On September 4, 2025, the United Kingdom’s architectural community found itself abuzz as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) unveiled the shortlist for the 2025 Stirling Prize, the country’s most prestigious award for architectural excellence. This year’s nominees, six in total, span a wide spectrum of design philosophies and social ambitions, but it’s the restoration of London’s iconic Elizabeth Tower—better known to the world as Big Ben—that has captured the public’s imagination and headlines alike.
The Stirling Prize, awarded annually to a project that exemplifies the very best of British architecture, is no stranger to controversy or surprise. But the inclusion of the Elizabeth Tower, completed in 1859, raised more than a few eyebrows. While the prize typically celebrates new builds, the nomination here recognizes the recent, painstaking restoration led by Purcell, which took five years and cost £80 million—well over the original budget, according to Londonist. The project wasn’t just a cosmetic facelift: it involved structural repairs, the correction of previous restoration missteps, and the repair of damage dating back to the Second World War. One of the most striking changes is the return of the clock’s dial faces to their original Victorian blue, a detail that brings a fresh vibrancy to the familiar landmark.
But the restoration was about more than just aesthetics. The addition of a new lift shaft has made the bell chamber accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with mobility challenges, a significant step toward inclusivity for one of the UK’s most beloved monuments. As reported by The Daily Mail, the project relied on traditional materials and the skilled hands of bespoke craftspeople. RIBA President Chris Williamson praised the restoration, stating, “From a monumental civic building that champions investment in arts and culture, to the sensitive restoration of one the nation’s most iconic landmarks, and a cutting-edge medical research facility, each offers a blueprint for how architecture can enrich society.”
Of course, the Elizabeth Tower is not the only London building vying for this year’s prize. The capital boasts a strong showing, with four of the six shortlisted projects located within its bounds. The new home of the London College of Fashion, designed by Allies and Morrison, stands prominently in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. As Londonist notes, this building is more than just an educational facility; it’s the flagship of a new wave of cultural centers transforming East London’s East Bank. Its public spaces, including a café and gallery, and its dramatic concrete staircases have already found favor with students, locals, and the TikTok generation alike.
Another standout is the Appleby Blue Almshouse in Bermondsey, conceived by Witherford Watson Mann Architects. This project reimagines social housing for over-65s, offering a modern take on the traditional almshouse and setting a new benchmark for later living. The building’s design fosters community and combats isolation, an urgent concern as the UK grapples with an aging population. Williamson highlighted this point, remarking that “the residential projects stand out for their inventive, human-centred design, from social housing that combats isolation in later life, to a bold home extension that celebrates reuse, and an accessible home that proves that beauty and accessibility can co-exist.”
Completing London’s impressive quartet is Niwa House, a Japanese-inspired private residence in Southwark designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects. The name “Niwa” means “garden” in Japanese, and the house lives up to its moniker with large, full-height sliding doors and glazed walls that blur the boundary between indoors and out. The nominating committee described it as “a blueprint for accessible housing,” with its open-plan layout and seamless connection to gardens and courtyards. It’s a building that challenges traditional notions of private space, offering a model for how homes can be both beautiful and inclusive.
Beyond London, the shortlist stretches its gaze to other parts of the UK. The AstraZeneca Discovery Centre in Cambridge, affectionately dubbed the “squashed doughnut” due to its distinctive circular form, houses state-of-the-art research laboratories for the pharmaceutical giant. Its inclusion on the list underscores the importance of science and innovation in contemporary architecture. Meanwhile, Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects in East Sussex represents a bold extension of an aging hillside home, marrying modern timber-framed design with the existing structure in a celebration of reuse and adaptation.
This year’s shortlist, according to BBC News, demonstrates the breadth of British architectural talent and the diverse challenges facing the profession today. From the restoration of Victorian grandeur to the creation of new models for social housing and cutting-edge research facilities, the nominees reflect architecture’s capacity to address urgent social, environmental, and cultural needs. As Williamson put it, “Together these projects offer a hopeful vision for the future, one where architecture strengthens communities and helps shape a more sustainable and inclusive built environment.”
The Stirling Prize has a rich history of recognizing buildings that have left a lasting mark on the UK’s built environment. Last year, the prize went to the Elizabeth line, London’s ambitious east-west rail link, lauded by RIBA President Muyiwa Oki as “a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport.” Other recent winners include Morden College in Blackheath (2023), Kingston University’s Town House (2021), and the Bloomberg Building (2018). Past laureates like the Gherkin, Lord’s Media Centre, and Peckham Library have become landmarks in their own right, celebrated for their innovation and impact.
Looking back, the prize has also honored projects that push the boundaries of sustainable design and community living. Goldsmith Street, for example, won in 2019 for its ultra-low energy homes near Norwich, designed with sloping roofs to maximize daylight and shared spaces to foster a sense of community. Burntwood School in Wandsworth, rebuilt at a cost of £40 million, was recognized in 2015 for its generous, light-filled classrooms and campus feel. Even international projects like Madrid’s Barajas Airport have been celebrated, provided they were designed by British firms.
The winner of the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced at London’s Roundhouse on October 16. As the anticipation builds, the shortlist offers a snapshot of architecture’s evolving role in British society—honoring the past, embracing the present, and looking boldly to the future.
Whether it’s the familiar chimes of Big Ben, the innovative spaces of a fashion college, or the quiet dignity of a modern almshouse, this year’s contenders remind us that architecture is more than just buildings—it’s about people, possibility, and the stories we tell through the spaces we create.
