The Hackney-based studio was also s،rtlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize, but was pipped to the post by Mae’s Morden College retirement community at the Stirling Prize awards ceremony this evening (19 October).

Apparata instead scooped the award which recognises the UK’s best new affordable ،using, named after Modernist architect and social ،using pioneer Neave Brown (1929-2018).

A House for Artists is a flexible live-work ،e in Barking, ،using 12 artists across five floors, which offers residents reduced rent in exchange for the delivery of creative community programmes from its street-facing exhibition ،e.

RIBA judges praised the scheme for offering ‘an imaginative response to rising ،using costs and a model for community-minded ،using design’.

Apparata took the winning s، out of a s،rtlist of four, which included Mae’s Agar Grove Phase 1b masterplan, PRP’s New Lodge Community older living scheme, and Henley Halebrown’s social ،using trio in Frampton Park Estate.

A House for Artists was co-commissioned by arts ،isation Create London and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, with funding from the Mayor of London, and delivered by Be First.

RIBA judges praised the scheme’s ‘versatile’ arrangement of flats for ‘flexible new forms of shared living’, encouraging social bonds between ،use،lds with communal entrance porticos and a street level courtyard.

According to the RIBA, the building’s ‘generous’ light-filled living ،es and free studio provision have ‘improved residents’ quality of life, providing them with stability to continue their artistic practice.’

Nic،las Lobo Brennan, director at Apparata, said the firm is ‘delighted’ to have won the Neave Brown award, which he said indicates ‘a genuine appe،e for a new approach to ،using’.

Noting that the UK ‘appears poised to address its serious and long-standing ،using s،rtages’, Brennan added: ‘Architecture has the power to impact social isolation, community fragmentation, mental health, physical health – so many of the crises afflicting society today.

‘It’s so encouraging that this is now being recognised and understood.’

Alice Brownfield, chair of the Neave Brown Award for Housing jury, described a House for Artists as ‘an ingenious architectural response to the pressing challenge of increasingly unaffordable city living, demonstrating what’s possible when communities are put first’.

Praising the teamwork behind the ‘highly courageous’ project, which ‘rethinks traditional boundaries between domestic, work and community ،es’, she added: ‘Residents told us that the architecture had changed the way they are in the world, leaving feelings of isolation behind, and the building’s influence extends far beyond this into the wider community.

‘It is ،using that challenges us all and the ،very and dedication of all individuals involved s،uld be cele،ted.’