1000 articles and counting
We’ve reached a huge milestone. There are now 1,000 articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
We started out with a simple vision – to put all construction industry knowledge in one place and make it available to everyone for free. This was a direct response to the persistent problems of poor dissemination, single-discipline silos, adversarial behaviour and reluctance to innovate which have blighted the industry for as long as anyone can remember. As far back as 1944, the Simon Report recommended better training of construction managers and a more collaborative approach to design and construction. More recently Construction 2025 highlighted, "lack of collaboration and limited knowledge sharing" and proposed that, "best practice must be disseminated across the industry... so that the vast amount of research is translated into real improvements."
We imagined a different sort of industry; where every individual, every organisation and every discipline had access to all industry knowledge; where clients could find out what ought to be happening on their project; where consultants could access the latest research; where we all had a better understanding of other disciplines and specialisms; where we could share best practice and prevent mistakes. It's both simple and revolutionary.
Now we have 1,000 articles, ranging from general introductions to subjects like planning permission, right through to uber-detailed articles for specialists, like the resonant column method for measuring the dynamic response of soils. We even have an article on notation which tells me I should have written 1000 not 1,000 to avoid confusion with the continental decimal marker.
250,000 people have benefitted from free access to the articles on Designing Buildings Wiki, helping them to operate more efficiently, innovate more effectively and avoid problems.
There’s still a long way to go. We're reliant on you to keep adding new articles and improving what’s already there. It’s really easy to do – just click on the big orange button. If you’re not sure where to start, have a look at the list of articles we know we are missing, or the list of articles needing more work.
Next stop 2,000.
Featured articles and news
ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed
22 leading businesses from across the electrotechnical and engineering services sector.
Government unveils Skills England strategy
Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth.
New Government Hub for York Given Planning Green Light
For up to 2,600 civil servants, due for completion by 2028.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards
July update on Professionally Qualified and Academically Qualified Person Cards.
BSRIA Briefing 2024, November 22
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
The CLC on driving competency in the retrofit sector
Previously published roadmap on skills for net zero.
The first labour government King's speech in fifteen years
Construction industry reactions, support and some concern.
CIOB Retrofit of Buildings Technical Information Sheet
What retrofit is, the approach to be taken and processes to be followed.
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England advice note 18, free download published.
10 retrofit projects revisited 10 years after completion.
Information orders, building liability orders and SPVs
Key BSA terms and how they impact special purpose vehicles.
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.