Six houses shortlisted for the prestigious Manser Medal for best British house design of the past 12 months have been announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The award has been offered since 2001 and is sponsored in 2014 and 2015 by specialist insurer Hiscox. Their sponsorship is a reflection of the knowledge they hold in terms of insuring properties and their appreciation or forward thinking design and creativity. Hiscox are regularly called on to insure properties built from cutting edge materials so they are well equipped to take part in the judging. Their honorary president Robert Hiscox will be part of the judging panel in both years.

The shortlist of properties for the 2014 award is very diverse and features some stunning examples of how architects have attempted to take the environment into consideration when designing the property. The six properties are all remarkably different both in terms of their designs and the locations they have been built in. From a cliffside on the Isle of Skye in Scotland to Gower in the Welsh countryside each project is unique and suited to its surroundings. There is even a summer house in Hampshire.

One of the most eye catching is an extension to a residential property in London. The work is centred on two tapered volumes that extend out from the Victorian property. These are designed to be reminiscent of origami and look like they are weightless and almost floating in the garden. There are no punched through windows in the property, instead full ends are fully glazed to allow in the maximum amount of light.

The design is innovative and eye catching. Residential architecture in London is undergoing a big transformation is seeing more and more architects use their creativity to create beautiful buildings. The materials used in many of these projects are sustainable and designers take care to protect the environment. As specialists in both residential and commercial architecture, we’re always striving to improve the qualities of our work so we can continue to meet these high standards ourselves.

The winner of the Manser Medal for 2014 will be announced at RIBA’s London headquarters on October 16th. The ceremony will celebrate the creativity of the designers and provide innovation for other architects. Winners will also join a prestigious list of past winners and see their project sit alongside other beautiful creations that made a lasting impression.