{"id":290403,"date":"2025-11-29T22:08:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/290403\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T22:08:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:08:29","slug":"rcka-is-aj-architect-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/290403\/","title":{"rendered":"RCKa is AJ Architect of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The practice, which was founded in 2008 by Russell Curtis, Dieter Kleiner and Tim Riley, was commended by the AJAA judges for its Highgate Newtown Community Redevelopment project, which has won this year\u2019s Community and Faith Project category, partly due to RCKa\u2019s superb co-design process.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a really admirable project,\u2019 said one judge of the scheme, which sits within the London Borough of Camden\u2019s Dartmouth Park conservation area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another commented: \u2018It was an exemplary consultation process. The commitment of the council to this process is to be commended, too.\u2019<\/p>\n

Such consultations are often criticised as superficial exercises intended to smooth the way for inevitable development or gentrification. This one was anything but, involving 178 stakeholder groups engaged in public exhibitions and open forums and over a dozen workshops. The result is a building which gives a lot back while seamlessly integrating with its neighbourhood, despite several site constraints.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Highgate Newtown Community Redevelopment by RCKa<\/p>\n

Going above and beyond when it comes to capturing the nuances of community need has become one of the hallmarks of the forward-thinking RCKa, a quality which is highly prized by its client base of local authorities, housing associations and private sector developers such as Ballymore, Lendlease and Pocket Living.<\/p>\n

On projects such as Nourish Hub in Shepherd\u2019s Bush<\/a>, TNG Youth and Community Centre in Sydenham<\/a> and Pitfield Street<\/a> \u2013 which transforms a former storage site near Old Street into six new social tenure homes \u2013 the practice\u2019s deep commitment to people is evident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Pitfield Street, Hackney, completed September 2024<\/p>\n

As RCKa themselves put it: \u2018Our focus is always on how we can create positive outcomes for all: outcomes which promote wellbeing and prosperity, whilst treading lightly on the world.\u2019<\/p>\n

This approach is particularly impactful given the practice\u2019s wider thought leadership work, helping councils and others to unlock sites and delivery models through consultancy and policy-development work on issues such as small site guidance and solutions to homelessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One recent example of the latter is a modular prototype for a two-or three-bedroom apartment developed with main contractor Wates and offsite specialist Rollalong.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This type of home can be installed anywhere in the capital in under two hours and provides a high-quality dwelling for a far lower cost than a traditionally constructed home, its proponents say.<\/p>\n

\u2018All in all, RCKa now occupies a distinct and impressive role in British architecture. It combines high-quality architectural design with business-model thinking underpinned by a profound dedication to creating social value,\u2019 said the AJ editorial team.<\/p>\n

The winners in the 19 categories, plus the three editorial-chosen awards, were announced at a celebratory dinner event at a new venue this year \u2013 the Royal Lancaster London \u2013 on 27 November 2025. To view all the winners of the 2025 AJ Architecture Awards, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AJ Architect of the Year is sponsored by
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