The History of the Hallway: From Grand Entrances to Modern Homes

What term do you use for the area that connects the entrance of your house to the main living areas? Is it a passage, hallway, corridor or even a gallery?

In history, it was only the grander houses that had this luxurious area of space as you entered the building. Smaller homes usually comprised only one room where the whole family lived.

Following on from our previous article (see here), when subsidence or significant movement is suspected, further investigation may be recommended to establish the underlying cause. Depending on the circumstances, this could include trial holes to inspect the foundations, soil investigation & testing, assessment of nearby trees and vegetation, underground drainage surveys, crack monitoring or further structural investigation.

Cracks appearing in a property can be worrying, particularly when subsidence is suspected. However, while subsidence is a well-known cause of cracking, it is important to understand that not all cracking is caused by subsidence. There are many potential causes of cracking, and identifying the underlying cause is essential to determining the appropriate repair.

We hope you are enjoying the long spell of hot dry weather, but what impact will this have on our homes in the future?
With rising temperatures, prolonged drought causes the ground to shrink naturally. This can negatively impact our homes, as the soil’s volume changes when it dries, potentially damaging buildings. This phenomenon, known as subsidence, is the sinking or collapse of the ground beneath our properties, along with other ground-related issues.

In 1999, the first episode of Grand Designs showcased a timber-frame kit house in East Sussex featuring distinctive yet connected zones for cooking, dining and relaxing. The design helped popularise the concept of creating multifunctional living areas without the need for numerous internal walls, offering a sense of space, light and togetherness.

As you will probably be aware, the UK has just been through the second heat wave of the year with extreme temperatures reaching 40o in some areas. This trend is only likely to increase over the next century.

So, the question is, how will our homes be able to manage these fluctuations in temperature to keep us cooler in summer but still warmer in winter.

Our home city of Nottingham has just gained an eye‑catching new landmark, and it’s already making waves. A brand‑new cycle and pedestrian bridge has opened across the River Trent, linking Colwick Park on the north side with Lady Bay and West Bridgford to the south.

This week people all over the world will celebrate their love for each other with cards, flowers and chocolates. Some couples, however, choose a more public show of their commitment in the form of the Love Lock. Padlocks are inscribed with their initials, locked on a bridge and the key thrown into the river below.