Stirling Prize 2023 Winners, John Morden Centre Blackheath, Mae London architects, UK architecture award, Building design news
Stirling Prize 2023 Winner News
26 + 20 October 2023
RIBA Stirling Prize London retirement home wins top architecture award
John Morden Centre in Blackheath, London
Design: Mae • Architects • Urban Designers • Researchers • Policy makers
Photos onlien soon by Jim Stephenson / RIBA
The John Morden Centre complements existing historical buildings dating back to the 17th Century
The John Morden Centre, a retirement day care facility in London, has won the UK’s leading architecture award.
The building in Blackheath was praised by the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize 2023 jury for its use of sustainable materials.
Designed by Mæ, the Riba judges said it set an example of how to “raise the bar of quality in social healthcare”.
It beat five rival contenders including A House for Artists and the University of Warwick’s Faculty of Arts.
Stirling Prize 2023 Finalists
The other finalists, in full, were:
– A House for Artists, Barking – Apparata Architects
– Central Somers Town Community Facilities and Housing, Camden – Adam Khan Architects
– Lavender Hill Courtyard Housing, Clapham – Sergison Bates architects
– Courtauld Connects – The Courtauld Institute of Art – Witherford Watson Mann Architects
– University of Warwick – Faculty of Arts – Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
The six buildings explored addressing a specific social problem, such as rising wealth disparities and housing shortages.
Riba president Muyiwa Oki said: “These six remarkable buildings offer thoughtful, creative responses to the really complex challenges we’re facing today.
“Whether it’s tackling loneliness, building communities or preserving our heritage, these projects lay out bold blueprints for purposeful architecture.”
Stirling Prize 2023 winning building – John Morden Centre
Judges said the centre set an example of how to “raise the bar of quality in social healthcare”
The John Morden Centre was added to a 300-year-old Grade One-listed residential and nursing site for the elderly, called Morden College.
It complements existing historical buildings dating back to the 17th Century. The almshouse and chapel have been attributed to St Paul’s Cathedral architect Sir Christopher Wren.
The centre is described as a series of red brick “pavilions” housing care and social spaces, stitched together by a central timber “cloister”.
It offers residents a variety of facilities such as an art room, a hair salon, nail bar and events space aimed at encouraging social interactions. This in turn supports healthier and longer lives.
‘Really fulfilling project’
The UK’s rapidly ageing population combined with a declining birth rate poses challenges in the longer term. According to a government report, “families will face increasing pressure to balance care with other responsibilities, particularly work. This is likely to mean that demand and supply of care will diverge”.
Around 19% or one-fifth of the UK population was aged 65 years or over in 2019. That is forecast to grow to around 24% of the population by 2043, or 17.4m people, resulting in further pressure on public services and the wider care industry unless more innovative solutions are found.
The head of the winning design agency Mæ called the John Morden Centre a “really fulfilling project to work on”.
“At a time when adult social care is in a perilous state, this award demonstrates that there is hope for the sector and the project offers up a model for others working within health and care – inspiring them to create environments that positively impact on people’s mental and physical health,” founding director Alex Ely said.
Speaking on behalf of the Riba Stirling Prize jury, Ellen van Loon, said: “The John Morden Centre is a place of joy and inspiration… This building provides comfort and warmth, with thoughtful features designed to prevent isolation.
“It illustrates how buildings can themselves be therapeutic – supporting care and instilling a sense of belonging”.
The building was praised for “thoughtful” features designed to prevent isolation.
Design features to meet the different needs and abilities of elderly residents include concealed wooden handrails and built-in seating along walkways. High-contrast patterns on the edges of floors help those living with dementia a visual way to navigate the building.
The centre uses principles of “biophilic design”, which means it connects with its surrounding natural environment. A large cedar tree, for example, is the focal point of the garden, with different seating areas to appreciate the changing natural light.
The building also used construction materials such as cross-laminated timber to reduce its carbon footprint, while lime-based mortar and passive ventilation, utilising the buildings chimneys, minimises the energy needed for heating and cooling.
Riba has given the award for the UK’s best new buildings since 1996. Judging criteria includes design vision, innovation and originality, the capacity to stimulate engage and delight, as well as accessibility and sustainability.
Previous winners include The New Library, Magdalene College in Cambridge by Níall McLaughlin Architects (2022), Bloomberg by Foster and Partners (2018) and the Liverpool Everyman Theatre by Haworth Tompkins (2014).
Stirling Prize 2023 Finalists, in alphabetical order:
Apparata Architects
Adam Khan Architects
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Mae Architects
Sergison Bates architects
Witherford Watson Mann Architects
Previously on e-architect:
Stirling Prize 2022 Shortlist
The RIBA Stirling Prize, is the UK’s most prestigious architecture award.
100 Liverpool Street
by Hopkins Architects
Forth Valley College – Falkirk Campus
by Reiach and Hall Architects
Forth Valley College Stirling
Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road
by Henley Halebrown
Hackney New Primary School Building
Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park
by Panter Hudspith Architects
Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park
Sands End Arts and Community Centre
by Mæ Architects
Sands End Arts and Community Centre
The New Library, Magdalene College
by Niall McLaughlin Architects
The New Library, Magdalene College
Images of the winners:
100 Liverpool Street, design by Hopkins Architects:
photograph © Charles Hosea
Forth Valley College, Stirling, design by Reiach and Hall Architects:
photo Courtesy architecture office
Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road, design by Henley Halebrown:
photo © Nick Kane
Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park, design by Panter Hudspith Architects:
photograph © Timothy Soar
Sands End Arts and Community Centre, design by Mæ Architects:
photo © Rory Gardiner
The New Library, Magdalene College, design by Niall McLaughlin Architects:
photo : Nick Kane
2021 Stirling Prize Winners
photo : Ed Reeve
The Royal Institute of British Architects names Kingston University London – Town House designed by Grafton Architects, as the winner of the 25th RIBA Stirling Prize.
