Ripple House is presented as a careful regeneration of an existing corner site, transforming an unloved building into a small residential scheme that remains modest in scale and well suited to its context. The proposal reuses the original structure to retain embodied carbon while creating homes that respond to different household needs, showing a practical approach to housing delivery on a constrained plot.
The scheme is defined by inventive planning and a strong architectural response. It uses a courtyard-led arrangement to improve access and light, while a considered internal layout supports generous, functional living spaces. The submission also highlights a restrained budget handled with care through tactile joinery and simple materials, demonstrating how design quality can add value without excess.
Judges praised the project for its contextual external architecture, clever optimisation of the site and thoughtful detailing throughout. They described it as an impressive urban transformation with well judged materiality, a confident contemporary character and a high level of design integrity across both the exterior and interior. One judge remarked: “A real gem as convincingly demonstrates ingenuity, constraint-led design and meaningful urban transformation on a genuinely challenging small site.”
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A real gem as convincingly demonstrates ingenuity, constraint-led design and meaningful urban transformation on a genuinely challenging small site that produces some marvellous new residential units that I could imagine living in and thoroughly enjoying. Bravo!
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Optimised use of site - creative layout. High quality architecture externally and internally. Very thoughtful detailing and methods to increase light and sense of space.
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Ripple House is a well done regeneration project. The extension is unashamedly contemporary, and something in the detailing and materiality lets it work well at two storeys. The video is useful in showing the spaces. The spec and budget are on the modest side, with microcement flooring and whitewashed pine floors, but the joinery and materiality work really well, and this is where you see design adding real value on a tight budget. It's a really nice scheme, award winner.
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