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Every year, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) hands out the Stirling Prize, which happens to be one of the most prestigious architecture prizes there is. The award is given to buildings that represent excellence in architecture, with the winner going to the building ‘that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the past year’. Previous Stirling prizes have gone to the Elizabeth line, Kingston University and a housing complex for over-65s in Bermondsey.
This year, the RIBA Stirling Prize has been awarded to the Lion Green Road housing estate in Croydon, designed by Mary Duggan Architects with Ruff Architects.
Commissioned by Croydon Council, the high-density development in Coulsdon comprises 157 homes across five blocks which are joined together by shared green spaces. The five blocks contain a roughly 50/50 split of privately rented and affordable socially rented housing.
The blocks have a unique star shape that allows for every home to be dual aspect, maximising views and natural light. The building’s exteriors have three different bricks which compliment faceted, star-shaped plans, which are rotated to offer unique views across the landscape and ensure each home is dual-aspect, maximising natural light. The project is built on a steep hill previously used as a car park, which RIBA called a ‘topographically complex site’.
‘At a time when we urgently need to deliver more homes, Lion Green Road shows that density can be achieved without compromising the quality of the places we create,’ said RIBA president Chris Williamson.
The jury for the Stirling prize praised the architects for ‘addressing the pressing need for national housing’ while creating ‘a welcoming and inclusive place where people can connect with one another, and with nature.’
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