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Witherford Watson Mann has been awarded the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize for their innovative Appleby Blue Almshouse in London, which redefines elder housing by emphasising community, wellbeing, and social cohesion amidst Britain\u2019s housing crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In a significant recognition of socially conscious architecture, Witherford Watson Mann (WWM) has won the prestigious 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize for their Appleby Blue Almshouse in London. This senior housing development, commissioned by the 500-year-old United St Saviour\u2019s Charity, was selected over notable competitors, including the restoration of Big Ben, residential projects, a college by Allies and Morrison, and a Cambridge lab facility by Herzog & de Meuron and BDP. The prize underscores WWM\u2019s growing reputation; this marks their second Stirling Prize win, the first being in 2013 for Astley Castle, and their fourth time on the shortlist. The firm now stands alongside major architectural names such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Richard Rogers Partnership (RSHP), and Wilkinson Eyre, noted for their global reach and strong UK portfolios.<\/p>\n
Appleby Blue embodies a revitalised concept of almshouses, which date back to the 10th century as one of the UK\u2019s oldest forms of social housing. Historically providing affordable accommodation for vulnerable groups, almshouses have gained fresh relevance in today\u2019s housing crisis. The project addresses acute challenges: a severe shortage of affordable housing, particularly for older people, and the growing loneliness epidemic within this demographic. Jury member and Architectural Association director Ingrid Schroder described the project as \u201ca clarion call for a new form of housing at a pivotal moment,\u201d celebrating its imaginative approach to nurturing community cohesion and wellbeing through design.<\/p>\n
WWM\u2019s architectural philosophy emphasises \u201clight, space and joy,\u201d qualities vividly realised in Appleby Blue. The design features 59 spacious, light-filled apartments arranged around a central courtyard garden, framed by oak bay windows stretching two stories. This communal heart serves as a vital social hub, complemented by wide balconies and shared amenity spaces that prioritise connection over private outdoor areas\u2014a move reflecting the needs of the residents. Stephen Witherford, firm director, highlights the project\u2019s success in promoting local ageing: \u201cWe\u2019ve created an environment that reduces loneliness, encourages connection, and supports a good later life\u2026 benefiting both residents and the wider Southwark community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The development champions a \u201cradical yet gentle\u201d reimagining of retirement living by fostering social bonds and allowing elderly residents to remain rooted in familiar urban environments. Delivered in collaboration with Southwark Council and developer JTRE, Appleby Blue contrasts starkly with last year\u2019s Stirling Prize winner, the Elizabeth Line\u2014here, human scale and social infrastructure lie at the core of architectural value. The design\u2019s emphasis on community-oriented features like a shared roof garden and community kitchen further enhances its social impact.<\/p>\n
The accolade for Appleby Blue also rekindles attention on WWM\u2019s 2013 Stirling Prize-winning restoration of Astley Castle, a project that uniquely blended contemporary architecture into a historic ruined structure, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage. This history of thoughtful architectural intervention\u2014whether in historic restoration or innovative social housing\u2014illustrates WWM\u2019s commitment to integrating practical needs and poetic design.<\/p>\n
Despite recent criticisms that the Stirling Prize tends to centre on London projects or neglect pressing social issues, Appleby Blue represents a clear exception, with a tangible daily impact on its residents\u2019 lives. The project\u2019s success highlights the potential for architecture to address societal challenges of ageing, loneliness, and housing affordability in ways that enrich communities and promote wellbeing.<\/p>\n