The first two finalists of the RIBA House of the Year competition have been unveiled on Grand Designs, sparking excitement among architecture enthusiasts. The shortlist includes Caochan na Creige, a remote self-build home in the Outer Hebrides, designed by Izat Arundell, and Hastings House, a house extension built into the Hastings hillside by Hugh Strange Architects. Both homes were also shortlisted for this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize, adding to the prestige of their inclusion in the competition.
Caochan na Creige, a timber-frame and stone-clad home, was hand-built by the architects and founders of Izat Arundell themselves. The RIBA jury praised its ability to blend effortlessly into the rugged Hebridean landscape, using a material palette that honors the ancient Lewisian gneiss rock surrounding it. Hastings House, on the other hand, refurbishes a 19th-century home that sits on a slope overlooking the town center, adding new rooms in a way that the jury said embraced the awkward three-storey level change across the site, turning a mundane domestic refurbishment project into a game of concrete structural repair.
The competition is being aired on TV for the first time since 2022, marking a significant return for the RIBA. Channel 4 cut ties with the RIBA two years ago, ending the series that had run since 2015. At the time, an RIBA spokesperson expressed disappointment, noting the series' strong viewing figures and audience engagement. However, the return to Channel 4 has been met with enthusiasm, with RIBA president Muyiwa Oki expressing excitement about presenting House of the Year once again.
Last year's House of the Year award went to Six Columns in Crystal Palace, designed by practice director Will Burges as his own family home. Hastings House, designed by Hugh Strange Architects, is a testament to the firm's ability to transform a mundane project into a captivating architectural masterpiece. The jury's citation highlights the house's eccentric late 19th-century character, its beautifully refurbished interior, and the intricate details that make it a charming and intriguing space.
