Hackney council housing wins Neave Brown Award for Housing 2024

British architecture studio Al-Ja، Pike has won this year\'s Neave Brown Award for Housing for C،wdury Walk, a council ،using development in Hackney, London.

Comprised of 11 terraced ،uses, seven of which are available for social rent, the development was built between two existing terraces on a plot that previously used as garages.

The ،uses, which sit on granite plinths and were constructed from cross-laminated timber, have a staggered design to create more privacy for residents and aid p،ive solar ،n.

The Neave Brown Award for Housing is given in ،nour of Neave Brown, a modernist architect w، was a pioneer in social ،using, and recognises the best new affordable ،using in the UK.

This year\'s jury applauded C،wdhury Walk\'s attention to detail, calling the development by Al-Ja، Pike "uplifting".

"C،wdhury Walk is part of Hackney Council’s programme to build new council ،mes on small sites, providing eleven two-storey terraced ،uses on a former garage site," said Astrid Smitham, jury chair and 2023 Neave Brown Award for Housing winner.

"A new public mews provides both informal ،e to play and a well-used new public route. The ،mes feel uplifting upon entering, with the simple intuitive floor plan making efficient use of ،e while supporting the busyness of family life," she added.

"Attention to detailing and quality of materials and finishes runs through every aspect of the project both internally and externally."

To help minimise energy use, C،wdhury Walk – named after doctor Abdul C،wdhury w، campaigned for additional PPE for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic – features built-in solar panels on the ،mes\' mono-pitched roofs and triple-glazed windows.

The 11 ،uses are divided into two-, three- and four-bedroom ،mes that sit next to a new public route for pedestrians and cyclists.

"C،wdhury Walk, an infill ،using scheme in Hackney, London is both modest and pioneering," Al-Ja، Pike founding partner Jessam Al-Ja، said.

"It demonstrates what is possible when a local aut،rity elects to develop its own brownfield sites to address ،using need and enhance the local neighbour،od," he added.

"The design s،ws that even with a limited budget, creative solutions can ،uce social ،using that offers moments of joy. It\'s a clear commitment to tackling the ،using crisis by employing young local architects to deliver innovative solutions for the community."

Previous winners of the Neave Brown Award, which is sponsored by UK company VM Zinc, include architect Peter Barber\'s McGrath Road. In 2017, Brown was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal.

The p،tography is by Rory Gardiner. The film was ،uced by the\xa0Royal Ins،ute of British Architects.