The AJ's first issue of 2024 explores what is set to be one of the year's most pressing and hotly-debated topics: housing. Our building studies include Child Graddon Lewis’s Harrow Road scheme which, following the election of a Labour council, was amended to offer 100% affordable homes. Plus projects from HTA Design and Hawkins\Brown, alongside Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture, offer a look at innovative and community-driven homes.

In News we dissect the boom in life sciences projects - including explaining how architects can tap into this treasure trove of work - and look ahead at Zaha Hadid Architects’ upcoming retrofit of a 1960s modernist tower.

In a special In Memory, friends and colleagues reflect on the life and talent of photographer Ben Blossom, who recently passed away after a short illness. And, in a Technical Profile, Hattie Hartman talks with Glasgow-based John Gilbert Architects about the importance of building performance evaluation in tackling the climate crisis.

In our Culture pages, Betty Owoo reviews Housing Atlas: Europe 20th Century, wondering what happened to the contribution of women in an otherwise worthy compendium. Plus, in Opinion, David Grandorge ponders the rising demand for social housing, and The Secret Architect heads across the Atlantic for a thoroughly ‘80s themed PCSA meeting.

Finally, in Sketch Club, we meet Fraser Morrison of Farshid Moussavi Architecture, while Hellman asks which messes Rishi Sunak will be able to clean up in time for this year's general election.