RIBA House of the Year

What does it take to win House of the Year? 

Join us for the story of Six Columns by 31/44 Architects. Crowned the winner of RIBA House of the Year 2024, the annual award for the UK’s best new home.

“Six Columns is a beautifully crafted, cleverly incorporating Brutalist references and creative flourishes while retaining a strong sense of suburban belonging” RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki

Designed by Will Burges, Director of 31/44 Architects, as a family home for his family, Six Columns shows what is possible in tight urban spaces. The building cleverly occupies a tight infill plot in the suburbs of Crystal Palace, South London, demonstrating the art of the possible as we try to create more homes in our cities.  

Named after the six columns found throughout the structure of the building, the four-bedroom home echoes the proportions and materials of neighbouring terrace houses, while retailing its own individual character – with architectural influences abound, from the classical to the modern.

“It shows what can be achieved when working with even the tightest of suburban sites, and its flexible, unfinished aesthetic offers a solution to futureproofed design: this is a home that can evolve with its occupants’ changing needs overtime.

The generosity of space belies the limitations of this small garden plot. As we look for creative and practical solutions to the housing crisis, Six Columns offers a blueprint for bespoke urban infill development.” RIBA President Muyiwa Oki

About the Evening

House of the Year tells the story of the inspiration, design & construction of the UK’s best new home 2024, followed by an audience Q&A.

Our events are open to the public, politicians, students & professionals alike. If you’re interested in the design of the world around us, join us. We welcome audiences to join us next door at The Architect afterwards to continue the conversation.

The event takes place at Arnolfini, Bristol, BS1 4QA

William Burges

Director of 31/44 Architects. Will studied architecture at the University of Brighton and became a RIBA Chartered Architect in 2001. Prior to forming 31/44 Architects in 2010, he gained professional experience working as Associate Director at Proctor & Matthews Architects. Will leads on the design of all projects and oversees the general management of the practice. He has been a guest critic and lecturer at a number of Architecture schools in the UK and currently runs an undergraduate design studio at Kingston School of Art, London