Vacant building to be stripped back to its frame and extended upwards by seven storeys Ackroyd Lowrie's plans to add a vertical extension to the site 1/5 show caption Ackroyd Lowrie’s plans to transform Camberwell Magistrates’ Court into housing and a hotel have been approved by Southwark council. The former 1971 court building has been vacant since 2020 and has since become a visual blight and a magnet for anti-social behaviour, according to Ackroyd Lowrie. The practice said the proposals for developer Criterion capital would reimagine the building and surrounding space as a new “civic focal point” for Camberwell that will act as a neighbourhood hub for vibrant community uses. The scheme will strip the eight-storey building back to its concrete frame and build a seven-storey vertical extension at its centre. The new 15-storey building will provide 134 homes, 35.1% of which will be affordable, a 150-room Zedwell hotel and 250sq m of community space. The existing building has been boarded up since 2020 It will also include a cafe, a podcast recording studio, a co-working space and 650sq m of new public realm and green space reclaimed through the conversion of an adjacent dual carriageway. All of the building’s uses will be accessible through a double-height atrium which will be open 24 hours a day. The plans were amended during the planning process by removing two storeys from the top of the central extension, cutting the number of homes by ten and removing a frame structure on the scheme’s roof.

Zodiac House, part of a 1960s mixed-use complex in West Croydon, which was once home to the characters Mark and Jez in Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, has been repurposed as affordable housing after lying empty for more than 30 years. Instead of demolition, shedkm retrofitted the four-storey former office block to create 73 apartments and a communal residents’ lounge. The once-derelict forecourt is now a community garden and café. The flats have now been acquired by Croydon Council to provide temporary accommodation for local families and individuals facing homelessness. Architect's voice Zodiac House transforms a disused office block into a dynamic space that fosters a sense of community. We focused on maximising natural light, creating well-proportioned apartments and crafting inviting shared spaces that encourage social engagement. A key challenge was working within the constraints of the existing structure. Through meticulous planning and creative insertions we were able to maximise the building’s potential, while ensuring a seamless blend of new and old. We transformed the unwelcoming undercroft space into a new residents’ communal lounge with views out to the landscaped courtyards. Retaining and repurposing the existing fabric significantly reduced embodied carbon. Thoughtful material choices and efficient layouts further contributed to the project’s environmental responsibility. Zodiac House nurtures connection, wellbeing and a new way of urban living. Ella Flint, architectural lead, shedkm   Project data Location Chatfield Road, Croydon Type Retrofit Context Urban Planning permission date November 2022 Completion November 2024 Construction cost Undisclosed Construction cost per m² Undisclosed Construction cost per home Undisclosed Number of homes 73 Housing type Flats Mix of homes Percentage of 1B2P: 64%, Percentage of 2B4P: 32%, Percentage of 3B6P: 4% Site area 0.439ha Density 166 homes per hectare Development area 5,740m² Height 4 storeys Tenure mix 100% emergency accommodation Percentage of affordable housing 100% Client Common Projects (funded by Mitheridge) Client type Developer Architectural appointment Direct Procurement Design and build Design or Quality Review Panel review No Design team novation No Design guardian role retained Yes Lead contractor ARJ Construction, Awesome Construction Main structural system Concrete frameAdvertisement Environmental data Annual carbon emissions Unknown Operational energy use Unknown Onsite energy generation Nil Average energy bill per home Unknown All-electric Yes Post-occupancy evaluation undertaken No (planned following occupancy) U-values Walls: 0.18 W/m²K, Floors: 0.18-0.30 W/m²K Airtightness at 50Pa <5 m³/h.m² Client's voice Many office buildings across the UK, underused yet strategically located, are ripe for repurposing into housing. Zodiac Court in Croydon exemplifies how we can deliver a new type of sustainable housing in areas facing acute housing pressure.When Common Projects acquired the multifunctional 1960s block, it had long been in a state of disrepair. We sought to transform it into a renewed asset for the local community, while sensitively retaining its heritage, art and carbon-intensive concrete bones. This involved using permitted development rights to convert the offices into space standard-compliant homes – 73 in total – surrounding a communal courtyard featuring original artwork. Sold this year to Croydon Council for temporary accommodation, these homes are modern, bright and clean – a stark contrast with the poor-quality housing typically provided via costly private sector rental. Steve Sanham, founding director, Common Projects