Kingston University London Town House
Stirling Prize 2021 Shortlisted Building + Architects
Shortlist for RIBA Stirling Prize 2021, alphabetical order:
15 Clerkenwell Close, London, south east England
– by Groupwork
Cambridge Central Mosque, south east England
– by Marks Barfield Architects
Key Worker Housing, Eddington, Cambridge, south east England
– by Stanton Williams Architects
Kingston University London – Town House, London, south east England
– by Grafton Architects
Tintagel Castle Bridge, Cornwall, south west England
– by Ney & Partners, William Matthews Associates
Windermere Jetty Museum, north west England
– by Carmody Groarke Architects
2021 Stirling Prize Shortlisted Building + Architects
Key Worker Housing in Eddington, Cambridge
Design: Stanton Williams Architects
photo © Jack Hobhouse
Housing in Eddington
Tintagel Castle Bridge, Cornwall
Design: Ney & Partners, William Matthews Associates
photograph © David Levene
Tintagel Castle Bridge
Windermere Jetty Museum Building
Design: Carmody Groarke Architects
photo © Hufton – Crow
Windermere Jetty Museum
Cambridge Central Mosque Building
Design: Marks Barfield Architects
photo : Morley von Sternberg
Cambridge Central Mosque
15 Clerkenwell Close Building
Design: Groupwork + Amin Taha Architects
photo : Tim Soar
15 Clerkenwell Close
Kingston University London – Town House Building
Design: Grafton Architects
photo : Ed Reeve
Kingston University London – Town House
Stirling Prize 2019 Winner
Design: Mikhail Riches
Goldsmith Street, an eco-friendly council estate in Norwich.
photograph © Tim Crocker
Goldsmith Street Housing in Norwich
Stirling Prize 2018 Winner
Bloomberg London Headquarters building design by British architects Foster + Partners:
photo © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
photo © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Bushey Cemetery
by Waugh Thistleton Architects
Chadwick Hall
by Henley Halebrown
New Tate St Ives
by Jamie Fobert Architects with Evans & Shalev
Storey’s Field Community Centre and Nursery
by MUMA LLP
The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre
by Niall McLaughlin Architects
Stirling Prize 2018 Shortlisted Building + Architects on RIBA website
Stirling Prize 2017 Winner
Stirling Prize 2017 Winning Building + Architects
Hastings Pier, Sussex, Southeast England
Design: dRMM Architects
photo : Alex de Rijke
Hastings Pier on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Winner
Barretts Grove, Stoke Newington, Northeast London, Southeast England
Design: Amin Taha + Groupwork
Barretts Grove on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist
City of Glasgow College, City Campus, Glasgow, Scotland
Design: Reiach And Hall Architects and Michael Laird Architects
City of Glasgow College Building
Command of the Oceans, Chatham, Kent, Southeast England
Design: Baynes and Mitchell Architects
Command of the Oceans in Chatham on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist
Hastings Pier, Sussex, Southeast England
Design: dRMM Architects
Hastings Pier Regeneration on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist
Photography Studio, Ladbroke Grove, west London, Southeast England
Design: 6a architects
Photography Studio for Juergen Teller on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist
British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre, London, Southeast England
Design: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre on 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist
Stirling Prize 2016
Stirling Prize 2016 Buildings + Architects
2016 RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist – 14 Jul 2016
photo : Hélène Binet
Readers comments welcome! info(at)e-architect.com
Stirling Prize 2016 Shortlisted Buildings & Architects
Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, England
Herzog & de Meuron
image : Iwan Baan
Blavatnik School of Government University of Oxford
City of Glasgow College, Riverside Campus, Glasgow, Scotland
Michael Laird Architects / Reiach and Hall Architects
image : Keith Hunter
City of Glasgow College
Newport Street Gallery, Vauxhall, London, England
Caruso St John Architects
image : Hélène Binet
Newport Street Gallery Building
Outhouse, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Loyn & Co Architects
image : CHARLES HOSEA
Trafalgar Place, Elephant & Castle, London, England
dRMM Architects
image : Alex de Rijke
Trafalgar Place
Weston Library, University of Oxford, England
WilkinsonEyre
image : James Brittain
Weston Library at University of Oxford
RIBA Stirling Prize 2013
2013 RIBA Stirling Prize
Astley Castle wins
photograph © Hélène Binet
Astley Castle, Nuneaton, Warwickshire by Witherford Watson Mann
Stirling Prize Shortlist, alphabetical:
Astley Castle, Nuneaton, Warwickshire by Witherford Watson Mann
Chapel at Cuddesdon by Niall Maclaughlin
Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre by Heneghan Peng
Newhall Housing, Harlow, Essex by Alison Brooks Architects
Park Hill Sheffield by Hawkins/Brown and Studio Egret West
University of Limerick Medical School and Pergola Bus Shelter, Ireland by Grafton Architects
Stirling Prize 2013 – judges citations
RIBA Awards : contenders for the Stirling Prize
2012 Winner News
2012 RIBA Stirling Prize winner
The Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge
Stanton Williams
Sainsbury Laboratory was bookies second favourite (odds: 7/2)
Stirling Prize 2012 : further information on the shortlisted buildings
Stirling Prize Awards background on shortlist / buildings / architects / odds / favourite
Pritzker Prize architects – Architect Winners
Comments re Stirling Prize 2023 Winner news welcome.