NLA announce their shortlist for 'Don't Move, Improve! 2021'

The NLA or New London Architecture is an independent forum for discussion, debate and information about architecture, planning and development in London.

Their purpose is to improve the quality of people’s lives by making London a better place to live, work and visit. Their vision for London is set out in The New London Charter, a declaration of the values that drive NLA’s policies and programme.

NLA’s research themes can be found here, through these they examine the key opportunities and challenges facing London. They produce research, exhibitions, events and publications year-round, to share knowledge and debate these themes. As an independent member-supported organisation, their audience brings together the public, government, and cross-sector professionals both in London and internationally.

The NLA have a public gallery in London featuring large scale interactive models of the capital.

The galleries are open, free of charge, six days a week. Opening times and details of how to get there can be found on the NLA website.  You can also find out about their upcoming events, view their latest research‍ or join as a member.

Don't Move, Improve!

This annual programme champions London’s best new home extensions. Celebrating creativity, liveability, good value and sustainability.

Currently in it's 11th year, the competition attracts a large number of the newest and most innovative home improvement projects from across London.

With an annual exhibition, magazine and regular advice sessions with architects, engineers, and designers, the programme aims to celebrate London’s best domestic-scale designs and encourage homeowners to embark on their own home improvement project.

Shortlist for 2021

22 projects have been shortlisted for the awards and are now in the running to be awarded the Overall Winner or Special Prizes.

These include -

• An additional half storey added to a house on a housing estate in Stoke Newington by Bradley Van Der Straeten, which is hidden from the street, the extension sits no higher than the original building's roofline, and manages to circumnavigate local planning restrictions.
• A renovation and extension of a Walter Segal house in South London by Fraher and Findlay, which follows the ideals of the Segal Method by using materials which are affordable, readily available and easy to work with.
• The re-imagining of a 1970s end-of-terrace townhouse on the site of a former orchard, as a robust and flexible family home by nimtim architects.

We hope to include a selection of these 22 projects on our website over the next few months.

The exhibition and publication will launch in May with the overall winners announced as well as seven special prizes for projects which adeptly overcome key challenges such as: Urban Oasis of the Year, the Compact Design of the Year, Best Project under £100k, Environmental Leadership Prize, WFH Design of the Year and Materiality and Craftsmanship Prize.

The judging panel for 2021 is headed up by NLA's curator-in chief Peter Murray and includes architects Amin Taha of Groupwork and Melissa Dowler of Bell Phillips.

Grand Designs Magazine editor Karen Stylianides is also on the team, alongside Whitby Wood's Sebastian Wood, property journalist Kunle Barker, Tom Foxall of Historic England and managing director of NLA Tamsie Thomson.