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2 THE KEVIN MCCLOUD COLUMN A DESIGN FOR LIFE… the Kevin McCloud column Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about whether our desire for tech-driven homes is distracting us from what’s really important. Now more than ever, technology is entwined with our lives in the most intimate of ways, and the home is no exception. I recall an extraordinary build we featured on Grand Designs - a cutting-edge eco-home, deep in the heart of Suffolk. It was a wonder of innovation, bristling with solar panels, a greywater recycling system, smart lighting, and an intricate heating system controlled by the touch of a button. But the crowning glory? A voice-activated home automation system, capable of adjusting the atmosphere of the house with a mere command. It’s astonishing how much we lean on technology now, from the impressive to the mundane. Homes have become ecosystems of automation, where smart fridges keep tabs on our groceries, and app-controlled systems regulate temperature, lighting, and even security. It’s as if our homes have taken a leap into the realm of science fiction, and we’re living the dream of a future once only imagined.
3 Yet, with all these advancements and novelties, we must remember the essence of what makes a house a home. It’s not the flashing lights, the touch screens, or the voice commands. No, it’s something far more intimate, more visceral. It’s how the space makes us feel. You see, amidst all the technological marvels, it’s often the simplest things that hold our affections. It could be the view from the living room window, where the morning sun dapples through the leaves of the old oak tree in the garden. Or perhaps it’s your favourite chair, worn and weathered, but moulded to you in a way that no other piece of furniture is. It’s in these small, earthy connections that our homes come alive. Who hasn’t enjoyed that moment of sinking into a warm bath after a long day, or savouring a hot cup of tea while nestled into that favourite nook with a book? Or perhaps it’s that cherished painting, the one that transports you to a different place every time you look at it. As we hurtle towards an increasingly digital future, I urge you to remember the real treasures of home. These are not found in microchips and touchscreens, but in the quiet moments of comfort and joy that these spaces afford us. It’s the laughter that fills the dining room during a family meal, the peaceful solitude of a garden view, or the simple pleasure of curling up in a loved armchair. The trend, I agree, is to envelop our homes in technology. It’s exciting, it’s convenient, and it’s impressive. Yet as we embrace this digital revolution, let’s not forget the beating heart of our homes. It’s the simple things, the tangible, the personal, that truly make our homes special. So, go ahead, install that smart lighting system, indulge in that home automation; but remember, when the novelty fades, it’s often the touch of a well-loved blanket, the sight of a sunset from your window, or the scent of your favourite candle that makes a house feel like home. That, there, is the true grand design. RAAC crisis chance to speed-up green retrofits RAAC panels were used from the 1950s up to the mid-1990s to keep pace with growing school numbers. However, as it is less dense than traditional concrete and has a lower compressive strength, it should be periodically replaced like timber roof battens, but this has not been done for hundreds of schools and other buildings now deemed at risk. Last week, the government revealed 156 schools contained reinforced autoclave aerated concrete (RAAC), of which 104 required urgent action with 52 already repaired. A National Audit Office, NAO, report in June found more than a third of English school buildings were past their initial design life making them energy inefficient and expensive to run. An estimated £7b a year is needed to maintain, repair and rebuild schools but the Treasury has allocated just £3.1bn. The Federation of Master Builders, FMB, chief executive Brian Berry said: “Local builders may struggle to cater for the scale of the issue facing schools, as they tend to have full schedules for months ahead. “This could affect the speed of work like putting up portable classrooms, to ensure children don’t miss lessons.” The sort of sub-contractors expected to be in demand following a structural survey include roofers, insulation installers, and asbestos removal specialists. More than half of FMB members have said they are falling behind schedule as they struggle to hire skilled workers to fulfil their order books. It’s estimated nearly 20 hospitals, several theatres and other public state buildings also contain this type of cheap lightweight concrete which lasts for just 30 years. Construction Leadership Council, CLC, building safety expert Graham Watts said:”There is an urgent need to identify and remedy any risks to the public. “We will support the programme of expert assessment of structures, both public and private, to identify where RAAC has been used and to deal with it to make it safe.” Green retrofits could be a positive spin-off The National Federation of Builders said widespread remediation could offer the chance to conduct green retrofits. NFB policy director James Butcher explained: “Forwardthinking building clients would do well to consider how they can also use the opportunity to install energy efficiency measures. “Because RAAC is likely to be found in roof panels and wall panels, it is a prime chance to replace it with efficiency fabric as well as to install mechanic ventilation systems.” www.thepropertydrop.co.uk 01600 717255 info@thepropertydrop.co.uk Whilst every care is taken with materials submitted to The Property Drop the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such materials. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright bedroom and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers. Prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions or errors. The inclusion of an advertiser in this paper is not necessarily a recommendation. ©The Property Drop 2023. bathroom The icons under the properties throughout Property Drop indicate the following: bedroom bathroom living room etc bathroom bedroom bedroom Number of bedrooms bedroom living room etc Number bathroom of bathroom living room central etc heating bathroom garage/covered parking central heating garage/covered parking living room etc bedroom living room etc living room etc reception rooms central heating garage/covered parking Number of bathrooms garage/covered parking central heating central heating central heating parking parking ELECTRIC Method of central heating Covered garage parking parking Parking space garage/covered parking parking garage/covered parking parking
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