Stiff competition: two more nominees in the running for RIBA House of the Year

Two more houses have joined the race for the coveted RIBA House of the Year award. Formerly known as the Manser Medal, this accolade is given annually to the best new house designed by an architect in the UK. 

The striking Kew House by Piercy & Company is a highly unusual 4-bedroom house in London's Kew. Made of 'two prefabricated weathering steel volumes inserted behind a retained nineteenth century stable wall', the architects explain, it is a sensitive but bold case of old-meets-new. Sleek interiors of light coloured timber offset the more rustic exterior. 

Vaulted House was designed by young, but fast-emerging East London architecture practice vPPR. A family home carefully placed in the walled site of a former taxi garage, this new structure is almost entirely hidden from the street. Its pyramid-shaped roof skylights hint to the strong geometry inside, which is enhanced by a clean, minimalist light-coloured interior. 

These two new houses join Flint House in Buckinghamshire by Skene Catling De La Pena and Sussex House in West Sussex by Wilkinson King Architects in the running for the honour. 

Three more nominees are left to be uncovered, next week, while the winner will be revealed on November 25th. Watch this space.

The unusual house is made of two weathering steel volumes placed within retained nineteenth century stable walls. 

The bold exterior is almost rustic in its textures and qualities... 

...while the interior is lighter and sleeker, created in white hues and light coloured timber. 

The second project revealed today as part of the shortlist is Vaulted House by vPPR. 

Slotted into the site of an old taxi garage, this house is cleverly designed and almost invisible from the street. 

Inside, the house reveals strong geometries and a minimalist light-coloured interior

Rooflights and courtyards ensure the structure gets plenty of natural sunlight despite its unusual site.

INFORMATION

For more information on the House of the Year award visit the RIBA website