{"id":1153307,"date":"2026-08-17T08:06:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1153307\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T08:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:06:30","slug":"revealed-first-of-the-2026-aj-architecture-awards-shortlists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1153307\/","title":{"rendered":"Revealed: First of the 2026 AJ Architecture Awards shortlists"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">A total of 123 projects have been shortlisted across 21 categories for the ninth AJ Architecture Awards, the annual showcase of the very best built projects in the UK. The shortlists are being revealed over the course of this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Among the three finalists in the Civic category is Tonkin Liu\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/case-study-york-minster-centre-of-excellence-by-tonkin-liu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">York Minster Centre of Excellence<\/a>, a pair of heritage craft buildings that combine traditional stonemasonry with advanced digital fabrication. Also in the running are two libraries: one in King\u2019s Lynn by Hudson Architects; the other in West Wickham by Brimelow McSweeney Architects.<\/p>\n<p>The Community and Faith category also has three shortlisted schemes: Eagle House youth centre in Hastings by IFDO; Tamar Valley Crematorium, Plymouth, by Fatkin; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/john-puttick-associates-preston-youth-zone-opens\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vault Youth Zone<\/a> in Preston by John Puttick Associates.<\/p>\n<p>Cultural projects are split into two categories, covering schemes costing up to and over \u00a320 million, with 10 schemes shortlisted altogether, and Haworth Tompkins featuring in both:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/haworth-tompkins-completes-new-extension-for-old-vic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Backstage at The Old Vic<\/a>, London; and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/breaking-the-fourth-wall-theatr-clwyd-makeover-by-haworth-tompkins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Theatr Clwyd<\/a> in north-east Wales, respectively. Also in the over \u00a320 million category are Diller Scofidio + Renfro\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/stratford-superstore-va-east-storehouse-by-diller-scofidio-renfro\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">V&amp;A East Storehouse<\/a>, and Bennetts Associates\u2019 multi-arts hub in Hertford, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/case-study-beam-by-bennetts-associates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BEAM<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The expert judges, who are travelling the country to visit every shortlisted scheme, include Open House founder Victoria Thornton, winner of this year\u2019s AJ100 Contribution to the Profession prize. Joining her are celebrated Czech-born architect Eva Ji\u0159i\u010dn\u00e1; RCKa founding director Russell Curtis; Dow Jones director Biba Dow; V&amp;A head of capital programme Ingrid Petit; Jas Bhalla Works principal Jas Bhalla; and strategist Daisy Froud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In addition to stand-out design, the judges will consider how each project has met or exceeded its brief, how it has promoted client or community engagement and how it has excelled in the use of space or sense of place. They will also strictly analyse what sustainability measures have been put in place. Each project must have been completed between 1 January 2025 and 31 July 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The winners in the 21 categories, plus the three special award winners selected by the editors, will be announced at a celebratory dinner at the Royal Lancaster London on Thursday 26 November.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/awards.architectsjournal.co.uk\/2025\/en\/page\/home\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More information can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Civic Project<br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"breakout wp-image-835971 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5M2PQ53ZQBAATHL_TonkinLiu_Yorkminstser_HeritageQuadDavid_Valinsky-50_Large.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">York Minster Centre of Excellence by Tonkin Liu<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"font-size:12px; max-width: 1290px;\">Source: David Valinsky<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">King\u2019s Lynn Library by Hudson Architects<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">West Wickham Library by Brimelow McSweeney Architects<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">York Minster Centre of Excellence by Tonkin Liu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Community and Faith Project<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"breakout wp-image-835976 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/EONYVR9JA2I875Z_IFDO-Eagle_House-KillianOSullivan-0024-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2048\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eagle House by IFDO<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"font-size:12px; max-width: 2570px;\">Source: Kilian O\u2019Sullivan<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Eagle House by IFDO<\/li>\n<li>Tamar Valley Crematorium by Fatkin<\/li>\n<li>Vault Youth Zone by John Puttick Associates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cultural Project (up to \u00a320 million)<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"breakout wp-image-835991 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/EFUWPZA81BPWG4M_HenryMooreSheepBarn-JimStephenson-9_WebRes.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1600\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sheep Field Barn by DSDHA<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"font-size:12px; max-width: 2010px;\">Source: Jim Stephenson<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ArtPlay Pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery by Carmody Groarke<\/li>\n<li>Backstage at The Old Vic by Haworth Tompkins<\/li>\n<li>Power Hall, Science and Industry Museum Manchester by Carmody Groarke<\/li>\n<li>Sheep Field Barn by DSDHA<\/li>\n<li>The Harris Your Place by Buttress Architects<\/li>\n<li>Tullie House: A New Welcome by De Matos Ryan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cultural Project (\u00a320 million and over)<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"breakout wp-image-835997 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6WEMMBWBLPJI0YG_Theatr_Clwyd_External_Hero_View_Philip_Vile.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1732\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Theatr Clwyd by Haworth Tompkins<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"font-size:12px; max-width: 2510px;\">Source: Philip Vile<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>BEAM by Bennetts Associates<\/li>\n<li>Hopetown (Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter) by SPACE Architects<\/li>\n<li>Theatr Clwyd by Haworth Tompkins<\/li>\n<li>V&amp;A East Storehouse by Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 AJ Architecture Awards are sponsored by&#13;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"breakout alignnone wp-image-835962 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AJAA-SPONSORS.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"2480\" height=\"214\"  \/>&#13;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A total of 123 projects have been shortlisted across 21 categories for the ninth AJ Architecture Awards, the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1153308,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3939],"tags":[313807,4021,4020,122278,313808,55634,4022,77,16,15],"class_list":["post-1153307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-aj-architecture-awards-2026","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-civic","tag-community-and-faith","tag-cultural","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/117109826185740207","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1153307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1153307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1153307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1153308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1153307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1153307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1153307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}