{"id":929345,"date":"2026-04-30T21:47:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T21:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/929345\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T21:47:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T21:47:20","slug":"aj-small-projects-2026-winners-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/929345\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Small Projects 2026 winners revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The self-build house in Catford, south London, was named overall winner of the AJ\u2019s \u2018best in low-cost design\u2019 project prize at an event at the University of Liverpool School of Architecture\u2019s new extension<\/a> by O\u2019Donnell + Tuomey on Thursday night (30 April).<\/p>\n

The \u2018terraced house in waiting\u2019 was considered best in class among the 20 shortlisted projects costing up to \u00a3399,000 following a day of live judging, and announced as winner in front of 300 attendees.<\/p>\n

Judges said the project, a family home for the practice\u2019s director, addressed the issue of the national housing crisis and provided a blueprint for \u2018addressing bigger issues about how a family could afford a house in London and that it creates a framework for doing so\u2019.<\/p>\n

Two projects received Highly Commended awards. They were Shine a Light on Wilcox Road by NOOMA Studio, which judges said was a \u2018human project\u2019 in Lambeth, south London, that had a strong community purpose and \u2018shone a light\u2019 on problems around high street decline and renewal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Its more than what was represented and more than pink lampposts\u2019, judges added, but an \u2018urban design challenge that shows a way for future regeneration of the high street\u2019, while using local people and maintaining a realistic budget.<\/p>\n

The second Highly Commended award was handed to Culmore Fort by Mark Hackett Architect, a project that restored a 15th-century tower house at Culmore Point in Derry, Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

Judges highlighted the scheme for \u2018enabling change of use\u2019 in a\u00a0 \u2018sensitive and faithful\u2019 way while \u2018reusing local skills\u2019 through the Northern Ireland\u2019s Heritage Division.<\/p>\n

The winner of the People\u2019s Choice Award, voted by readers online and based on over 1,200 votes, was The Big Shed by KAST Architects with 31.4 per cent (395) of all votes. The scheme was the clear winner, with second place attracting 21.1 per cent (266).<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s ceremony, hosted within the\u00a0landmark new building by O\u2019Donnell + Tuomey at the University of Liverpool<\/a>, was the debut public event at the newly revamped and extended architecture school. It was also the first time in the awards\u2019 31-year-history that they have taken place outside London.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Irish practice\u2019s three-storey extension and remodelling of the school\u2019s existing accommodation, combines new studios, exhibition areas, teaching spaces, offices and a caf\u00e9, alongside the adaptation of its 1930s home.<\/p>\n

The space will now showcase the awards\u2019 shortlist of inventive, low-budget architecture through a month-long exhibition open to students and visitors.<\/p>\n

The jury included the project architect behind Liverpool School of Architecture\u2019s recently completed extension.<\/p>\n

Willie Carey, director at the Irish practice O\u2019Donnell + Tuomey and head of its Cork branch joined a panel which also featured<\/a> Liverpool-founded shedkm\u2019s Hazel Rounding, Marco Iuliano of the University of Liverpool \u2013 who devised and led the contest for the new building \u2013 and community-focused designer Lily Dowse of social enterprise PLACED.<\/p>\n

The 20 shortlisted practices presented their projects to the jury in a live, crit-style session ahead of the\u00a0awards ceremony. The session was open to university students, and this was followed by a closed deliberation, chaired by the AJ\u2019s Fran Williams and Rob Wilson.<\/p>\n

Now in its 31st year, AJ Small Projects 2026 received more than 170 entries, all now available in the recently relaunched\u00a0AJ Buildings Library<\/a>. From these, a shortlist of 20 standout projects was selected<\/a>, spanning public realm schemes, studios and workshops, caf\u00e9s, theatre lobbies, pavilions, community hubs and a series of inventive home extensions.<\/p>\n

Each was completed for under \u00a3399,000. While that cap has risen over time, the awards\u2019 purpose remains unchanged: to celebrate projects that achieve more with less through design excellence.<\/p>\n

First launched in 1995 \u2013 when Anthony Grimshaw Associates won for the Garden Gazebo \u2013 the programme has become a platform for emerging practices. Previous winners, including Carmody Groarke and Haworth Tompkins, have gone on to achieve international recognition.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s 30th anniversary edition saw three joint winne<\/a>rs: Material Cultures (with Central Saint Martins), OEB Architects and WonKy, recognised for their respective strengths in sustainability, social impact and material innovation.<\/p>\n

Run in association with Marley<\/a>, which has sponsored the awards for 15 years, AJ Small Projects continues to demonstrate that limited budgets can produce bold, impactful design.<\/p>\n

The full shortlist is\u00a0available online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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O\u2019Donnell + Tuomey\u2019s new school of architecture at Liverpool University<\/p>\n

Full list of past AJ Small Projects winners<\/p>\n