Two new nominees join the RIBA House of the Year line-up of finalists

Levring House by Jamie Fobert Architects joins the running for the 2015 RIBA House of the Year award
Levring House by Jamie Fobert Architects joins the running for the 2015 RIBA House of the Year award
(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)
By Ellie Stathaki
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The RIBA House of the Year award - formerly known as the Manser Medal - is one of the UK's highest honours in residential design and this year's last few places on the shortlist of finalists are filling up fast. The latest slots, just announced by the RIBA and seen on screen last night, go to a generous and clever central London house and a beautifully proportioned countrside home in County Down.

Levring House is the inspired work of London based architect Jamie Fobert. Occupying a typical mews house plot in Bloomsbury, this modern home is spacious and stylish, making the most of its site, materials and orientation. 

Made of Danish hand made bricks, bronze panels and clear glazing, Levring House also includes a delightful 14m long marble lined lap pool in its basement, as well as ample space for work and play for the owners. A central light well at its heart helps natural light penetrate deep into all interiors.

The House at Maghera was designed by Belfast architecture practice McGonigle McGrath. The house, designed within an existing settlement, takes its cues from the area's vernacular architecture and arrangement. It is composed of two forms, wedged together.

Inside, large, open spaces offer ample living space. A clean decor and a neutral colour palette allows the nature, beautifully framed by carefully placed openings, to take centre stage, uniting inside and outside.

These stunning homes will join Flint House in Buckinghamshire by Skene Catling De La Pena, Sussex House in West Sussex by Wilkinson King Architects, Kew House in London by Piercy & Company and Vaulted House, also in London, by vPPR Architects in the running for the coveted accolade. 

With one more nominee left to be revealed, anticipation is rising fast. The winner will be revealed on November 25. 

Located on a small mews street in central London’s Bloomsbury, the house occupies a corner plot

Located on a small mews street in central London’s Bloomsbury, the house occupies a corner plot

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

The design features ample glazing and large openigns, to allow plenty of natural sunlight inside

The design features ample glazing and large openigns, to allow plenty of natural sunlight inside

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

The frequently double-height living spaces inside include private accomodation, as well as space for work and play for the owners.

The frequently double-height living spaces inside include private accomodation, as well as space for work and play for the owners.

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

A light well at the house’s heart further ensures that all interiors, from top to its basement, are naturally lit

A light well at the house’s heart further ensures that all interiors, from top to its basement, are naturally lit

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

A south facing terrace at the house’s top floor helps bring some of the outside in

A south facing terrace at the house’s top floor helps bring some of the outside in.

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

Concrete meets hand made brick, bronze panels, glazing and warm wood in this spacious London home

Concrete meets hand made brick, bronze panels, glazing and warm wood in this spacious London home

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

A countryside home in County Down is the second project, revealed this week for the House of the Year shortlist

A countryside home in County Down is the second project, revealed this week for the House of the Year shortlist

(Image credit: Aidan McGrath)

Maghera is a family home designed by Belfast architecture practice McGonigle McGrath

Maghera is a family home designed by Belfast architecture practice McGonigle McGrath

(Image credit: Aidan McGrath)

The house is composed of two linear traditional building forms that continue the area’s existing settlement pattern and vernacular.

The house is composed of two linear traditional building forms that continue the area’s existing settlement pattern and vernacular. 

(Image credit: Aidan McGrath)

The entrance hall leads to a music room, a trapezoidal volume complete with piano, and enclosed by a pair of folding and sliding barn doors

The entrance hall leads to a music room, a trapezoidal volume complete with piano, and enclosed by a pair of folding and sliding barn doors

(Image credit: Aidan McGrath)

A cavernous volume with a large singular window and a timber floor forms the project’s sculptural guest bedroom

A cavernous volume with a large singular window and a timber floor forms the project’s sculptural guest bedroom

(Image credit: Aidan McGrath)

INFORMATION
For more information on the award visit the RIBA website

Topics
London Uk Architecture Awards
Ellie Stathaki

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

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