Croydon Housing Estate Wins the RIBA Stirling Prize 2026

The RIBA Stirling Prize 2026, the UK's most prestigious architecture award, has been awarded to Lion Green Road housing estate in Coulsdon, in the London Borough of Croydon. The high-density scheme was designed by Mary Duggan Architects with Ruff Architects and comprises 157 homes arranged across five interconnected blocks in a distinctive star-shaped plan. The star configuration ensures every home is dual-aspect, maximising natural light and views, while the shared green spaces between the arms of the star create communal courtyards. The judges praised the project for demonstrating that high-quality architecture and dense urban housing are not mutually exclusive, and for providing a replicable model for residential development across London and beyond. The win marks the second consecutive year a London social housing project has taken the prize: the 2025 winner was also a London affordable-housing scheme. It follows the Elizabeth Line's 2024 Stirling Prize win, extending an impressive run of London projects at the top of British architecture. Time Out London published the story on 16 October 2026 and it remained among the outlet's leading news articles through the following week.