Take a peek at the RIBA House of the Year 2023 finalists

Hard on the heels of the announcement of the winner of its Stirling Prize for the building of the year, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for its House of the Year 2023 award for the best home in the UK designed by an architect. Below are the shortlisted houses: follow the links to discover more, and see what you make of them… Perhaps you’ll find some inspirational ideas to use in your own Grand Design…

Shortlisted houses

Cowshed, South Devon, by David Kohn Architects  (above and below)

RIBA says: Comprising an artist’s studio, office, and generous living space, this project breathes new life into a former agricultural building. The owners have spent the last 15 years creating a community of homes in a farm compound, with Cowshed the last to be completed. Almost all of the 1970s agricultural structure has been retained while economical materials, including locally sourced concrete blocks and cedar form a nearby estate, have been elevated through careful use. Playful details include the reuse of lights previously used to warm calves, while carefully positioned windows with colourful reveals reference the owner’s artwork, injecting colour into the pared-back structure. 

Green House, Tottenham, London, by Hayhurst & Co (below)

RIBA says: Tucked away down an alley in London’s Tottenham, this exceptional five-bedroom house blurs boundaries between inside and outdoor spaces. A ‘riad’ style central atrium, bamboo and sliding polycarbonate screens all reference the greenhouses that once stood on the site, while double-aspect views to the gardens and a roof terrace further emphasise the connection to nature. A simple, block-form plan and creative use of sustainable materials inform the aesthetic, providing generous space and light within the modest budget.  

Hundred Acre Wood, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, by Denizen Works  (below)

RIBA says:  Paying homage to Scotland’s baronial castles, brochs and tower houses, this silver-grey building has a sculptural quality. Hunkered into its dramatic setting on the banks of Loch Awe it offers a retreat from the elements. It appears ancient and new at the same time. Unique interventions include a textured façade made from crushed TV screens, which is a playful nod to the homeowner’s dislike of TV. A two-metre roof-light lined in gold leaf fills a huge central hall with warm light, while enlarged window frames carefully curate views across the landscape, and thick walls with deep reveals add to the spectacular, fortress-like appearance.  

Made of Sand, Devon, by Studio Weave  (below)

RIBA says: This two-storey annexe sensitively extends a Devonshire stone cottage, creating a space to connect with nature and art. Working with local craftsmen, traditional methods have been delicately blended with contemporary design to create a calming environment to rest and creatively recharge. The heavily insulated timber frame is exposed both internally and externally, while western red cedar cladding and panels of Douglas fir on the interior anchor the property in the surrounding hills. The warm palette continues throughout with handmade terracotta floor tiles and rust-coloured plaster walls seamlessly bringing together the existing and new structures. 

Middle Avenue, Farnham, Surrey, by Rural Office  (below)

RIBA says: Replacing an inter-war bungalow in a Conservation Area, this contemporary home succeeds in perfectly connecting with the vernacular of its Surrey village setting. Meticulous research is evident in details such as the steeply pitched roof and white gables, the asymmetric design reflecting the aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts movement. Covered in handmade red clay Keymer tiles, the building forms a natural sequence with the others in the conservation area. The rigour of the architectural detailing and craftsmanship are evident throughout.  

Saltmarsh House, Isle of Wight, by Niall McLaughlin Architects  (below)

RIBA says: A pyramidal copper roof, with a crisp, minimalist eavesdrop edge, seems to hover above an intricate glass pavilion, taking reference from the repeating pitched-roofed glasshouses that once graced the same grounds. Large windows provide uninterrupted harbour views. The use of glass and steel create a sense of lightness and transparency that blends seamlessly into the surroundings.  

Jury’s verdict

Dido Milne, Director of CSK Architects, and chair of the jury awarding the prize, said of this year’s shortlist: ‘This year’s RIBA House of the Year shortlist includes a range of exciting new typologies, including a rethink of the family terraced house and a model for collective rural living. Here we have everything; from homes inserted into tight urban sites and new life breathed into existing structures, to detached rural homes where the architect has been given free rein to reimagine the baronial hall or lakeside retreat. Localism is a recurring theme, with architects engaging with the local vernacular without being slaves to tradition, and local sourcing of materials targeting both embodied and operational carbon to deliver genuinely sustainable design. 

‘The most notable aspect this year, however, is the power of “collaboration” to deliver great buildings. The fundamental importance of the client and architect relationship is evident in all the shortlisted projects, which demonstrate how an architect can bring a client’s dreams to life.’ 

The winner of the RIBA House of the Year 2023 will be announced on 30 November.