This year’s finalists include half a dozen homes, including the self-build Clay Rise house in East Grinstead by Templeton Ford, which was a finalist for the 2025 Manser Medal, as well as R H Partnership’s revamp of Saltdean’s Grade II*-listed lido and Felix Lewis Architects’ conversion of an Egyptian Revival-style boiler house into a headquarters for a hi-fi company.
In 2025 the RIBA also shortlisted 14 projects for regional recognition in the South East, eight of which went on to win honours.
Last year’s RIBA South East Building of the Year award was handed to the ‘exquisitely restored’ Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects. The scheme subsequently received a national award.
The region also produced one of the six projects shortlisted for the 2025 Stirling Prize – namely Hugh Strange Architects’ Hasting House.
RIBA South East jury chair Craig Sheach, partner at PRP, said: ‘The jury are delighted to have shortlisted an incredibly diverse range of schemes, from bespoke new-build homes and deftly re-imagined heritage buildings to bold and beautifully crafted civic interventions.
‘These projects show how the boundaries of architecture can be pushed in new and different directions, exploring ways to understand and improve social interaction as well as challenging preconceived notions of spatial organisation.’
High House Plumpton, East Sussex by BakerBrown Studio
He added: ‘They exploit new and emerging materials or deepen our understanding of how to bring existing structures back to life. Irrespective of the building type or brief, they all take the hard path, exploring the road less travelled in the search of craft, quality and human interaction.
‘We are excited about this shortlist, which truly highlights the strength and depth of design within the South East region.’
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 South East Special Awards, including the RIBA South East Sustainability Award and RIBA South East 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.
The Richard Cairns Building at Brighton College by KRFT Architecture studio and Nicholas Hare Architects
RIBA South East Awards 2026 – shortlisted projects
Bulls Barn, South Downs by Selencky Parsons Architects
Casa Bassa, North Downs by Francesco Pierazzi Architects
Clay Rise, West Hoathly, West Sussex. by Templeton Ford
Farm House, Surrey by Trace Architects
Field House, West Sussex by Wilkinson King Architects
High House, Plumpton, East Sussex by BakerBrown Studio
Ightham Mote Visitor Reception and Shop by Reed Watts Architects
Mayfield School Health & Wellbeing Centre by Adam Richards Architects
Monkton, Cuckfield, West Sussex by Sandy Rendel Architects
New House, Sevenoaks School by Tim Ronalds Architects
Rye Harbour Discovery Centre by Simpson & Brown
Saltdean Lido Main Building by R H Partnership Architects (rhp)
The Richard Cairns Building, Brighton College by KRFT Architecture studio and Nicholas Hare Architects
The Works, East Farleigh, Kent by Felix Lewis Architects
Monkton, Cuckfield, West Sussex by Sandy Rendel Architects