who should win House of the Year 2024?

London has been shortlisted for a major UK new home award, with two incredible properties.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for the 2024 RIBA House of the Year based across England and Wales. The shortlisted houses were drawn from the wider group of RIBA 2024 Award winners, representing the best of new architecture in the UK. The last six of this year represent a wide mix of different design approaches located across rural and dense urban areas.

The second is of course the two shortlisted London houses: Peckham House and Six Columns.

RIBA President Muyiwa Oki says, “These six homes demonstrate how we can deliver quality residential architecture with impact. Exemplars in sensitive renovation, climate-conscious design and intelligent urban place-making – each presents a bold and creative solution to meet housing needs.

On their own, they are truly impressive, stunning pieces of architecture; together they provide scalable solutions to the issues facing our built environment – ​​from reinventing existing buildings to working with complex and constrained sites. However, their true success lies in the health and well-being of the people who live in them: there can be no greater mark of achievement for an architect.”

Herr has been shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2024:

Nestled into a wooded park, this charmingly simple house takes on the typology of an introverted courtyard house, its L-shaped plan sheltering a south-facing garden.

The defensive wings are thick stone walls of monolithic clay blocks, simply finished with a textured lime render. Outside the walls, the surrounding agricultural land is left untouched, allowing livestock to graze up to the boundary walls.

Inside, smooth unpainted lime plaster mirrors the rough-cast exterior, while dark brick floors throughout are reminiscent of Victorian stables, overhung by an exposed roof structure of locally grown Douglas Fir. ‘

‘This small family home full of generous space is full of enthusiasm and playfulness, with a facade defined by a distinctive pattern of striking brickwork that playfully interprets the local houses.

It sits on an unassuming urban terrace, making the most of a small site, including a roof terrace to provide outdoor space.’

‘The house is designed for retirement, the house is focused on well-being, calm and flexibility, with flat portals for full accessibility, as well as light, relaxing spaces that open up to friends and family.

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A generous central courtyard provides sunlight, fresh air, and year-round enjoyment of plants and wildlife. With its sweeping, raised roof, simple construction, and stone finishes, the house fits seamlessly into the landscape, and next to it, the beauty of its stone detailing is revealed.’

‘Situated in the Kent Downs, this Grade II listed 16th century residence has been extensively and sympathetically restored into a sustainable home. The interior has been renovated and modernized, with finely crafted details and new interventions have been considered that work together so that history complements contemporary life.

The house is an example of green living, while renovating the surrounding listed outbuildings and adding a swimming pool, pool house, tennis court, stable block and new lake. The end result is a demonstration of how to extend the life of a historic building, and create elegant living spaces for the future.’

A Grade II listed Arts & Crafts block of stables has been rescued and restored to create an accessible modern family home. Simple materials, specification and variety are applied in clever and thoughtful ways, balancing aesthetic, heritage and ecological obligations, while upgrades to sustainability and references to the Arts & Crafts movement – such as sawn bricks and quarry tiles – create playful and expressive moments. the many benefits of renovating existing buildings.’

‘Designed to meet the changing needs of a family, Six Columns is a flexible home that looks to the future and aims to evolve with its occupants. It makes efficient and sophisticated use of space, and materials, with sustainable and cost-cutting features.

Brutal references and creative flourishes – a stepped brick wall, a cornice and pilasters, and a green marble panel – create a unique and refreshing aesthetic. Where possible, self-completed materials are used; the ground floor has exposed painted brick, and readily available spruce panels are used to create much of the fittings and joinery, which can be easily adjusted over time.’

The RIBA House of the Year 2024 winner will be announced in December.