Rigby & Rigby at the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize Awards

We at Rigby & Rigby Architectures were thrilled to attend the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize Awards evening, thanks to our friends at VM Zinc, with whom we are collaborating on one of our prestige international projects in Thailand. Representing R&R were Mark Cowley, Studio Director of Architecture, and Charlie Kentish, Associate Director of Architecture. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers, clients, and industry leaders while celebrating some of the UK’s most inspiring architectural achievements.

The shortlisted schemes were exceptional, showcasing creativity, diversity, and a sensitive response to context. Each project demonstrated how thoughtful design can transform communities, prioritise sustainability, and enhance wellbeing - values that resonate strongly with our approach at Rigby & Rigby.

We were particularly delighted to see Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects take home the Stirling Prize. Situated in Bermondsey, South London, the project reimagines traditional almshouse living for later life in an urban environment. Its 57 one-bed homes are arranged around a landscaped courtyard, fostering community and social interaction. Generous communal spaces, open galleries, terraces, and “streets in the sky” create a network of fully connected spaces that encourage engagement and wellbeing. Large windows and transparent links to the street integrate residents with the wider community, while a warm material palette promotes comfort, dignity, and calm.

Appleby Blue brilliantly addresses loneliness, supports later-life living, and showcases how human-centred design can enhance quality of life. Wellness through holistic design is a principle we are passionate about at R&R, and the project’s focus on connection, flow, and wellbeing aligns closely with our work — including our international project in Thailand with VM Zinc.

Our thanks go to VM Zinc for their generous hospitality. The Stirling Prize evening was inspiring and reaffirmed our belief in the power of architecture to connect people, nurture wellbeing, and create spaces that truly enrich lives. It was an energising night, and we leave motivated to carry these principles into every project we undertake.