A matter of hours after missing out on the Royal Institute of Architecture (RIBA) Stirling Prize, which went to the Elizabeth Line (writing in the Standard, Phineas Harper called the Tube station: “a worthy winner but the wrong choice”) Chowdhury Walk has won RIBA's Neave Brown Award for Housing 2024.
Given in honour of modernist architect and social housing pioneer, Neave Brown, the annual Award recognises the UK’s best new affordable housing.
Chowdhury Walk is a housing project in Hackney designed by London-based studio Al-Jawad Pike. It is infill project which saw 11 houses built on the site of former garages, with seven of the homes available at social rent.
Named in memory of the late Dr Abdul Chowdhury who campaigned for additional PPE for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic, Chowdhury Walk is part of an ambitious programme of new generation council housing by Hackney Council.
Jessam Al-Jawad, Founding Partner at Al-Jawad Pike, said: “Chowdhury Walk, an infill housing scheme in Hackney, London is both modest and pioneering. It demonstrates what is possible when a local authority elects to develop its own brownfield sites to address housing need and enhance the local neighbourhood. The design shows that even with a limited budget, creative solutions can produce social housing that offers moments of joy. It's a clear commitment to tackling the housing crisis by employing young local architects to deliver innovative solutions for the community”
Built on a plot previously occupied by garages and ad-hoc parking, the development has created new two, three and four bedroom dwellings. The houses are uniquely staggered, moving away from the UK’s traditional linear terrace house arrangement. This not only gives the development a distinctive sculptural quality but provides residents with added privacy and supports passive solar gain.
Astrid Smitham, Jury Chair and 2023 Neave Brown Award for Housing winner, said: “Chowdhury Walk is part of Hackney Council’s programme to build new council homes on small sites, providing eleven two-storey terraced houses on a former garage site. A new public mews provides both informal space to play and a well-used new public route. The homes feel uplifting upon entering, with the simple intuitive floor plan making efficient use of space while supporting the busyness of family life. "
