We’re thrilled to announce that Robinson alumnus Chris Watson (Architecture, 1984) and his firm Witherford Watson Mann won the Stirling Prize at the RIBA London Awards last week. Their project, Appleby Blue Almshouse, was also awarded the Neave Brown Award for Social Housing and United St Saviour’s Charity, who commissioned the almshouse, won the award for best client.

Appleby Blue offers high-quality social collective housing for older people in Bermondsey, London. The Stirling Prize judges described Appleby Blue as ‘a provision of pure delight’ and a ‘pioneering model for later living, where care and dignity are embedded into the design throughout’. Witherford Watson Mann said “Our role as architects meant not just designing a building but collaborating to imagine a community within the city, an ‘almshouse for the 21st century’. Chris Watson commented, “For our team on the project, our role as architect meant not just designing a building but collaborating to imagine a community within the city, an ‘almshouse for the 21st century’”.

It was a fantastic evening for Robinson architecture as Allies & Morrison were also shortlisted for their London College of Fashion building in Stratford. Two alumni represented the firm at the awards ceremony, Joanna Bacon (Architecture, 1980) and Simon Gathercole (Architecture, 1991).

The awards ceremony was held last Thursday night at the Roundhouse in Camden. Robinson’s Warden, Richard Heaton, also attended due to his former role as Chair of Trustees, United St Saviour’s Charity.

Congratulations to all involved.