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April 15, 20255 min readHow Dangerous Nuclear Waste Is Stored in the U.S.The decades-long struggle to find a permanent place to dispose of nuclear waste in the U.S. will continue, probably for many years to comeBy Gerald Frankel & The Conversation US Storage site for high level radioactive waste at the Hanford Reservation. The site once produced plutonium for nuclear weapons. Karen Kasmauski/Getty ImagesThe following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.Around the U.S., about 90,000 tons of nuclear waste is stored at over 100 sites in 39 states, in a range of different structures and containers.For decades, the nation has been trying to send it all to one secure location.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.A 1987 federal law named Yucca Mountain, in Nevada, as a permanent disposal site for nuclear waste – but political and legal challenges led to construction delays. Work on the site had barely started before Congress ended the project’s funding altogether in 2011.The 94 nuclear reactors currently operating at 54 power plants continue to generate more radioactive waste. Public and commercial interest in nuclear power is rising because of concerns regarding emissions from fossil fuel power plants and the possibility of new applications for smaller-scale nuclear plants to power data centers and manufacturing. This renewed interest gives new urgency to the effort to find a place to put the waste.In March 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments related to the effort to find a temporary storage location for the nation’s nuclear waste – a ruling is expected by late June. No matter the outcome, the decades-long struggle to find a permanent place to dispose of nuclear waste will probably continue for many years to come.I am a scholar who specializes in corrosion; one focus of my work has been containing nuclear waste during temporary storage and permanent disposal. There are generally two forms of significantly radioactive waste in the U.S.: waste from making nuclear weapons during the Cold War, and waste from generating electricity at nuclear power plants. There are also small amounts of other radioactive waste, such as that associated with medical treatments.Waste from weapons manufacturingRemnants of the chemical processing of radioactive material needed to manufacture nuclear weapons, often called “defense waste,” will eventually be melted along with glass, with the resulting material poured into stainless steel containers. These canisters are 10 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 5,000 pounds when filled.For now, though, most of it is stored in underground steel tanks, primarily at Hanford, Washington, and Savannah River, South Carolina, key sites in U.S. nuclear weapons development. At Savannah River, some of the waste has already been processed with glass, but much of it remains untreated.At both of those locations, some of the radioactive waste has already leaked into the soilbeneath the tanks, though officials have said there is no danger to human health. Most of the current efforts to contain the waste focus on protecting the tanks from corrosion and cracking to prevent further leakage.Waste from electricity generationThe vast majority of nuclear waste in the U.S. is spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants.Before it is used, nuclear fuel exists as uranium oxide pellets that are sealed within zirconium tubes, which are themselves bundled together. These bundles of fuel rods are about 12 to 16 feet long and about 5 to 8 inches in diameter. In a nuclear reactor, the fission reactions fueled by the uranium in those rods emit heat that is used to create hot water or steam to drive turbines and generate electricity.After about three to five years, the fission reactions in a given bundle of fuel slow down significantly, even though the material remains highly radioactive. The spent fuel bundles are removed from the reactor and moved elsewhere on the power plant’s property, where they are placed into a massive pool of water to cool them down.After about five years, the fuel bundles are removed, dried and sealed in welded stainless steel canisters. These canisters are still radioactive and thermally hot, so they are stored outdoors in concrete vaults that sit on concrete pads, also on the power plant’s property. These vaults have vents to ensure air flows past the canisters to continue cooling them.As of December 2024, there were over 315,000 bundles of spent nuclear fuel rods in the U.S., and over 3,800 dry storage casks in concrete vaults above ground, located at current and former power plants across the country.Even reactors that have been decommissioned and demolished still have concrete vaults storing radioactive waste, which must be secured and maintained by the power company that owned the nuclear plant.Salt spray from the ocean can corrode waste containers at nearby nuclear waste storage sites, like this one at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California.Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesThe threat of waterOne threat to these storage methods is corrosion.Because they need water to both transfer nuclear energy into electricity and to cool the reactor, nuclear power plants are always located alongside sources of water.In the U.S., nine are within two miles of the ocean, which poses a particular threat to the waste containers. As waves break on the coastline, saltwater is sprayed into the air as particles. When those salt and water particles settle on metal surfaces, they can cause corrosion, which is why it’s common to see heavily corroded structures near the ocean.At nuclear waste storage locations near the ocean, that salt spray can settle on the steel canisters. Generally, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, which you can see in the shiny pots and pans in many Americans’ kitchens. But in certain circumstances, localized pits and cracks can form on stainless steel surfaces.In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy has funded research, including my own, into the potential dangers of this type of corrosion. The general findings are that stainless steel canisters could pit or crack when stored near a seashore. But a radioactive leak would require not only corrosion of the container but also of the zirconium rods and of the fuel inside them. So it is unlikely that this type of corrosion would result in the release of radioactivity.A long way offA more permanent solution is likely years, or decades, away.Not only must a long-term site be geologically suitable to store nuclear waste for thousands of years, but it must also be politically palatable to the American people. In addition, there will be many challenges associated with transporting the waste, in its containers, by road or rail, from reactors across the country to wherever that permanent site ultimately is.Perhaps there will be a temporary site whose location passes muster with the Supreme Court. But in the meantime, the waste will stay where it is.This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Larian has bid a final farewell to Baldur's Gate 3, its beloved breakout hit that won a legion of fans and propelled the studio to a new level of stardom. Read more

