Architects' Journal
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The UK’s leading professional architecture magazine | Always #RetroFirst | IBP Editorial Brand of the Year 2020, 2021 and 2023
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Your generosity will help: AJ launches homelessness fundraiser
Your generosity will help: AJ launches homelessness fundraiser
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
Housing – or the lack of it – is one of the defining national issues of our time. That’s why we’re focusing on homelessness in our December issue, and have launched a Christmas fundraising appeal in aid of Shelter 🎁
Donate today: bit.ly/AJArchitectureCommun...
Donate today: bit.ly/AJArchitectureCommun...
Only 8 per cent of UK homes are self-build, compared to almost half in some European countries. The AJ's @ginospoc.bsky.social heads to Gloucestershire to meet the architects delivering an alternative to housebuilders’ off-the-shelf products.
Self-build on steroids: meet the architects kickstarting a small sites revolution
Self-build on steroids: meet the architects kickstarting a small sites revolution
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Only 8 per cent of UK homes are self-build, compared to almost half in some European countries. The AJ's @ginospoc.bsky.social heads to Gloucestershire to meet the architects delivering an alternative to housebuilders’ off-the-shelf products.
Booming UK-based sports specialist Populous has posted another set of remarkable trading figures.
Populous’s EMEA profit almost doubles as turnover rockets to £164m
Populous’s EMEA profit almost doubles as turnover rockets to £164m
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Booming UK-based sports specialist Populous has posted another set of remarkable trading figures.
Looking back at three decades of AJ Small Projects
Looking back at three decades of AJ Small Projects
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Looking back at three decades of AJ Small Projects
The Holocaust Memorial Bill has secured Royal Assent, paving the way for a final decision on Adjaye Associates’ and Ron Arad’s Holocaust memorial.
Adjaye and Arad’s Holocaust memorial moves forward with Royal Assent
Adjaye and Arad’s Holocaust memorial moves forward with Royal Assent
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The Holocaust Memorial Bill has secured Royal Assent, paving the way for a final decision on Adjaye Associates’ and Ron Arad’s Holocaust memorial.
The Building Safety Regulator has officially moved out from under the umbrella of the Health and Safety Executive to become a standalone body.
Building Safety Regulator exits HSE in ‘operational reset’ but delays likely to persist
Building Safety Regulator exits HSE in ‘operational reset’ but delays likely to persist
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 2:07 PM
The Building Safety Regulator has officially moved out from under the umbrella of the Health and Safety Executive to become a standalone body.
A raft of UK architects have thrown their hats into the ring following an open call to rethink the Eero Saarinen-designed Washington Dulles International Airport, with Zaha Hadid Architects promising to ‘Make Airports Great Again’.
ZHA proposes ‘Donald J Trump Terminal’ as Brits vie for Dulles Airport job
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 12:34 PM
A raft of UK architects have thrown their hats into the ring following an open call to rethink the Eero Saarinen-designed Washington Dulles International Airport, with Zaha Hadid Architects promising to ‘Make Airports Great Again’.
EXCLUSIVE | Friedrich Ludewig of ACME and John McAslan of John McAslan + Partners – who have each put forward designs to overhaul Liverpool Street station – clashed at a public meeting last week.
Architects clash over Liverpool Street station plans
Architects clash over Liverpool Street station plans
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 12:27 PM
EXCLUSIVE | Friedrich Ludewig of ACME and John McAslan of John McAslan + Partners – who have each put forward designs to overhaul Liverpool Street station – clashed at a public meeting last week.
Barefoot has partnered with housing assistance group Wellspring Settlement and young local people to retrofit an empty pub to provide youth services in Bristol’s Barton Hill.
Barefoot Architects transforms former pub into community youth hub
Barefoot Architects transforms former pub into community youth hub
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Barefoot has partnered with housing assistance group Wellspring Settlement and young local people to retrofit an empty pub to provide youth services in Bristol’s Barton Hill.
BDG Architecture + Design has completed the retrofit of the former Financial Times HQ into a new campus for its parent company WPP.
BDG transforms former FT HQ into campus for marketing giant WPP
BDG transforms former FT HQ into campus for marketing giant WPP
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 AM
BDG Architecture + Design has completed the retrofit of the former Financial Times HQ into a new campus for its parent company WPP.
