Some buildings capture the imagination. Here are five that proved major hits with our readers – and often with Stirling Prize judges too – reaching from London, Sheffield and Dorchester all the way down under to Sydney’s metro line
Chowdhury Walk, Hackney, London, by Al-Jawad Pike
This crisp pedestrianised terrace for Hackney Council was a major hit, covered in three of our top stories. The other pieces reported on its completion and RIBA National Award, but this fascinating interview with practice co-founder Jessam Al-Jawad accompanied its Stirling Prize shortlisting, revealing its European-inspired materials, aspirations to ‘fat-free’ status, and how its granite cobbles disintegrate into green: ‘There’s something unique to the UK about greenery growing into manmade areas.’
Peckham House, Cicely Road, by Surman Weston
This handsome terraced house in south London suggests a fondness for the typology among our readers. A self-build infill project by young practice Surman Weston, it occupies a tight corner site, but is given visual interest by the varied brickwork of its facade, which recedes into a hit-and-miss parapet hiding a secluded roof-garden oasis. With its sustainable construction and practical layout, this spacious, joyful family home has since been shortlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year.
Park Hill Phase 2, Sheffield, by Mikhail Riches
Another interview accompanying a Stirling Prize shortlisting, and proof we do get outside London. The second phase of the renovation of this listed Brutalist masterpiece is discussed by practice co-founder Annalie Riches, once a student at Sheffield. Alongside the complex process of improving energy efficiency, Riches talks about her decision to keep original brickwork while introducing updated layouts and spatial standards, giving new life – and a new sense of community – to ‘a building with a lot of baggage’.
Wraxall Yard, Dorchester, by Clementine Blakemore
When it walked off with multiple awards in May – later followed by a Stirling Prize shortlisting – we covered this ‘breath of fresh air’ in accommodation for people with disabilities. Situated in a disused Dorset dairy farm, Wraxall Yard also incorporates community space, holiday lets and an educational smallholding. The scheme, which involved extensive consultation, couples sensitive restoration with clever landscaping to reduce clutter, while prioritising wildlife biodiversity, to create what is widely regarded as ‘an emotional experience’.
Sydney Metro, Sydenham to Chatswood
This final one is a bit of a cheat, but stories early in the year have time to rack up hits. This recent one is racing up the charts, with British practices Foster + Partners, Grimshaw and John McAslan + Partners all designing majestic stations for Sydney’s acclaimed new line. It also gives us the chance to take you to Australia, giving a hint of our international purview. But if you’re a UK transport fan, you could always take a look at another hit, our piece on Stirling Prize-winner The Elizabeth Line.