RIBA Journal magazine: | Design in the making

Cowley Manor: an old swimming pool becomes stone-clad hotel space

When De Matos Ryan was asked to create extra family rooms at a Grade II-listed country house hotel, it devised a stone and timber-framed pavilion on the former site of a swimming pool

28 March 2025

Interchange brings the drama to Paris's new suburban orbital metro

Gare de Villejuif-Gustave Roussy, where lines 14 and 15 of the new Grand Paris Express intersect, is a colossal effort of civil engineering by Dominique Perrault Architecture

27 March 2025

Judgement is architects' definitive skill: we should use it responsibly

Judgement and quality can set architects apart from any technological solution – and start to close the gap between profit and public good, argues Muyiwa Oki

27 March 2025

Powers of Ten competition: play with scale to gain pounds

Competition: create an object, installation, building or urban intervention that plays on the idea of scale, to create wonder, drama or even shock

Costed: Envelope and cladding materials

Nicola Sharkey, UK insights and research lead at Gleeds, advises on envelope and cladding product costs

In association with Autodesk

Bridge embodies fully digital approach to infrastructure

The engineering and software development skills behind a new route from Norway's Sotra island to its second city Bergen

Poetry and pragmatism: the Chinese architect behind Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium

The RIBA hosts a retrospective of acclaimed Chinese architect Li Xinggang

Rowan Court: shrewd placemaking on an unloved triangle of land

Satish Jassal Architects' red-brick development of council homes in Haringey makes creative use of a difficult plot

In association with Partel

Bridging the gap: the biggest challenge in retrofit

If left unaddressed, thermal bridging creates condensation, increases energy demand and compromises insulation

Churches: ancient walls that hold enduring values

Religious architecture shows mass communications are not only a modern-day purview

Getting the UK building will need bold thinking

Ambitious action must follow the many announcements on planning reform, if we are to see change during this parliament.

In association with Tata Steel

Ultra durable pre-finished steel for tough projects

Even in the most challenging environments this corrosion-resistant solution retains its colour and gloss

In association with Cupa Pizarras

Slate is tops for Wetherby barn conversions

Renovated 160-year-old West Yorkshire farm buildings feature the roofing material with the lowest carbon footprint

New College, Oxford: the campus that's ahead of the curve

At Gradel Quadrangles, David Kohn Architects has created a rich, beguiling university site that rethinks the quad

What is the direction of travel for AI within architecture in 2025 and beyond?

Learn more about how AI could enhance design speed, precision and creativity through smarter digital tools.

Walworth Town Hall: bold new interiors behind roof risen from the ashes

At fire-damaged, Grade II-listed Walworth Town Hall, Feix&Merlin has worked within original roof dimensions to create striking spaces from modern materials

In association with Crittall

Windows of opportunity

Steel glazing's longevity, recyclability, energy efficiency and adaptability give it a crucial role in UK construction's future

Hayhurst & Co’s Norfolk bungalow revamp has star quality

Architect Nick Hayhurst’s North Sea East Wood transforms a 1980s Norfolk bungalow

In association with Autodesk

Historic preservation shapes new architectural marvel

From ancient ceramics factory to innovative mixed-used landmark

Profile: Nathan Coley, the artist thriving on collaboration and friction

Invited to create public art atop London’s sewer system upgrade, Nathan Coley butted against a rules-based world – but differences have borne fruit

Roundtable: Boost your business resilience

As profits fall, a roundtable looked at how architects can best bounce back and adapt to new situations