Towards the end of June RIBA released the names of the 20 British properties on the longlist for House of the Year 2018. There are some incredible projects on the list, including entire new builds, renovations, and beautiful extensions. There are a few examples of the best residential architecture London has to offer as well as properties in other parts of the UK.

View the longlist

You can have a look at the whole list of projects on the longlist at RIBA’s website. Below we will take a look at some of the most impressive designs.

The RIBA London Award 2018 winning Gin Distillery deserves its place on the list. It is an impressive reclamation/restoration. The Victorian property in Whitechapel is now a family home. The building is discreetly between industrial properties and bears a striking resemblance to them. A number of original features remain but the interior has a graceful flow.

VEX also won a RIBA London Award 2018. The family home in Stoke Newington is special because it has a unique design and makes use of a derelict site in a residential area. The property is experimental, based on a piece of music called Vexations with 840 repetitions of the same theme. The appreciation of culture as well as the careful selection of materials makes the property really stand out. The project has taken 8 years to complete.

A third project in London to make the list is the Makers House. The unique new build showcases inventiveness in various ways. The solutions are specific for the setting and design. The property also sits very well among its surroundings, even featuring a sloping roof to avoid blocking the light.

The final home in London on the list is the Red House. It deserves its name and stands out instantly because of the bright bricks. The split level design overcomes problems with the shape and elevation of the site. The home manages to stand out and also be bold without affecting the aesthetics of other buildings on the street.

Other projects

When it comes to residential architecture London has plenty to offer but there are great projects across the rest of the UK too. No 37 is a home in Belfast with a stunning design. More incredibly it was built with a budget of £100,000. Old Court House is astonishing because of the whole transformation. It had been abandoned and allowed to deteriorate for decades. The restoration was painstaking, looking to save as many details as possible. The results are worth it.

The winners of RIBA House of the Year 2018 will be announced in the autumn.