20 of the UK’s best buildings honored at 2025 RIBA National Awards

The Royal Institute of British Architects has unveiled the 20 winners of the 2025 RIBA National Awards. The series, presented since 1966, seeks to “recognize the best of UK architecture and provide insight into the country’s design and social trends.”

This year’s winners reflect the many and varied ways architects are being asked to work, and their incredible motivation and breadth of expertise,” awards chair Simon Henley said of the 2025 list. “As a profession, we now look to the past as much as the future, and to care and repair as we do to build. We continue to innovate but we also seek continuity, and in so doing to make work of every scale that is engaging and thoughtful. The power of architecture to transform society and inform our way of life is on full display in every winning project.”

RIBA National Award 2025 winners will now be considered for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new architecture, the shortlist of which will be announced on 4 September.

In the meantime, the 2025 RIBA National Award winners are:

8 Bleeding Heart Yard by GROUPWORK

"A highly detailed retrofit of a lifeless 1970s office building into a richly layered, sustainable workplace."

Aldourie Castle Estate by Ptolemy Dean Architects Ltd

"An elegant and exemplary conservation of a Grade A listed estate using local materials and crafts."

Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects

"A contemporary almshouse in Southwark cleverly designed to reduce social isolation for older generations"

Citizens House by Archio

"A community led development off 11 affordable homes in a former backyard garage site in Lewisham."

Costa’s Barbers by Brisco Loran and Arrant Industries

"A Battersea shop unit has been imaginatively converted into a flexible home and office."

Elizabeth Tower by Purcell

"Housing the symbolic bell and timepiece of the nation (Big Ben), the most comprehensive restoration of Elizabeth Tower in 160 years is a masterpiece in conservation and craftsmanship."

Fairburn Tower by Simpson & Brown for The Landmark Trust

"A meticulous conservation effort has restored a dilapidated Category A listed structure using traditional craftmanship."

Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects

"An inventive and finely detailed extension to a late 19th century house, working at the intersection of ethics and aesthetics."

Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing by Barefoot Architects

"53 timber-framed affordable homes form a sustainable, co-housing development in Bridport that is designed to embrace community."

HMP & YOI Stirling by Holmes Miller

"A therapeutic, trauma-informed women’s prison that provides spaces that promote dignity, equality and meaningful rehabilitation."

Hope Street by Snug Architects

"A quietly radical model for supporting women in the justice system, the modest architecture balances opposing needs to leave a lasting impact."

London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison

"A monumental piece of civic architecture, the new LCF brings together six former sites into one “vertical campus” on Stratford’s East Bank waterfront."

Niwa House by Takero Shimazaki Architects

"A timber framed, tranquil, Japanese style home designed to be fully wheelchair accessible."

Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects

"A twice fire-damaged Grade-II* listed church has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility."

Sidcup Storyteller by DRDH Architects

"A bold new red-brick library, cinema and co-working space has become the centrepiece of the high-street regeneration of Sidcup."

Student Hub, Queens Business School Belfast by TODD Architects

"An innovative and sustainable learning space that blends sensitively into the surrounding woodlands."

The Discovery Centre (DISC) by Herzog & de Meuron / BDP

"A welcoming, “triangular” medical research facility for AstraZeneca blending thoughtful placemaking with scientific innovation."

The Old Byre by Gianni Botsford Architects

"This conversion of two understated farm buildings on the Isle of Wight creates a new home while also offering residency and working spaces for visiting artists."

Triangle House by Artefact

"A playful and inventive extension to a 1950’s suburban home in Surrey"

Young V&A by AOC Architecture and De Matos Ryan

"The former Museum of Childhood has been reimagined into a light, bright and energising cultural destination for young visitors."