New South London council housing dubbed a 'living landscape' wins this year's RIBA Stirling Prize

A south London council complex dubbed a 'living landscape' has claimed victory at the prestigious Stirling Prize for architecture - beating two Cambridge University projects for the top spot. 

Lion Green Road, a council-commissioned housing complex in Coulsdon, South London, was announced as the winner of the lucrative 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize on Thursday evening.

The complex - created by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFFARCHITECTS for Croydon Council - houses 157 equally split privately owned and socially rented homes which are sat across five prismatic 13-sided blocks and can accommodate up to 635 residents. 

Although constructed on a sloping site varying in height by eight metres, each block is carefully rotated and positioned to align with the site's topography, creating a new 'living landscape' which offers distinct views of its surrounding parklands and the Surrey Iron Railway.

The homes, intended to blend into their natural environment, are decorated in an earth-toned colour palette, offering private balconies and drawing in natural light in a 'dual-aspect' design. 

On site, Lion Green Road also provides children's play areas, as well as sensory trails and residents' allotments to support wildlife and offer opportunities for recreation and community. 

Lion Green Road, a council-commissioned housing complex in south London, has won the lucrative RIBA Stirling Prize for 2026

The complex delivers 157 homes across five blocks that can house up to 635 residents

The homes offer a 'dual-aspect' design, drawing in natural light but also offering private balconies 

Speaking on behalf of the RIBA Stirling Prize Jury, Chris Williamson, RIBA President, said the housing complex highlights how 'density can be achieved without compromising the quality' of new builds.

Mr Williamson said: 'Through a consistent specification, with subtle variation in height and orientation, it offers housing at scale without uniformity. The architects have created a new kind of garden neighbourhood that balances privacy and generous views with a strong connection to nature - it's a living landscape. 

'This is thoughtful, resourceful architecture that proves that even the most challenging of sites can be transformed into truly distinctive places for people to call home.'

Mary Duggan, speaking on behalf of Mary Duggan Architects, RUFFARCHITECTS and the London Borough of Croydon, added Lion Green Road supports a 'rich culture of dwelling' through its unique design. 

She said: 'We believe the significance of Lion Green Road lies in what it says about the future of housing: that architectural ambition, social value and generosity can co-exist within the realities of contemporary development. 

'The project transforms a challenging suburban site into 157 homes woven through a mature, accessible landscape, using topography, shared space and carefully calibrated thresholds to support a rich culture of dwelling. 

The homes are decorated in an earth-toned-colour palette intended to blend into the natural environment

The complex creates a new 'living landscape' which offers distinct views of surrounding parklands and the Surrey Iron Railway

Shortlisted for the prize was Cambridge University's Pembroke Mill Lane, the most significant expansion of Pembroke College since the 14th century

A new wing for the Grade I-listed Clare College in Cambridge missed out on the top spot 

Paddington Square - west London's new shopping and dining quarter - was also shortlisted for the prize 

New multi-functional arts venue, BEAM, in Hertfordshire failed to take home first place at the awards

A private villa in Epping Forest, known as the House at Fairmead, was also shortlisted for the prize 

'Its transformative values are not expressed through spectacle, but through the everyday experience of living in a secure, generous environment - supporting privacy and encounter, independence and belonging, and the multiple patterns of contemporary domestic life.' 

First awarded in 1996, the RIBA Stirling Prize is judged on a range of criteria like design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction. 

And there was stiff competition for this year's award, which included an expansion to the historic Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge and a further addition to the university's Clare College. 

Additional contenders were London's dining and shopping complex, Paddington Square, cultural centre BEAM in Hertfordshire, and a private villa in Epping Forest known as the House at Fairmead.

Last year's top spot went to The Appleby Blue Almshouse, by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, who nabbed first place for its community-centered design.

The retirement complex, nestled in Bermondsey in London, reimagines later living as a collective experience, integrating features to help reduce social isolation among the elderly.

Previous winners include London's Elizabeth Line train network which took home the prestigious award in 2024 for its 'flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport'.