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here As games like The Finals opt to use AI voices instead of human actors, some of the best performers in the business are actively rebelling against AI voice technology. In a recent interview, The Witcher 3 performance director Kate Saxon explained that, no matter what hordes of Twitter techbros think, AI voices can’t “replace that human spark” that makes stories so great. Speaking to EDGE Magazine in Issue 409, Saxon explained that she doesn’t see AI ever replacing actors in their entirety. While AI could be used for pick-ups of adding minor lines, the vast majority of strong performances will still be powered by talented actors. “I just don’t see it ever fully replacing actors” Saxton told EDGE Magazine (via GamesRadar) “At least not in the kinds of games that truly care about strong storytelling, rich characters, and meaningful dialogue.” “There’s something missing [when using AI] something you can’t quite quantify – that lifts a performance from decent to genuinely moving,” they continued. Saxton’s work in the video games industry has been record-breaking. Alongside working in theatre and TV, Saxton has brought killer performances to Alien: Isolation, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Far Cry 3 and more. “Actors bring more than just their voices [to games],” the performance director. “They bring life experience, their instincts, their emotional intelligence.” As games become have become infinitely more complex, performances have also become more complex. While amazing voice acting is still important, it’s also been matched with professional motion capture with games like The Last of Us and Baldur’s Gate 3 having performers completely act out their scenes. This had led to some incredible moments such as Astarion actor Neil Newbon ad-libbing the character’s best moment, or Lae’zel’s actress subtly changing her performance as her character grows. Saxton is right, performing is much more than just saying the lines, it’s feeling them, and AI can’t feel anything. For The Witcher 3 specifically, CD Projekt RED’s game features some truly majestic performances. Doug Cockle’s Geralt is perfect, and the recently-passed William Roberts’ performance as Vesemir could never be replaced. It’s a game filled with amazing performances, and The Witcher 4 will be as well. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X Genre(s): Action, Action RPG, Adventure, RPG 9 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

Leading lights of the design world converged at Palazzo Ralph Lauren in Milan last Wednesday during the city’s annual Salone del Mobile furniture fair for dinner in the inner courtyard, hosted by AD global editorial director Amy Astley and David Lauren, Ralph’s chief branding and innovation officer. Some sixty guests—including AD100 designers Robert Stilin, Laura Gonzalez, and Sheila Bridges and AD heads of editorial content from France, Spain, Italy, China, and Germany–gathered at the midcentury Rationalist-style building in the heart of Milan where Ralph Lauren Home’s fall 2025 collections were on display.Tables in the courtyard of the Palazzo Ralph Lauren are dressed in fabric from the forthcoming Canyon Road collection. The place settings featured Ethan wine glasses, Wentworth silverware, Kenmore dinner napkins, and Everett dinnerware, from the forthcoming Canyon Road collection. Virgile Guinard“When I tell people about Salone del Mobile they think it’s some kind of trade show,” host David Lauren said in his remarks, over Ralph-approved Santa Barbara salads and tuna tartare. “I tell them no, this is a meeting of some of the greatest talents in the world.”The dinner conversation proved it: discussions turned to opera set designs, Cooper Hewitt accolades, and installations at the Louvre—and of course, plenty of upcoming residential projects. Designers joked that Dimorestudio had become something like the creative directors of Milan after putting their stamp on so many hotels, restaurants, and shops around the city. For some designers like newly minted AD100 Lily Dierkes, it was their first Salone. Others were several decades in. All compared notes on what to see. Was Alcova worth the long journey north to Villa Borsani? What was the vibe like at the hot new Fabrizio Casiraghi–designed members club, The Wilde? Who would be spotted the next morning at Barry’s? There was one thing everyone agreed on: they couldn’t get enough of Ralph’s perfectly crispy matchstick skinny French fries.Guests dressed to impress, putting their twist on Americana, from full on prep to blue suede fringe, to one very memorable cowboy hat, donned by Belgian bad boy Job Smeets of Studio Job. It all felt in keeping with the lush, orchid-laden tablescapes that showcased a preview of the brand’s new fall 2025 Canyon Road collection, an ode to the American West. Pewter vases and votives designed in collaboration with siblings Naiomi and Tyler Glasses, Ralph Lauren Home’s first artists in residence, were stamped with motifs typically used in Navajo weaving. Meanwhile, the tablecloths, made of Mesa Stripe fabric, referenced a design Tyler Glasses originally realized on a saddle blanket. AD100 architect David Rockwell admired the matte white Everett dinnerware, which resemble nubby linen, also a new product from the Canyon Road collection, launching this fall.A preview of Ralph Lauren Home's new Canyon Road collection, which debuts in fall 2025. By the time a silver tiered platter of miniature cakes had arrived, new friendships had been cemented, business advice traded, collaborations discussed, and New York–based designer Monique Gibson joked that she and Dimorestudio’s Britt Moran, who had only just met, would get married right there in the courtyard. With a chance to sit down during one of the busiest weeks of the year, dinner guests had no doubt heeded one bit of advice from Lauren’s remarks, that they “learn from each other, teach each other, and hear each other.”

