Housing Corporation-funded scheme scoops Stirling Prize for architecture
Housing Corporation News Release
Wednesday 15 October 2008 ref: 74/08
Housing Corporation-funded scheme scoops Stirling Prize for architecture
This year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize for architecture has been scooped up by a £6.2 million Housing Corporation-funded development consisting of 86 rent units.
The development, in Cambridge and named Accordia, was described by the judging panel as “high density housing at its very best”.
The committee said, “These beautifully thought-through houses are linked by a series of public, semi-public and private but visible open spaces, making the whole development a joy to walk through. Houses and flats have good-sized, well-proportioned rooms with views out ranging from the urban views to rural pasture. This development proves that good modern housing sells, that a committed local authority can have a very positive influence on the design, that a master plan with a range of architects can be successful and that the very best architecture does not need to rely on gimmicks. This will be a project that will be much referred to and used a future case study.”
Three architect firms, including Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, Alison Brooks and Macreanor Lavington, worked on the design of the development.
Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas said, “Accordia really is a fantastic scheme which other developers can now use as a benchmark when planning for future developments.”
RIBA Awards are given for buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment. The awards, run annually, have been running continuously since 1966.
The scheme was granted funds under the 2004-06 programme, and work began on it in March 2005.
Ends.
1) The Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England.
2) The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8.4 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 funded 92,752 homes - 52,929 of these for affordable rent and 39,823 for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
3) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish two new bodies, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) which are due to launch this December.
