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A \u00a325 million development in Southwark redefines traditional almshouses by fostering community and reducing loneliness among older residents, earning the prestigious 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Appleby Blue Almshouse, a social housing development in Southwark, London, designed by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize. The project, commissioned by United St Saviour\u2019s Charity, represents a significant reimagining of the traditional almshouse, aiming to provide aspirational, high-quality homes for older residents while fostering a vibrant sense of community and combating loneliness.<\/p>\n
The \u00a325 million development comprises 57 one-bedroom flats specifically designed for people aged 65 and over. These apartments are arranged around a landscaped central courtyard, a serene space that brings natural light deep into the building, creating an inviting environment for residents. The project features communal areas including a ground-floor hall and kitchen facing the street to encourage interaction not only among residents but also with the wider community. Enclosed access balconies overlook the courtyard, providing sheltered spots for socialising and casual conversations aimed at reducing isolation.<\/p>\n
Stephen Witherford, director of Witherford Watson Mann, explained that the collaboration with United St Saviour\u2019s Charity sought to design \u201can environment that reduces loneliness, encourages connection, and supports a good later life.\u201d He highlighted the charity\u2019s commitment to making social housing aspirational, enabling people to age locally with adequate support, benefiting both residents and the wider Southwark community.<\/p>\n
The thoughtful design also facilitates visual connections with the surrounding Victorian gardens, and residents enjoy access to a private garden located atop the two-storey block capping the courtyard. This integration of green spaces underscores a holistic approach to wellbeing and community engagement.<\/p>\n
The jury chair for the Stirling Prize, Ingrid Schroder, director of the Architectural Association, praised Appleby Blue Almshouse as \u201ca hopeful and imaginative response\u201d to the pressing issues of housing shortages and loneliness among older people. She emphasised that the project exemplifies how architecture, infused with deep care, can blend functionality with community-building to create environments that truly look after their residents.<\/p>\n
In addition to winning the Stirling Prize, Appleby Blue Almshouse also received the Neave Brown Award for Housing, with United St Saviour\u2019s Charity recognised as Client of the Year. This dual accolade highlights the project’s pioneering role in setting new benchmarks for social housing tailored to older generations.<\/p>\n
The project joins a lineage of notable designs tackling housing challenges for later life, following M\u00e6 Architects\u2019 2023 Stirling Prize-winning John Morden Centre in Blackheath, which likewise combined housing and community spaces to support older residents.<\/p>\n
Other commendations at the awards event included the Reinvention Award, won by Hugh Broughton Architects for their work on Sheerness Dockyard Church, which restored and revitalised a historic building for public enjoyment. Hugh Broughton expressed great enthusiasm about this recognition, noting the collaboration with Martin Ashley Architects and the Dockyard Trust to reveal architectural splendours for the people of Sheerness.<\/p>\n
The Stephen Lawrence Prize, which celebrates schemes led by early career architects, was awarded to St Mary\u2019s Walthamstow, a project led by Alex Spicer at Matthew Lloyd Architects, also among the evening\u2019s distinguished winners.<\/p>\n
Overall, Appleby Blue Almshouse exemplifies a transformative model in social housing design, demonstrating how attentive architecture can support the wellbeing and social connections of older residents while integrally linking the development to its urban context.<\/p>\n