bathroom setting, the Emilie shower facia is available with dual or triple touch button controls. With three sleek and contemporary colourways, homeowners can select from chic polished chrome, graceful brushed brass or cool matt black. Designed with thermostatic control for optimum safety, these elegant wall plates offer full flow control, and boast the luxury of running several outlets at once.

Rosa
Discreet and minimalist in design, Rosa shower facias from Elisa add a contemporary accent to any bathroom, with a selection of colour options to match individual décor. Choose from polished chrome, brushed brass or matt black, all featuring a luxury anti-fingerprint surface. With thermostatic control and multiple outlet options, these stylish wall plates come with full flow control for ultimate comfort.

Aquahub: engineered for the future
The versatile Aquahub system has been created to make life simpler for homeowners and their installers. Meticulously engineered for resilience, Aquahub is machined from solid brass for years of reliable operation. With eight mounting points (four front and four rear), this ingenious hub delivers outstanding accessibility and flexibility, and is equipped with reversible inlets for hot and cold water. Allowing an array of installation options, Aquahub features a smaller minimum depth of 60mm, to allow it to fit into narrow cavity walls. With standard 22mm connections, and no cutting of bolts required, the fitting process is straightforward. Unique to this hub are the internal isolation valves, while the thermostatic control provides further safety and reassurance. Its easy-to-access design ensures quick and simple servicing and maintenance.

Aquahub, Emilie and Rosa products come with a 15 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Antonella taps collection
With cutting-edge styling, ultra-smooth movement and precise water flow control, these contemporary taps will blend in perfectly with all interiors to create the ultimate bathroom experience. Select from a full collection of premium single lever pillar and wall mixer taps, and a stunning free-standing bath filler with shower attachment, for a luxury look that visitors will be sure to admire. Manufactured from high quality brass, and featuring easy-to-clean surfaces, Antonella taps come in a range of colour options to complement the Emilie and Rosa shower collections including chrome, brushed brass and a matt black finish, with a matching pop-up waste. These premium taps are backed by a five year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Mike Simpson, chief marketing officer at Elisa, commented: “From the very beginning, our philosophy for Elisa was to create beautiful products that are designed and constructed to last. This concept of material sustainability and durability is at the root of our product management and engineering processes. Thanks to their customisable, modular format, the Elisa Emilie and Rosa collections can be as individual as the homeowners themselves, with the reassurance that the technology will be reliable and sustainable for years to come.”

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Rotpunkt, award winning designer and leading manufacturer of climate friendly German Kitchen furniture introduce a new and timeless version of the classic Shaker-style door with the launch of Pavilo: a modern interpretation of the popular Shaker furniture design movement.

Designed with a modern cassette front that is rounded on the inside and out, Pavilo is available in all matt lacquer finishes including the new Just Grey colour option and bestselling Black, Carbon, Lava, Umbra and Daylight Grey. Beautiful and practical, this subtle door is designed to not only create a soft and harmonious look, but also reduce the number of surfaces to help minimise the accumulation of unwanted dirt, dust, grease and debris synonymous with kitchen living.

Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt says, “Shaker-style interiors are ultra-versatile, as they effortlessly ride the line between traditional and contemporary ideas. Designed to evolve the traditional look of a timber in frame kitchen and recreate 18th century design elements so they can sit in the modern home, Pavilo gives a new dimension to the constantly evolving industrial-style kitchen, which is in keeping with today’s modern home and lifestyle.”

When combined with natural timber elements like the new Memory RI vertical door in New Forest Oak, Pavilo brings a fresh new energy to the hybrid kitchen space, which seemingly now is both classic and contemporary. Added to that, “Big ticket items like the kitchen are helping UK homeowners to reduce their environmental impact and live greener lifestyles. Pavilo answers the call for climate-friendly kitchen design, constructed from our Greenline BioBoard Gen2, which is a sustainable chipboard that consists of up to 90% recycled wood” adds Matt.

The Pavilo kitchen concept features the following NEW innovations by Rotpunkt:

Pavilo: Blending classic style with contemporary comfort, this new Shaker-style door is designed with a modern cassette front with rounded edges inside and out. Available in all 52 matt lacquer colours, Pavilo is the perfect foundation to get creative with the hardware too, just like the new 499 Black T-bar style knob handle shown.

Just Grey: This new colour is 1 of 14 shades of grey by Rotpunkt, and it works harmoniously with timber finishes like the pictured wood panelling, which is set within the island unit. Behind, the wet area is framed by two designed-in tall units with a mixture of open and closed storage and built-in appliances to create the ultimate compact cook zone.

