RIBA Manser Medal 2011 Longlist Announced for the Best New House in the UK

Seventeen exceptional new homes form the longlist for the RIBA Manser Medal 2011 for the best new house or major extension in the UK in association with HSBC Private Bank. From small urban homes squeezed into tight city sites to woodland hideaways and dramatic beachfront villas, the 2011 longlist reveals some of the most cutting-edge trends in housing design and lifestyle choices and recognizes some of the UK’s most talented architects.

Previous winners include Acme for Hunsett Mill (2010), Pitman Tozer Architects for The Gap House (2009), Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners for Oxley Woods (2008) and Alison Brooks Architects for the Salt House (2007).

This year’s judges include Michael Manser CBE, architect; Friedrich Ludwig, architect with ACME; Peter Mackie, Managing Director, Property Vision (subsidiary of HSBC Private Bank); and Tony Chapman, Hon FRIBA, RIBA Head of Awards.

The seventeen houses on the longlist are:

• Balancing Barn, Suffolk by MVRDV in collaboration with Mole Architects
• Bavent House, Suffolk by Hudson Architects
• Blue Door, Monmouthshire by Hall & Bednarczyk Architects
• Carnathan Lane, Northern Ireland by Twenty Two Over Seven
• Hampstead Lane, London by Dugan Morris Architects
• House in Epsom, Surrey by Eldridge Smerin
• Hoxton House, London by David Mikhail Architects
• Love Shack, Lake District by Sutherland Hussey Architects
• Meat Factory, Nottingham by Marsh:Grochowski Architects
• New Mission Hall, Sussex by Adam Richards Architects
• Shadow House, London by Liddicoat & Goldhill
• Shingle House, Dungeness, Kent by NORD Architecture
• Strange House, London by Hugh Strange Architects
• The Houl, Castle Douglas, Scotland by Simon Winstanley Architects
• Ty-Hedfan, Brecon, Wales by Featherstone Young
• Watson House New Forest by John Pardy Architects
• White House, Isle of Coll, Hebrides by WT Architecture

Ruth Reed, RIBA President, said: "The best new private homes are those designed by an architect to meet the client’s personal needs and aspirations and add real value to the homeowner’s life and happiness. This year’s longlist for the RIBA Manser Medal in association with HSBC Private Bank recognizes some truly exceptional and exciting private houses, with projects located in the farthest reaches of the UK.  On the Hebridean Isle of Coll and on the shingle shore of Dungeness young architects have brought old buildings back to life as new homes.  In Brecon and Suffolk architects have created exceptionally daring houses with cantilevered floors and structural tricks aplenty. The results - our longlist -are breathtaking, and should lead to the best ever shortlist."

The RIBA Manser Medal 2011 longlist has been chosen from winners of an RIBA Award. The shortlist for the medal will be announced on September 8, 2011, and the winner will be announced on November 10, 2011 at a prestigious prize ceremony at the RIBA. The winning architect will receive a trophy commissioned by HSBC Private Bank and a prize of £10,000.

See some more selected Manser Medal finalists below.