We were delighted to see three clients scoop up wins at the coveted 2023 British Homes Awards this week, with residential projects of all scales, that truly reflect excellence in quality, innovation and design.
- Matthew Giles Architects won Best Interior Design: Interior Home (more than £500,000) with Rosebery Road:
Set over four split floor levels, this delicately transformed North London home features expansive glazing and balconies which open the home out to the gardens below. Sympathetic alterations replace earlier unsatisfactory additions and include a new dark zinc roof dormer, an extension at the rear to the ground and lower floors, and the introduction of a lightwell to illuminate the newly extended basement. Matthew Giles Architects’ approach thoughtfully retains the home’s existing character externally, while entirely transforming and upgrading the interior – clearly illustrating the value in retrofitting older properties through design-led, methodical, and meticulous interventions to achieve one-off interior spaces.
- Verna, Acton Gardens by GRID Architects won in the Best Housing Partnership category:
Verna, Acton Gardens, Phase 9.4 provides 210 high-quality, new homes in West London. The development provides a 50/50 split between private and affordable homes, and forms a key element in Ealing Council’s Acton Gardens Regeneration masterplan – delivered as a joint venture between Countryside Properties and L&Q (London and Quadrant Housing Association).
Apartments and maisonettes make up this secluded development, which is arranged around a communal podium. Reminiscent of familiar terrace streets, the maisonettes feature front doors and gardens to encourage people to meet and mix. Drawing on surrounding red brick buildings with stucco and string detailing, a cohesive palette unifies the four blocks in a single sculpted form. To make the most of good sunlight levels, GRID Architects have also prioritised dual-aspect apartments, green roofs, courtyard planting and native plant species to enhance biodiversity. The balcony balustrades feature an elegant, perforated oak leaf pattern – a play on the name Acton, which is derived from the Old English for ac (oak) and tun (farm).
- Neil Dusheiko Architects picked up two wins with Tree View House – taking home Best Home Transformation of the Year (up to 2,500 sq ft) and Interior Designer of the Year:
Located in Barnet, Tree View House involved transforming an end-of-terrace house into a space that seamlessly blends with the lush landscape. Inspired by the family’s previous residences in Delhi and California, Neil Dusheiko Architects incorporated thoughtful interventions to meet the clients’ needs.
In an innovative response to structural and environmental constraints, the team repaired foundations, implemented underpinning, insulated facades and created a flood barrier. To address flooding from park runoff, they created different levels to establish a connection between living spaces and the garden, and included a planted swale and vegetation that thrives in damp conditions. As well as tackling these practical issues, the redesign successfully transformed the bungalow into a harmonious living environment that emphasised the client’s narrative. Materials reflecting the client’s heritage were used to establish a unique ambience, resulting in a tranquil sanctuary that merges with the surrounding landscape and offers relief from the outside world.