Memory RI: Bringing the tactile warmth of timber into the kitchen, this new door is designed with a contemporary reeded structure with high-definition vertical grooves. Available in three oak finishes, matt black and a ready to paint option, the textured effect of Memory helps emphasise the generous overhead wall units to make the back wall feel spacious, despite its small footprint.

Smart-ready LED lighting: A modern and minimalist pendant light over the island brings illumination to this calming working space as it can be hung up to 1450mm from the ceiling. Available in 1200mm and 1500mm lengths to suit your style, now home chefs can enjoy the latest in smart-enabled kitchen lighting and control it using a digital assistant on a tablet or smartphone for the ultimate in hands-free living.

Climate friendly: All Rotpunkt furniture is designed and created under the company’s new ‘Together to zero’ climate strategy to reduce carbon emissions at every stage of manufacture. The Pavilo door is crafted from Greenline BioBoard Gen2, the sustainable, green and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chipboards, which consists of up to 90% recycled wood without sacrificing on quality. It is further enriched by the new Memory RI door, an FSC® Certified vertical groove door that carries the mark of responsible forestry.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Abode, award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen taps, sinks, bathroom taps & showering solutions continues to build on its iconic Hex Collection with the launch of Hex Bridge Pull Out, available to UK customers from 1^st June 2022.

Designed to challenge traditional design concepts and available in two original Hex colourways – Brushed Nickel and Antique Brass – the new Hex Bridge Pull Out is the perfect companion for kitchen schemes with larger sinks, and offers the very best elements of the Hex range like the original knurled spout collar through to the iconic hexagonal handles.

Part of the premium range Distinctly by Abode, and made of quality solid brass, the new Hex Bridge Pull Out benefits from the company’s retractable pull-out technology to enhance its functionality while bringing industrial-style to a traditional bridge mixer.

Each model in the Hex Collection is defined by a slender profile, quad style spout and Hex handles designed with mechanically-inspired hot and cold lettering. Available with a 5 years warranty as standard, Hex Bridge is further enhanced by ceramic disc valve technology, which guarantees a more durable, ultra-smooth water flow for the end user.

Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode adds: “Contemporary by design, the industrial nature of our award-winning Hex range presents a precision-engineered tap collection with mid-century modern solid brass construction, distinct colourways, and deliberate use of texture. Designed to coordinate seamlessly with any style of kitchen featuring industrial or traditional elements, Hex will help to define the wash zone and bring new levels of form and function to the UK kitchen and utility room.”

The Hex Range now offers a total of five exclusive designs – Single Lever, Single Lever Pull Out, Monobloc, Professional and the newly launched Bridge style – each model in the collection allows you to interpret the industrial look the way you want, thanks to the different designs and full range of Hex colours available: Brushed Nickel and Antique Brass, and two fusion finishes – Brushed Nickel & Matt Black and Antique Brass & Matt Black.

Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at Abode adds: “Ever-expanding, our Hex Bridge Pull Out is the latest design to join our Hex range, which was launched in 2019 and has fast become one of our most hardworking tap designs for the UK kitchen market. In 2021, we welcomed our new matt black and antique brass models to the mix and now, a brand-new bridge style mixer in 2022 to offer a complete collection of monolithic Hex tap designs that will enhance today’s busy home and lifestyle.”

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Located on the former BBC site, Circle Square in Manchester aims to create a vibrant neighbourhood comprising city living apartments, prime office, retail and leisure space. Phase two of the development saw the construction of No’s 5 to 8, four buildings totalling 677 luxury flats with private dining, resident lounge, gym and cinema, as well as commercial space.

Specification requirements

FK Group were appointed to design and install a bespoke façade solution which meant they were responsible for specifying the insulation. There were three main performance factors that needed to be considered.

Firstly, the insulation had to be non-combustible to ensure compliance with building regulations in England and Wales, which ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of certain buildings over 18m tall.

The second consideration was thermal performance. “When you’re designing a bespoke façade solution, accurate thermal modelling is essential because there are so many variables that can affect its energy efficiency,” explained Ben Hufton, Associate Design Director of FK Group. “One of the reasons we work with Knauf Insulation so much is because of their technical support. They always conduct 3D U-value calculations for rainscreen façade projects, so we know the insulation will deliver the performance we need to achieve.”

This enhanced level of accuracy is one of the main benefits of 3D U-value calculations over other calculation methods, because it ensures a building’s real world thermal performance matches its initial design.

