Among them is Lomas and Mitchell Architects’ Derbyshire Longhouse – a Paragraph 84 ‘country house clause’ home – which was featured on Channel 4 TV’s Grand Designs.

Others include Amber Cottage, a new build two-bedroom dwelling on a compact Derbyshire village site designed by Chiles Evans + Care Architects; the retrofit and extension of a derelict former rectory in Lincolnshire by Brisco Loran; and Mole Architects’ replacement for ‘a tired and poorly arranged bungalow’ in the centre of Stamford.

The only non-residential schemes to be named on the shortlist are the Unusual Rigging HQ, Northamptonshire, by Corstorphine & Wright with Walker Associate Architects and the £44 million Design and Digital Arts Building at Nottingham Trent University by Hawkins\Brown and CPMG Architects.

Last year, just two schemes from a five-strong shortlist were handed RIBA East Midlands Awards – the Department for Education’s design team with Hawkins\Brown’s ‘biophilic’ St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby and Primary, a visual arts centre in Nottingham by Pricegore. Neither went on to win national awards.

Speaking about this year’s contenders, RIBA East Midlands jury chair Patrick Richard, principal director at Stanton Williams, said: ‘It is encouraging to see projects on this year’s shortlist that demonstrate a commitment to placing people at the forefront of their agenda, focusing on enhancing the experience and wellbeing of their occupants while creating sustainable, resilient spaces that respond to their cultural, social and physical context.

‘Each of these projects, regardless of their scale and budget, demonstrates ingenuity in responding to cultural and social change and how good design can enhance people’s lives while ensuring a responsible, sustainable use of resources.’

All projects shortlisted for RIBA Awards are visited by a regional jury, and the winning projects will be announced later this spring.

The winners will then be considered for several RIBA East Midlands Special Awards, including the RIBA East Midlands Sustainability Award and RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year, before being considered for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced in summer.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the UK’s best new building – will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects and announced in September. The Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.

2026 RIBA East Midlands architecture awards shortlist

Amber Cottage by Chiles Evans + Care Architects
Courtyard House, Lincolnshire, by Mole Architects
Derbyshire Longhouse by Lomas and Mitchell Architects
Design and Digital Arts Building, Nottingham Trent University by Hawkins\Brown and CPMG Architects
Garden House by Jonathan Hendry Architects
Hidden House by Julian Cowie Architects
Old Rectory, Lincolnshire by Brisco Loran
Unusual Rigging HQ, Northamptonshire by Corstorphine & Wright with Walker Associate Architects