AYA 2025 shortlists: Young Architect of the Year

Earlier this year BD announced all the architects who made it on to the shortlists for our prestigious annual Architect of the Year Awards.

Now we are shining the spotlight on each category in turn and publishing a selection of the images that impressed the judges.

This year’s judges include: Yẹmí Aládérun, head of development, Meridian Water (Enfield Council); Amr Assaad, director, Buckley Gray Yeoman; Lee Bennet, partner, Sheppard Robson; Sarah Cary, chief development officer, White City at Imperial; Ben Derbyshire, chair, HTA Design LLP; Martyn Evans, creative director, U+I; Dicle Guntas, managing director, HGG London; Gavin Hale-Brown, director, Henley Halebrown; Tanvir Hasan, director emeritus, Donald Insall Associates; Lee Higson, board director, Eric Parry Architects; David Kohn, founder and director, David Kohn Architects; Oliver Lowrie, director and founder, Ackroyd Lowrie; Anna Mansfield, director, Publica; Jo McCafferty, director, Levitt Bernstein; Ian McKnight, director, Hall McKnight; John McRae, director, Orms; Andrew Mellor, partner, PRP; Sadie Morgan, director, dRMM; Setareh Neshati, director of regeneration and development – delivery and operations, Westminster City Council; David Partridge, co-founder, Senze; Manisha Patel, director, kpk Studios; Sarah Robinson, associate director, The King’s Foundation; Simon Saint, principal, Woods Bagot; Philippa Simpson, director for buildings and renewal, Barbican Centre; David Stansfield, senior partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; Amin Taha, director, Groupwork; Magali Thomson, project lead for placemaking, Great Ormond Street Hospital; Ola Uduku, head of school, Liverpool School of Architecture; Tatiana von Preussen, co-founder, vPPR; Richard Wardle, director, Stanton Williams.

Today’s shortlist is for Young Architect of the Year.

Clementine Blakemore Architects

Established in 2017, the seven-strong practice is committed to producing buildings that are ‘inventive, inclusive and have a positive impact on both the wider community and the environment’. This is demonstrated by Wraxall Yard, a RIBA Stirling Prize-shortlisted conversion of a derelict dairy farm site into inclusive holiday accommodation in Dorset. Ongoing projects include the renovation of H. T. Cadbury-Brown’s Grade II-listed Royal College of Art building in Kensington, in collaboration with lead practice Witherford Watson Mann Architects.

Jas Bhalla Works

Established in 2018, the nine-strong practice of architects, planners and urban designers aims to ‘pursue socially useful architecture for the common good’. It is led by architect and planner Jas Bhalla, who is also town architect for Ilford. Projects range from residential extensions and retrofits for temporary accommodation through to masterplans for new settlements. Current projects include Highgate Road estate infill housing in London’s Camden and 200 homes at a new garden community east of Colchester.

ROAR

Established in 2017, the practice believes architecture ‘must be purposeful, contextual, and uplifting’, and aims to raise expectations of what a young architectural practice can achieve. ROAR describes itself as thriving in the complexities of private residential architecture, and has featured three examples in its submission, including the cork-clad Nina’s House, a deep retrofit using regenerative materials in north London. The entry is completed by The Archives, a meanwhile-use conversion of a warehouse into a creative hub in Tottenham.

Trewhela Williams

Founded in 2021, the south London practice describes itself as delivering ‘poetically conceived and finely crafted’ projects. Showcased projects illustrate its ‘passion’ for the design of private residences: the Elizabeth Mews garage-to-living-space conversion completed in north London and CH Residence, a proposed 1,000 m² new build in Warwickshire. The entry also includes two public-facing works: a new terrace and porch planned for Saint Saviour’s Church in Chiswick and a bar installation in Verona for an Italian stone company.