Prize for new homes

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a new prize – the Neave Brown Award for Housing.

The late Neave Brown (1929 to 2018) was a socially-motivated, modernist architect, best known for designing a series of celebrated London housing estates.

In 2018, he was awarded the UK’s highest honour for architecture – the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture.

All 2019 RIBA Regional Award-winning housing projects that meet published criteria will be considered for the inaugural Neave Brown Award for Housing.

RIBA president Ben Derbyshire says: “It is an honour to announce a new, very special RIBA award dedicated to the late Neave Brown.

“Neave’s contribution to housing will not be forgotten. He was a passionate pioneer

who sought radical housing solutions to improve the lives of the local communities he served, and much can be learnt from his work.

“According to RIBA research, in some parts of the country, just one in five people would choose to live in a newly built home.

“Architects, developers and local authorities must design and build homes that people want, and this country desperately needs.

“I have high hopes that this new award will play a role in raising the bar and recognising good-quality, sustainable housing that will meet the needs of current and future generations.”

Photo: Garath Gardner