Working details: Timber
Working details: timber
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Working details: Timber
Haworth Tompkins completes new extension for Old Vic
Haworth Tompkins completes new extension for Old Vic
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Haworth Tompkins completes new extension for Old Vic
Charles Holland designs Dover housing scheme for group fighting drive-through
Charles Holland designs Dover housing scheme for group fighting drive-through
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Charles Holland designs Dover housing scheme for group fighting drive-through
Gensler’s turnover edges up but Middle East income down by a fifth
Gensler’s turnover edges up but Middle East income down by a fifth
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Gensler’s turnover edges up but Middle East income down by a fifth
AHMM submits plans for latest Old Street tower
AHMM submits plans for latest Old Street tower
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:41 PM
AHMM submits plans for latest Old Street tower
Manchester City Council has refused planning permission for a SimpsonHaugh-designed 50 and 25-storey tower scheme
SimpsonHaugh’s 50-storey Manchester tower rejected
SimpsonHaugh’s 50-storey Manchester tower rejected
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Manchester City Council has refused planning permission for a SimpsonHaugh-designed 50 and 25-storey tower scheme
HAL Architects has secured approval for an 18-storey residential tower in Walthamstow town centre almost four years after getting the go-ahead for a near-identical scheme
HAL wins approval for Walthamstow tower after adding second staircase
HAL wins approval for Walthamstow tower after adding second staircase
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 8:07 PM
HAL Architects has secured approval for an 18-storey residential tower in Walthamstow town centre almost four years after getting the go-ahead for a near-identical scheme
New practice: Apricot Square – ‘I’m not using AI to cut corners, but to add them’
New practice: Apricot Square – ‘I’m not using AI to cut corners, but to add them’
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 7:27 PM
New practice: Apricot Square – ‘I’m not using AI to cut corners, but to add them’
A review of Westminster Council’s city plan has embraced its sector-leading Retrofit First policy. The positive impacts are already being felt, argues cabinet member Geoff Barraclough
Why Retrofit First is paying dividends in Westminster
Why Retrofit First is paying dividends in Westminster
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 6:44 PM
A review of Westminster Council’s city plan has embraced its sector-leading Retrofit First policy. The positive impacts are already being felt, argues cabinet member Geoff Barraclough
Museum of Contemporary Art, Panama
Museum of Contemporary Art, Panama
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Museum of Contemporary Art, Panama
Foster + Partners has submitted plans to revamp listed office buildings in a prestigious Westminster square for a billionaire-backed tech company.
Foster + Partners to retrofit Westminster offices for US tech billionaire
Foster + Partners to retrofit Westminster offices for US tech billionaire
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Foster + Partners has submitted plans to revamp listed office buildings in a prestigious Westminster square for a billionaire-backed tech company.
Former JTP partners Ian Fenn and Rebecca Taylor talk about setting up their new housing-focused practice and how they plan to ‘push against convention’
New practice: Stir Architects – ‘we’re here to be disruptive’
New practice: Stir Architects – ‘we’re here to be disruptive’
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Former JTP partners Ian Fenn and Rebecca Taylor talk about setting up their new housing-focused practice and how they plan to ‘push against convention’
A series of end-of-year reports reveal a downturn in construction and pessimism among architects.
End-of-year reports paint bleak industry picture
End-of-year reports paint bleak industry picture
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 2:31 PM
A series of end-of-year reports reveal a downturn in construction and pessimism among architects.
The ski village within Saudia Arabia’s flagship Neom megaproject is to be downscaled amid a wider rethink of the kingdom’s ambitious development drive, it has been reported.
Neom ski village ‘downsized’ due to economic pressures
Neom ski village ‘downsized’ due to economic pressures
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The ski village within Saudia Arabia’s flagship Neom megaproject is to be downscaled amid a wider rethink of the kingdom’s ambitious development drive, it has been reported.
If you have a gem of a project to share, and it was built for less than £399,000, then you should enter the AJ Small Projects awards by Friday! Sponsored by Marley.
Last chance! AJ Small Projects 2026 closes for entries this week
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:57 AM
If you have a gem of a project to share, and it was built for less than £399,000, then you should enter the AJ Small Projects awards by Friday! Sponsored by Marley.
A consortium including Grimshaw and Arup has been shortlisted for the redevelopment of New York’s Penn Station – although no detail of its design has yet been released.
Grimshaw competing for New York Penn Station revamp
Grimshaw competing for New York Penn Station revamp
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 1:30 PM
A consortium including Grimshaw and Arup has been shortlisted for the redevelopment of New York’s Penn Station – although no detail of its design has yet been released.