The shortlist for the 2026 Stirling Prize is announced
Projects here in the East of England make up half of those in the running for the 2026 Stirling Prize.
A house at Fairmead, in Epping Forest, and two Cambridge college transformations have made it onto RIBA’s converted shortlist.
In Cambridge, one of the projects is the most significant expansion of Pembroke College since the 14th century.
This carefully weaves together new and existing buildings within Cambridge’s Historic Core Conservation Area.
Six existing buildings have been carefully retrofitted, benefiting from upgraded insulation, improved glazing and enhanced thermal performance, while the six new buildings employ passive design measures, including triple glazing, exposed thermal mass and photovoltaic panels to reduce energy consumption.
Open-air timber-framed walkways and biodiverse gardens stitch together the old and new sites, helping open up the college to the public and resulting in a campus that balances heritage, sustainability and requirements for modern use.
The success of the Haworth Tompkins project lies in the great skill and care taken to navigate the demands of the sensitive historic context with a mindset on the future.
River Wing at the Grade I-listed Clare College in Cambridge, sensitively transforms a series of underused and undervalued spaces into a warm, informal setting.
Constrained site access, highly protected heritage buildings and a site with flood and drainage risks have been skilfully navigated by Witherford Watson Mann Architects to create a beautifully judged dining space for students and staff.
Impeccable detailing and a restrained palette of oak, for structure and wall panelling, sit on Purbeck stone floors, complementing the building’s existing brick walls.
There is an obvious respect for the surrounding college buildings. As they unfold towards the river, the new interiors are of rare poetic quality.
This work is contemporary in reality yet ancient in its sensibility, a remarkable illustration of the architect’s art.
Then, on the edge of Epping Forest, Sergison Bates has responded sensitively to the rural setting through restrained material choice and a dignified design sensibility for a home.
Varied brickwork and windows of differing shapes and sizes appear to dance across the facade, giving the building an expressive form.
Considered construction techniques, including insulating clay blocks finished with lime plaster, allow the structure to both release heat gradually – regulating temperature – and reduce noise.
Inside, the house is organised around a dramatic 4.5m high living room bathed in natural light, while conventional corridors are replaced with deep openings in thick walls to link each room, creating a sequence of distinct yet interconnected spaces.
The other three projects include a rejuvenated community hub on the banks of the River Lea and generous high-density suburban housing in Coulsdon.
Also on the shortlist is Paddington Square by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Paris) in collaboration with Adamson Associates (London)
Here, a long-standing disconnected site has been reimagined with the public realm at its heart, creating a welcoming destination for one of London’s busiest transport interchanges.
RIBA president, Chris Williamson, said: “This year's shortlist shows us what architecture can achieve when creativity, purpose and public value come together.
“In their distinct ambitions to revitalise communities, transform public infrastructure, deliver exemplary housing, carefully evolve historic institutions and create a thoughtful new home, these projects show that UK architecture is not only defined by style, but by true impact on people and place.
“As the Stirling Prize marks its 30th year, this exceptional shortlist joins a distinguished legacy of projects that represent the very best of British architecture, where ambition, ingenuity and social responsibility combine to create places of lasting value.”
The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2026 will be announced on Thursday, October 15.