Lighthouse Children’s Home in London by Conrad Koslowsky Architects has been awarded the 2023 Stephen Lawrence Prize.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Lighthouse Children’s Home by Conrad Koslowsky Architects as winner of the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2023.
Now in its 25th year, the Stephen Lawrence Prize was founded in 1998 by Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE and Marco Goldschmied, in memory of Stephen Lawrence, an aspiring architect who was tragically murdered in a racist attack in 1993.
This year, for the first time, the Stephen Lawrence Prize celebrates new talent by exclusively recognising projects led by an early career project architect – typically someone who has qualified within five years prior to the project’s completion date.
Lighthouse Children’s Home sees the transformation of a previously derelict 1920s house in suburban Southwest London into a six-bedroom children’s care home – the first created by the Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust.
The judges noted how spaces within the home have been carefully conceived to create a sense of security and cosiness. They commended the project for illustrating the “therapeutic potential of thoughtfully designed environments”.
The design avoids feelings of entrapment by carefully considering the soundscape, flexible furniture layouts and shared living spaces with two exits.
This year’s jury also included architecture student, Adefunmilayo Adebi, who joined on behalf of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, and will go on to receive mentoring from the winning project architect.
Matthew Goldschmied, Jury Chair, Managing Trustee at the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, said:
“The Lighthouse Children’s Home demonstrates the therapeutic potential of thoughtfully designed environments. Aesthetic coherence unites the spaces here, setting the scene for stories of hope to unfold. The young lives this building touches will undoubtedly be supported by its comfort and restorative power.”
RIBA President Muyiwa Oki, said:
“This is a highly intelligent and considered response to a very complex and sensitive brief. Conrad Koslowsky Architects and Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust are to be commended for their close collaboration, holistic approach, and the exceptional results that have been delivered as a result.”
Adefunmilayo Adebiyi, who is to be mentored by Conrad Koslowsky Architects, said:
“It is an honour be mentored by Conrad Koslowsky Architects who have shown such a passion for addressing crucial social issues through their work. This exceptional project showcases how design can remove social barriers, whilst providing highly functional and attractive spaces for users. It sets the stage for buildings that create the conditions for connected and healthy communities, shaping a precedent for other designers like me to follow.”
The 2023 Stephen Lawrence Prize jury comprised: Managing Trustee of the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, Matthew Goldschmied (Chair); Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE; winner of the 2022 Stephen Lawrence Prize and co-founder at Surman Weston, Percy Weston; and Student Juror on behalf of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, Adefunmilayo Adebiyi. The Stephen Lawrence Prize is sponsored by the Marco Goldschmied Foundation.
The winner of the RIBA Reinvention Award was announced at a ceremony at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, on 19 October 2023, where the winners for the Neave Brown Award for Housing, the RIBA Reinvention Award, the Client of the Year Award and the Stirling Prize winners were also unveiled.
