London's Elizabeth Line has won the most prestigious award for architecture in Britain. Image: Hufton + Crow
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London’s Elizabeth Line and a development regarded as a ‘blueprint’ for the future of social housing have picked up prestigious architectural awards from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
RIBA has been crowning Britain’s best new building through the Stirling Prize since 1996 in recognition of the best architecture has to offer. The Elizabeth Line runs from Reading and Heathrow to Essex and South East London. The line accommodates 700,000 passengers every weekday and spans 62 miles of track and 26 miles of tunnels.
The excavation project to create the new line became part of Britain’s largest-ever archaeological dig, uncovered a wealth of historical artefacts, including a Tudor bowling ball and the remains of a 55-million-year-old woolly mammoth.
Six million tonnes of earth were excavated to create room for the network’s tunnels, which was repurposed to create a nature reserve in Essex.
Given in honour of modernist architect and social housing pioneer Neave Brown, the annual award recognises the UK’s best new affordable housing. The development is named in honour of the late Dr Abdul Chowdhury who campaigned for additional PPE for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chowdhury Walk is part of an ambitious programme of new generation council housing by Hackney Council. The development features 11 new two, three and four bedroom dwellings, seven of which are for social rent. A public thoroughfare has also been created for pedestrians and cyclists, providing the community a new way to cross the neighbourhood.
In particular, the homes are built on a plot previously occupied by garages and ad-hoc parking – a nod to Labour’s housing policy to turn neglected brownfield land into homes.
She said: “A new public mews provides both informal space to play and a well-used new public route. The homes feel uplifting upon entering, with the simple intuitive floor plan making efficient use of space while supporting the busyness of family life.
“Attention to detailing and quality of materials and finishes runs through every aspect of the project both internally and externally. Hackney Council’s aspirations and support are integral to the project, prioritising architect-led design and construction quality for residents, as well as an ambitious approach to procurement.”
Architects described Chowdhury Walk as having a ‘distinctive sculptural quality’, and provides residents with added privacy.
Chowdhury Walk is uniquely staggered, moving away from the UK’s traditional linear terrace house arrangement. It features triple-glazed windows and built-in solar panels on the mono-pitched roofs help to minimise residents’ energy use.
Jessam Al-Jawad, founding partner at Al-Jawad Pike, a London-based architectural practice, said: “Chowdhury Walk, an infill housing scheme in Hackney, London, is both modest and pioneering. It demonstrates what is possible when a local authority elects to develop its own brownfield sites to address housing needs and enhance the local neighbourhood.
“The design shows that even with a limited budget, creative solutions can produce social housing that offers moments of joy. It’s a clear commitment to tackling the housing crisis by employing young local architects to deliver innovative solutions for the community.”
Of the Stirling Prize winner itself, Muyiwa Oki, RIBA president and jury chair, said: “The Elizabeth Line is a triumph in architect-led collaboration, offering a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport.
“It’s an uncluttered canvas that incorporates a slick suite of architectural components to create a consistent, line-wide identity – through which thousands of daily passengers navigate with ease.
“Descending into the colossal network of tunnels feels like entering a portal to the future, where the typical commuter chaos is transformed into an effortless experience.
The Elizabeth Line features step-free access throughout, hidden acoustic mats to reduce noise, and escalator motion sensors that minimise energy waste.
“This is architecture of the digital age – a vast scheme that utilises cutting-edge technology to create distinctive spatial characteristics and experiences.
“It rewrites the rules of accessible public transport, and sets a bold new standard for civic infrastructure, opening up the network and by extension, London, to everyone.”
Neill McClements, partner at Grimshaw, added: “The Elizabeth Line is a piece of infrastructure that has been transformative, not only for London’s transport network but also for many people’s lives, highlighting the role design plays in elevating our every day.
“It is also a recognition of the challenges that our profession faces today – the responsibility we have to rapidly respond to the climate emergency, decarbonise our cities and prioritise social and economic equity.
“We know this is only achievable through collaboration and the Stirling Prize recognises all of the design and construction teams that have come together to make the project the success that it is.”
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