According to the institute, this year’s shortlisted projects – which include the Appleby Blue Almshouse in Southwark by former Stirling Prize-winner Witherford Watson Mann Architects – all ‘use exceptional design to address wider social and environmental issues, placing people and communities at the heart of their work’.
The other finalists are Bridport Cohousing, a 53-home scheme 16 years in the making led by Barefoot Architects, Archio’s community-led Citizen House project in Lewisham, and the Tower Court council housing development in Hackney by Adam Khan Architects with Muf Architecture/Art and Child Graddon Lewis.
Dean Pike, founding director of Al-awad Pike, co-founder of last year’s winner and chair of the 2025 jury, said the shortlist ‘reflects the enduring relevance of Neave Brown’s vision – that housing should foster community, offer dignity and be rooted in place’.
He added: ‘The jury was unanimous in recognising that each project responds, in its own way, to the social and environmental pressures shaping housing today, reworking familiar typologies and exploring new models of shared living and sustainability.’
He said the shortlist includes projects from urban almshouses to rural co-housing to community infill development and ‘family homes woven into shared landscape’, adding that ‘each project places people at its centre’.
The Neave Brown Award for Housing is named after modernist architect and social housing pioneer Neave Brown (1929-2018).
Source:French+Tye
Neave Brown Awards for Housing 2025 finalist: Citizens House by Archio
The four projects shortlisted for the 2025 Neave Brown Award for Housing:
- Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects
A ‘re-interpreted traditional almshouse’ with 57 homes for older people in Bermondsey, Southwark. The project involved private developers, public money and voluntary organisations to create a ‘socially conscious’ example of sheltered housing. - Citizens House by Archio
An 11-unit affordable homes development in Lewisham which promotes interaction among residents while providing a play space for children. Archio was selected as architects by members of the local community. - Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing by Barefoot Architects
The largest completed cohousing development in the UK with 53 ‘climate-resilient’ homes, a common house and shared green spaces. - Tower Court by Adam Khan Architects, Muf Architecture/Art and Child Graddon Lewis Architects
Part of a ‘unilateral undertaking to deliver affordable housing across 18 estates’, providing 132 mixed tenure homes for Hackney Council.
As well as Pike, the 2025 jury also includes Claudia Lynch, a director at Lynch Architects, and Victoria Mack, the step-daughter of Neave Brown
The Neave Brown Award shortlist is selected from RIBA Regional Awards 2025 winners.
The Neave Brown winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Wednesday 16 October 2025 at the Roundhouse in London.
Neave Brown Awards for Housing 2025 finalist: Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects