The John Morden Centre by Mæ has been named winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023, awarded to the UK's best new building.
The John Morden Centre by Mæ has been named winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023, awarded to the UK's best new building.
An inspiring example of architecture enabling elderly living without isolation, the John Morden Centre has been designed to encourage connection and movement among residents, supporting healthier and longer lives. This 300-year-old residential and nursing facility has been given a new lease of life with treatment rooms, a hair salon, nail bar, events space and wellbeing facilities in a beautiful setting in Blackheath, London.
Praising its use of social spaces and commitment to design for health and care, the jury named the John Morden Centre the UK’s best building as the winner of the 27th RIBA Stirling Prize.
Ellen van Loon, Chair of the RIBA Stirling Prize jury, says:
“The John Morden Centre is a place of joy and inspiration. It sensitively and seamlessly integrates medical facilities and social spaces, delivering a bold and hopeful model for the design of health and care centres for the elderly. Dedication to creating an environment that lifts the spirits and fosters community is evident at every turn and in every detail.
This robust building provides comfort and warmth, with thoughtful features designed to prevent isolation. It illustrates how buildings can themselves be therapeutic – supporting care and instilling a sense of belonging. Great architecture orients people so they can thrive, and this building is exemplary at achieving exactly that.”
Entries to the RIBA UK Awards 2024 are now open. The deadline to enter is 5pm GMT on Thursday 7 December 2023.
Visit the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 shortlist exhibition at 66 Portland Place, London until 10 November.
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by Apparata Architects for London Borough of Barking & Dagenham; co-commissioned by Create London, delivered by Be First, and supported by the GLA winning a RIBA London Award 2023, RIBA London Client of the Year Award 2023 and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
by Adam Khan Architects for London Borough of Camden, winning RIBA London Award 2023 and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
by Witherford Watson Mann Architects for The Courtauld Institute of Art, winning RIBA London Award 2023 and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
by Mæ for Morden College, winning RIBA Stirling Prize 2023, RIBA London Award 2023 and RIBA London Building of the Year 2023 (sponsored by EH Smith) and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
by Sergison Bates architects for Marston Properties, winning RIBA London Award 2023 and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios for University of Warwick winning a RIBA West Midlands Award 2023 and RIBA West Midlands Building of the Year Award 2023 (sponsored by EH Smith) and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra)
Get to know the architects and projects behind this year's Stirling Prize 2023 shortlist. Discover in-depth coverage and interviews from RIBA Journal and the Stirling Stories video series on RIBA Academy.
by Mæ for Client Morden College, winning RIBA London Award 2023, RIBA London Building of the Year 2023 (sponsored by EH Smith) and RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra), and RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 (sponsored by Autodesk)
by Niall McLaughlin Architects for Magdalene College, winning RIBA East Award 2022 and RIBA National Award 2022 (sponsored by Forterra) and RIBA Stirling Prize winner 2022
by Grafton Architects for Kingston University
by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley for Norwich City Council
by Foster + Partners for Bloomberg
by dRMM Architects
by Caruso St John Architects for private client, winning RIBA Stirling Prize 2016, RIBA National Award 2016 and RIBA London Award 2016
by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Wandsworth Borough Council, London
by Haworth Tompkins for Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust, Liverpool
by Witherford Watson Mann Architects for The Landmark Trust, Nuneaton, North Warwickshire
by Stanton Williams for University of Cambridge, Cambridge
by Zaha Hadid Architects for ARK Education trust and DCSF, London
by Zaha Hadid Architects for Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Fondazione MAXXI, Rome, Italy
by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners for Maggie’s Centres, London
by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Maccreanor Lavington and Alison Brooks Architects for Countryside Properties, Cambridge
by David Chipperfield Architects for Deutsches Literaturarchiv Marbach, Marbach, Germany
by Richard Rogers Partnership with Estudio Lamela for AENA (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea), Madrid, Spain
by Miralles Tagliabue EMBT and RMJM for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, Edinburgh
30 St Mary Axe by Foster + Partners for Swiss Re, London
by Herzog & de Meuron for The Laban Centre, London
by Wilkinson Eyre Architects for Gateshead Metropolitan Council, Newcastle
by Wilkinson Eyre Architects for The Magna Trust, Rotherham
by Alsop & Störmer for London Borough of Southwark, London
by Future Systems for Marylebone Cricket Club, London
by Foster + Partners for Imperial War Museum at Duxford, American Air Museum in Britain, Cambridgeshire
by James Stirling, Michael Wilford and Associates for Staatliches Hochbauamt 1, Stuttgart, Germany
by Hodder Associates for University of Salford, Greater Manchester
The RIBA Stirling Prize is judged against a range of criteria including design vision; innovation and originality; capacity to stimulate, engage and delight occupants and visitors; accessibility and sustainability; how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction.
The RIBA Awards are the most rigorously judged prizes for architectural excellence in the UK, with the winning buildings then eligible for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize.
Born in 1996 out of its predecessor, The Building of the Year Award, The RIBA Stirling Prize is presented annually to RIBA Chartered Architects and International Fellows for buildings in the UK which have made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture.
The RIBA Stirling Prize is named after James Stirling. Stirling won the Royal Gold Medal in 1980 'in recognition of past achievements which exist in their own right, as well as the potential of unbuilt projects, both past and future, which are an inseparable part of the Stirling vocabulary'.
Often described as a 'prophet without honour in his own country', he did not live long enough to achieve the public recognition and success his peers achieved after his untimely death. He died, at the height of his powers, following a routine operation.