A House for Artists

by Apparata Architects 

Client London Borough of Barking & Dagenham; co-commissioned by Create London, delivered by Be First, and supported by the GLA  

Awards RIBA London Award 2023, RIBA London Client of the Year Award 2023, RIBA National Award 2023 (sponsored by Forterra), and shortlisted for the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2023 and the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 (sponsored by Autodesk)

A House for Artists provides an ambitious model for affordable and sustainable housing. Following a six-year effort by arts organisation Create London to provide affordable accommodation for creative people. The result is a flexible live/work space for 12 artists arranged across five floors. In exchange for reduced rent, they deliver free creative programmes for the neighbourhood through a street-facing, glass-walled community hall and outdoor exhibition space on the ground floor.

Watch a video of the project below.

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.

Read an in-depth review of the project on RIBA Journal.

Contractor J. Murphy & Sons 

Environmental / M&E Engineer Max Fordham 

Acoustic Engineer Max Fordham

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Artelia 

Structural Engineer Expedition Engineering 

Fire Consultant Menzies Consultants 

Internal area 1553 m2 (gross)