How to plan accessible entrances, circulation spaces and room layouts, with practical guidance based on Approved Document M. Good accessibility is largely decided by the floor plan, long before detailed design even begins. The position of an entrance, the width of a...
Introduction Timber cladding is one of the most versatile external finishes available for residential buildings. The range of species, profiles, orientations, and finishes means it works across a wide variety of architectural styles, from traditional rural buildings...
How Universal Design helps create homes that remain accessible, adaptable and inclusive throughout life. When people think about accessible design in architecture, they often picture wheelchair ramps, accessible parking spaces or grab rails. While these are important...
How Does Construction Affect the Environment? The construction industry shapes the modern world but it also leaves one of the heaviest footprints on the planet. As the demand for new buildings and infrastructure grows, understanding the environmental cost of...
What is a Passivhaus? A Passivhaus is a building designed to use very little energy for heating and cooling, while maintaining a consistently comfortable, healthy indoor environment. The name comes from the German word for "passive house," which reflects the principle...
Architectural Elevation Checklist: A Student’s Guide Elevations are often the first drawings people can quickly understand. Unlike plans or sections, which cut through a building, they deliver an output close to what will be achieved and seen in reality. They show the...
Architectural Section Checklist: A Student’s Guide When you are learning about architectural drawing, floor plans often get most of the attention, but sections are just as important for understanding how a building truly works. While plans show how a building is...
Introduction In architecture, site analysis is a crucial part of the design process. It is a skill introduced to students in architectural education and is applied well into professional life. So, architecture students and professionals alike need to have a solid...
Detailed site surveys are key to the beginning of any project. There are many digital tools and professionals which can assist in building a very detailed picture of a site and its surrounding context. However, what you decide to choose can depend greatly on the type...
What To Do When Someone Copies Your Work A practical guide for students and architects If you work in architecture long enough, as a student or in practice, you will eventually experience it. You put real time into an idea, a drawing, a piece of writing or a research...
Introduction Playful architecture is a design approach that seeks to enliven our otherwise dull and boring built environments. It employs spatial elements like unexpected shapes, scales or bold colours to create a break in the monotony of our daily lives and...
Roundup of the Year 2025 As 2025 comes to an end, it feels like a good time to pause and look back on the moments that have defined the year. It’s been a busy and rewarding year for the First In Architecture team — filled with new releases, milestones, learning, and...
I have curated a list of some of the tools and resources I would strongly recommend for anyone studying or working in Architecture.