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
The benefits of engaging with insulation manufacturers
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BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
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Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
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The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
Call for Scottish regulation, green skills and recognition of electrotechnical industry as part of a manifesto for Scottish Parliamentary elections.
UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.