RIBA's Affordable Housing and Adaptive Reuse Shortlists

Each of these RIBA awards is timely, addressing important contemporary issues and the role architects can play in addressing them, specifically social inequality and the dearth of affordable housing, and climate change and the reduced carbon emissions that come with adaptive reuse projects versus new construction. Accordingly, they are also relatively new awards: The Neave Brown Award for Housing, named for social housing pioneer Neave Brown (1929–2018), was established in 2019, while the RIBA Reinvention Award was launched in 2022. 

The Neave Brown Award for Housing recognizes the best projects in which one third of housing with ten or more units is affordable and which “demonstrate evidence of meeting the challenge of housing affordability.” The RIBA Reinvention Award aims to “recognize achievement in the creative reuse of existing buildings” and “celebrate the creative transformation of an existing building and the project’s vital improvement to environmental, social, or economic sustainability.” Both awards are pulled from the winners of regional awards that were announced earlier in the year. The same goes for other RIBA awards, including the Stirling Prize, which occasionally leads to some overlap, including Park Hill Phase 2 being shortlisted for both the Reinvention Award and Stirling Prize this year. 

The winners of these and other RIBA awards will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on October 16, 2024, at The Roundhouse in London, after which World-Architects will share the results.

Chowdhury Walk in Hackney (London) by Al-Jawad Pike

“A sculptural infill development heralding the beginnings of an ambitious program of new generation council housing by Hackney Council.”

Dover Court Estate in Islington (London) by Pollard Thomas Edwards

“A carefully implemented reimagining of a 1960s Modernist estate, the architects have created a new series of welcoming spaces throughout the site, while converting disused garages into 70 new, bespoke, low-carbon homes.”

North Gate Social Housing in Glasgow (Scotland) by Page\Park Architects

“A longstanding vacant brownfield site transformed into a new residential landmark, designed to suit the needs of primarily older residents. 31 one or two bed flats for 100% social rent.”

Unity Place in Brent (London) by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Alison Brooks Architects, and Gort Scott (Design Architects); RM_A Architect (Delivery Architect)

“A neighborhood transformation providing 235 social rented homes, a community hub and new outdoor areas.”

Croft 3 by fardaa 

“A ruined rural croft on the Isle of Mull has been modestly yet expertly converted, expanding a busy local restaurant and providing a valuable community space, while meeting the stringent regulations of a National Scenic Area.”

Park Hill Phase 2 by Mikhail Riches 

“The second phase of an ongoing regeneration of Europe’s largest listed structure which sits on a prominent hillside overlooking Sheffield City Centre. Internal spaces are modernized through open plan designs and the addition of balconies, while thermal imaging has allowed sustainability experts to improve energy efficiency.”

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios 

“A full refurbishment of a hugely important historic structure has turned the world’s first iron-frame building, nicknamed the ‘grandparent of skyscrapers’ into a new leisure destination with a visitor center and cafe that embraces its industrial heritage.”

The Parcels Building by Grafton Architects 

“An outdated and unsuitable 1957 office and retail building has been transformed into a vibrant, sustainable center for modern workspace and retail. The new facade brings depth and rhythm while cleverly negotiating the contrasting scale and character of Oxford Street and Duke Street.”