In brief: If you think Facebook has strayed far from its roots as a platform that connected friends and family, you're not alone. Even Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shares this view. He also considered purging every friend from users' accounts in 2022 and having them start from scratch. Zuckerberg was on the witness stand on Monday to defend Meta against a case brought by the FTC in 2022. The agency alleges the company created a market-dominating monopoly when it bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, thereby violating US competition laws. The FTC wants to break up Meta by spinning off one of these apps. The government argues that Meta attracting 3.3 billion users to its platforms is a result of lack of reasonable alternatives. When asked about Facebook's focus moving away from connecting with friends and family to news, groups, and other third-party content, Zuckerberg admitted that, "It's the case that over time, the 'interest' part of that has gotten built out more than the 'friend' part." "(Users are) connected to a lot more groups and other kinds of things. The 'friend' part has gone down quite a bit, but it's still something we care about," he added. The Facebook feed, once filled with posts and images from people you know, is now an algorithmic sea of sponsored content, group posts, and other recommendations from various pages and accounts. In Zuckerberg's words, the feed "has turned into more of a broad discovery and entertainment space." The hearing also revealed that Zuckerberg had a "crazy idea" in 2022 that sounds like it would have been universally hated: wiping everyone's friend connections. // Related Stories Zuckerberg was worried about Facebook's reputation in 2022. Apps like TikTok had become more culturally relevant, especially among young people, while Facebook was, and often still is, seen as the social media site for "old people," which seems to cover anyone over 30. Zuckerberg proposed a radical solution in an internal email at the time, revealed by the government during the hearing. "Option 1. Double down on Friending," he wrote. "One potentially crazy idea is to consider wiping everyone's graphs and having them start again." Graphs in this case refers to friend connections. Also read: Silicon Valley crosswalks hacked to play fake AI voices of Musk and Zuckerberg Tom Alison, the head of Facebook, was unsure about the plan. "I'm not sure Option #1 in your proposal (Double-down on Friending) would be viable given my understanding of how vital the friend use case is to IG [Instagram]," he wrote. Zuckerberg replied with, "Do you have a sense of how much work it would be to convert profiles to a follow model?" Zuckerberg confirmed that Facebook never followed through with his plans for a mass unfriending, which is probably a good thing. Facebook is aware that many users miss the days when the platform was all about connecting with others. The company announced last month that "the magic of friends has fallen away," and it would therefore be introducing several so-called "OG" Facebook experiences throughout the year. The first of these is a new Friends tab, which will show all your friends' posts, stories, reels, and birthdays. Friend requests will also be under this section. Masthead: Anthony Quintano

Dune Awakening has been delayed from its intended May 15 release date, pushed back by just under a month to June 10. This comes following feedback from its closed beta testers, who have led Funcom conclude it needs "a bit more time to cook". Read more

Pre-orders opening soon.After it was revealed as a launch title in the recent Switch 2 Direct, you might have been wondering how much Hazelight's Split Fiction will set you back on the upcoming Nintendo console. Well, EA has finally spilled the beans.In a new blog post, EA confirmed that Split Fiction will launch at a planned price of $49.99 — putting the Switch 2 version in line with the game's wider console launch earlier this year. What's more, the studio announced that pre-orders for the co-op adventure will be opening on 24th April.Read the full article on nintendolife.com