Six Emerging Architects Spotlighted in London as 2025 Stephen Lawrence Prize Shortlist Unveiled
On July 30, 2025, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) revealed the shortlist for the 2025 Stephen Lawrence Prize, an annual award dedicated to recognizing architectural projects led by early-career architects.
The prize isn’t just about beautiful buildingsit’s about spaces that tell stories, offer community value, and embrace sustainability with purpose.
This year’s jury chair, Matthew Goldschmied, described the selected projects as “narratives of joy, integrity, and generosity toward people, place, and planet.”
Six Projects, Six Distinct Visions
The shortlist brings together six projects of modest scale but powerful intention from churches repurposed into community hubs, to carbon-neutral nurseries and revitalized historic homes.
Each project reflects a unique take on the role of architecture in everyday life.
Knepp Wilding Kitchen – West Sussex
Project Architect: Toko Andrews – Kaner Olette Architects
On a once-derelict farm site, this project transformed a cluster of decaying buildings into a vibrant space for food and ecology.
The site now hosts a café, restaurant, and farm shop showcasing sustainable local produce part of the UK’s first rewilding initiative.
Hallelujah Project – London
Project Architect: Helena Tunbridge – Peregrine Bryant Architects
In the former home of composer George Frideric Handel, later inhabited by Jimi Hendrix, the team created a museum that bridges classical and modern music history preserving the spirit of two musical giants in one unique space.
Pine Heath – North London
Project Architect: Louis Hagen Hall – Studio Hagen Hall
This whole-house retrofit focused on environmental performance while respecting the modernist character of the original design.
Key upgrades improved energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions without erasing the building’s architectural identity.
St. Mary’s Church – Walthamstow
Project Architect: Alex Spicer Matthew Lloyd Architects
A Grade II* listed church on the verge of obsolescence has been transformed into a light-filled, welcoming space that now serves the local community through events and programs.
Woodlands Nursery – Staffordshire University
Project Architect: Jack Baker – Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Built on a former parking lot, this timber-clad nursery was designed as a carbon-neutral facility, offering a safe, low-impact learning environment for young children.
The Jackson Library – Exeter College, Oxford
Project Architect: Joe Dent – Nex
A bold interior transformation has reimagined this aging college library into a contemporary learning space, filled with daylight, flexibility, and warmth designed to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century students.
Winner to Be Announced This October
The winner will be revealed during the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday, October 16, 2025, marking another milestone in recognizing rising talent in British architecture.
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