To achieve the required U-value of 0.28 W/m²K, the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team recommended 200mm Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab for the external cavity. This has a thermal conductivity of just 0.034W/mK.

Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab is manufactured from Rock Mineral Wool and is BBA certified for use in high rise buildings for the broadest range of build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. It is also non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means it will not contribute to the development or spread of fire should it occur.

The final specification factor was acoustic performance due to the site’s busy city centre location.

FK Group conducted offsite acoustic tests to ensure that the build-up met the requirements of Approved Document E. The Mineral Wool insulation contributes significantly to the acoustic performance of the build-up thanks to its open structure. Sound waves are trapped between the individual strands of Mineral Wool and turned into heat energy. This will help to reduce noise from surrounding roads, ensuring residents can enjoy peaceful homes.

Other performance factors

As it has been developed for external applications, Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab contains a water repellent additive which is combined with a fibre matrix that promotes run-off. This ensures it can resist moisture ingress whilst maintaining its excellent vapour permeability. The physical characteristics of the fibres are unaltered if they get wet. Therefore, the thermal properties of Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab are not affected by exposure to moisture and the product will perform as expected once it has dried out.

The product is easy to install correctly thanks to superior robustness and durability, allowing it to be manoeuvred easily into place. Its natural flexibility means it adapts to minor imperfections in the substrate, while slabs interlock, eliminating air leakage that could reduce thermal and acoustic performance.

Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab is also manufactured with ECOSE^® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable, and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binder, so it is more environmentally-friendly.

Products made with ECOSE^® Technology generate low levels of dust and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and have been awarded Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort (Gold) certification.

Circle Square will give residents access to everything they need from a community district – just as Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk^® RainScreen Slab ticked all the boxes for FK Group.

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

Leading interior design specialists, Brandt Design, shine a light on ‘colour in the kitchen’ as style and application are redefined for a new generation of homeowners.

Albeit extremely personal, colour in the kitchen is now giving way to a variety of new fashion-favourites and this is providing huge scope for contemporary and classic kitchen schemes where colour is helping to create certain types of atmospheres to suit the space and occupant.

To give you the inside track, Julia Steadman, Commercial Director at Brandt Design gives you her advice on the latest must-have kitchen colours, which are defining the UK home in 2022:

PALETTE: High pigment colours are proving most popular right now, with greens and blues being used to modernise the classic kitchen and add depth to more modern schemes. Ultra-matt shades of grey and black are the go-to in sophisticated contemporary kitchens whereas deep shades of plum and indigo blue are elevating raw materials like quartz worktops and brass hardware with a strong base colour.

Try to work with the natural day light too, as this will help to balance cool and warm colours in the room, as well as alter the mood when the space is subject to varying stages of light throughout the day and year. I think we live in a visual age with a much-faster trend cycle than previous generations, which has led to greater interplay between interiors and fashion, and this has definitely led to popular runway colours making a strong impression in the home.

FINISH: The painted kitchen is enjoying a renaissance, as homeowners are enjoying the benefits of rich colour in the latest low VOC paints and textural effect that comes with painted wood grain. Our solid wood Heritage Furniture is a natural partner to leading paint specialists like Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Mylands. You can also introduce colour on your appliances with the addition of a bold range cooker, or how about a striking splashback or worktop that is designed to coordinate with or contrast against the furniture. For the modernist, ultra matt contemporary colours are being used to absorb the light and provide a modern look and feel, as well as introduce and play with different patterns, prints and colour-blocking for maximum effect.

METHOD: With so many options out there, how do you pick a colour? Given that colour is an integral part of our lives, I think that we are often drawn to certain colours in our clothes home décor, so having an expert’s eye can help you establish what colours suit your kitchen and the direction it faces. For example, if you have a North facing kitchen, the colour grey can look bluer or more purple and it will have a completely different feel to a sunnier South facing room. Having a site visit will allow your designer to factor these outside influences and take inspiration from the rest of your home to be in keeping with your personal style and taste.

Colour has always been a pivotal part of the design conversation, and as the market is increasingly keen to explore how to create the right look and feel at home, it will always come down to the style, layout and finish of furniture when introducing colour in the kitchen.

LIGHTING: Colour is contributing to a greater understanding of how all the elements of a kitchen need to work together for optimum effect and kitchen lighting is a tried and tested way of highlighting the beauty of today’s colour palette. It can also be seamlessly integrated within the latest display furniture so that you can choose a warm or cool light to suit your mood. With so many options, materials and colours to choose from it has never been easier to create a unique tailormade kitchen which will support your family throughout every stage of life.

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