RIBA will host the award ceremony for the Stirling Prize on 16th October at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden, London. Before then, you can have a look at the six projects that have a place on the 2024 shortlist. They are diverse, including infrastructure, housing, commercial architecture, and more.
The current President of RIBA, Muyiwa Oki, had praise for all of the projects. He said they reflect the “ingenuity and diversity” of today’s architecture. In addition, he had praise for how the work makes “sensitive contributions to everyday life”.
Let’s take a quick look at each of the six projects to see why they are so impressive and deserving of the recognition.
Chowdry Walk
This project was a redevelopment of a plot in Hackney, London that was garages and parking. The work transformed it into 11 homes, 7 for social rent. It is a wonderful use of the site and a new way to approach creating council housing. The design is great, staggering homes on the terrace to ensure privacy as well as achieve passive solar gain to make it more efficient to heat them.
King’s Cross Masterplan
The biggest project on the shortlist celebrates the culmination of 20 years of work. Formerly a large piece of industrial wasteland, the district is now home to new streets, commercial architecture, housing, educational facilities, and more. Even more incredible, it is accessible and has amazing pieces of public realm. King’s Cross is now a thriving hub.
The Elizabeth Line
Flying the flag for how to create new inner-city infrastructure, this project will have a lasting impact on London. The estimate is it could get to a point where 200 million people are travelling on the Line every year. Most impressively, this work was a massive undertaking, involving a huge amount of collaboration. The results, especially the consistency of designs and accessibility, are fantastic.
National Portrait Gallery
Next up is a project that is more impressive when you consider the constraints. The National Portrait Gallery is a cultural and historical landmark with a Grade I* listing. The work reimagined it, blending conservation and modern design. There was also a nice nod to adaptability, using original windows to create new doorways. If you visit the gallery, you’ll get to enjoy a far better visitor experience and can see the improvements to make the building accessible to everyone.
Wraxall Yard
This is one of the most amazing transformations you will see. It was formerly a Dorset dairy farm, but was suffering from dilapidation. The project included sensitive repairs and conversion, creating a stunning rural retreat. A special detail here is the accessibility. The whole site is accessible for wheelchair users, allowing them to engage with wildlife and farming.
Park Hill
Finally, we have a Brutalist housing estate in Sheffield. The second phase is now complete, continuing the regeneration of the largest listed structure in Europe. Interestingly, an earlier phase was also in the running for the Stirling Prize in 2013. It might be second time lucky considering the fantastic work to modernise the spaces and improve the sustainability while also preserving the heritage.
Thinking about commercial architecture?
Coffey Architects has the skills and passion to create incredible buildings. This includes different types of commercial properties, art galleries, and libraries, as well as much more. You can see a number of great examples on our website, including some award winners.
So, if you want some advice or help with designing and executing commercial architecture, please get in touch. We’d love to work with you.