Restored water tower and farmhouse extension shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2021

The Water Tower - a 1950s steel water tower converted into a home in rural Norfolk - and House on the Hill - an imaginative, contemporary extension to an 18th century farmhouse in Gloucestershire overlooking the Wye Valley - are the first two homes to be shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2021. The annual award is presented to the best new architect-designed house or extension in the UK, with the shortlisted houses revealed on Grand Designs: House of the Year, Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.

The shortlist for the RIBA House of the Year 2021 is:

• The Water Tower by Tonkin Liu
• House on the Hill by Alison Brooks Architects
• ? – to be announced on 24 November 2021
• ? – to be announced on 24 November 2021
• ? – to be announced on 1 December 2021
• ? – to be announced on 1 December 2021
• ? – to be announced on 8 December 2021

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Media contact: Isabel.Campbell@riba.org 020 7496 8349
2. Images of all the houses featured on Episode 1 of Grand Designs: House of the Year (Houses that take you by surprise) can be downloaded here.
3. The next episode of Grand Designs: House of the Year airs on Wednesday 24 November at 9pm on Channel 4.
4. The RIBA House of the Year award was established in 2013 and is awarded to the best new house or house extension designed by an architect in the UK. Previous winners include McGonigle McGrath for House Lessans (2019) HaysomWardMiller for Lochside House (2018), Richard Murphy Architects for Murphy House (2016), Skene Catling de la Peña for Flint House (2015), Loyn & Co for Stormy Castle (2014) and Carl Turner Architects for Slip House (2013).
5. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
6. Grand Designs: House of the Year is produced by Naked West (a Fremantle label), producers of Grand Designs. Naked creates and produces high quality, innovative factual and entertainment programming for the UK, US, and international markets. Current and recent productions include The Apprentice (BBC One), Grand Designs (Channel 4), Snowflake Mountain (Netflix), Louise Woodward: Villain or Victim? (Channel 4), BAFTA-nominated The Rap Game UK (BBC Three), Tonight with Target (BBC Three), The Chasers Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles (ITV), Secret Crush (ITV2), Trash Monsters (Channel 4), Planet Sex (BBC Three and Hulu), Great British Railway Journeys (BBC Two) and Escape to the Country (BBC One).
7. The RIBA judges’ full citations and image links for each building follows: The Water Tower by Tonkin Liu citation and press images. House on the Hill by Alison Brooks Architects citation and press images.