Appleby Blue Almshouse, a charity-funded social housing project to radically rethink community care and residence for older people, has won the Stirling Prize, Britain's top award for architecture.
The project, based in a busy part of Bermondsey in east London, took the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) best new building title for its creation of "high-quality spaces that are generous and thoughtful, blending function and community to create environments that truly care for their residents."
Witherford Watson Mann, the architectural firm behind the almshouse for United St Saviour's Charity, said the design is meant to address the social and economic challenges faced by many older people in our inner cities, namely loneliness and often a lack of connection with a diverse community.
There was strong competition for the award with the London College of Fashion's new headquarters in Stratford and the restoration of Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower among the contenders.
Care in the community
The development contains 59 bright, spacious flats arranged in a U-shape around a central garden courtyard.
A variety of plants, trees and a gentle water feature, that echoes throughout the building, gives a sense of a woodland oasis, allowing residents a constant connection to a green space in the heart of London.
Speaking on behalf of the RIBA Stirling Prize Jury, Ingrid Schroder, Director of The Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture, said: "By creating a radical and significant model that embraces co-living at a time where our demographics are shifting, Appleby Blue sets an ambitious standard for social housing among older people. Not only does it perform the rare act of freeing up accommodation while keeping residents embedded in their community, it shows that design, when infused with deep care, can meaningfully address the pressing issues of today.”
Stephen Witherford, from Witherford Watson Mann architects said: “Working closely and imaginatively with United St. Saviour’s Charity, we’ve made social housing aspirational, enabling people to grow old locally with the right support, benefiting both residents and the wider Southwark community. We’re honoured that the RIBA Stirling Prize recognises the power of architecture to create places that genuinely transform lives.”
