Pritzker Prize winner Grafton Architects added another trophy to its collection this week, taking home the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize for Kingston University London’s Town House.

Irish architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara were named last year’s Pritzker Prize laureates, with the jury celebrating the duo for the “integrity in their approach to both their buildings, as well as the way they conduct their practice”.

Kingston University London’s Town House was one of six building shortlisted for the 2021 Stirling Prize. The Royal Institute for British Architecture’s award for the most significant new building of the year took a break in 2020 following COVID-19 restrictions.

In its announcement of the 2021 winner, the jury described the Grafton Architects’ project as a progressive new model for the design of higher education buildings.

“Grafton Architects has designed a purposefully democratic and open space, as its name suggests: Town – referring to the building’s civic dimension, and House – reflecting a sense of home and belonging,” it wrote.

“Many of the students at Kingston are the first in their family to attend university and this building sends an important message to them, their educators and the local community, that this is a place where everyone is welcome and valued.”

Located in southwest London, the six-storey building is the Dublin-based practice’s first in the UK. The almost $80,000,000 project was awarded to Grafton Architects following a 2013 RIBA design competition and features both a contemporary library and performance spaces.

The RIBA jury made particular note of Town House’s interaction with the street, noting that it extends the public realm, “generously blurring its boundary with the pavement and inviting everyone in”.

With terraces, gardens and a permeable facade that’s open and transparent at the lower levels, the building offers a glimpse to passersby of the performance spaces inside, become more shaded at the upper library levels.

Exemplary acoustic design enables the bustling public forum, quiet library, archive, dance studio and theatre to co-exist within the one building.

“Generous volumes allow people, light and air to flow naturally through the building, which also uses a thermally-activated concrete frame to reduce operational energy use,” added the RIBA jury.

“This highly-adaptable building will stand the test of time and provide an inspiring environment for students, residents and visitors for years to come.”

Meanwhile, the Cambridge Mosque Trust was named RIBA Client of the Year 2021. The project was one of the six shortlisted for the Stirling Prize with Marks Barfield Architects being recognised for designing a breathtaking, highly-sustainable place of worship for the local Muslim community.

The Stephen Lawrence Prize 2021 winner – awarded to projects with a construction budget of less than £1 million – went to the Water Tower by Tonkin Liu.

Originally an industrial steel water tower, the building has been reinvented and restored to create a unique rural family home. 

Finally, McGrath Road by Peter Barber Architects took home the Neave Brown Award for Housing 2021, which recognises the UK’s best affordable housing. 

Lead photo: Kingston University’s Town House by Ed Reeve.