Big Ben, Bold Labs, and Backyard Dreams: Stirling Prize 2025 Finalists Announced

The shortlist for the UK’s most prestigious architecture award, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, has been revealed, and it’s an eclectic mix. From a £600,000 home extension in Hastings to the £89 million restoration of Big Ben, the six nominees showcase architecture at every scale. "From social housing that combats isolation in later life to a bold home extension that celebrates re-use…" said RIBA President Chris Williamson, “...each offers a blueprint for how architecture can enrich society.”

London dominates the list, with four of the six projects based in the capital. These include the dramatic new 17-storey vertical campus for the London College of Fashion, a sleek Japanese-inspired family home called Niwa House, and Appleby Blue Almshouse — a fresh take on housing for older residents, where wide corridors, shared gardens, and a street-facing garden room flip traditional care design on its head.

Outside the city, the Hastings House stands out as the first-ever home extension to be shortlisted. Architects Hugh Strange transformed a steep Victorian garden into a series of timber-framed rooms, concrete yards, and a steel staircase — a project praised by judges for its “poetic” contrast between rugged structure and refined detailing. The other non-London entry is AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, a striking, glass-fronted research facility shaped like a rounded triangle and powered by Europe's largest ground-source heat pump.

Big Ben — or more precisely, the Elizabeth Tower — has returned to its original Victorian blue and gold glory after a five-year overhaul by Purcell Architects and has also made the list of finalists. The restoration, which far exceeded its initial budget, repaired the historic clock mechanism, reinstated lost details, and added a lift for the first time in the landmark's history. Judges described the result as "a veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship."

The winner of the 2025 Stirling Prize will be revealed at a ceremony at the Roundhouse in London on October 16.