News
Unity Place Shortlisted by RIBA for Best Affordable Housing
10.2024
We are honoured that Unity Place has been shortlisted for the RIBA Neave Brown Award for Housing.
This recognition comes at a crucial time when the agenda for affordable housing is at the forefront in the UK. RIBA describes the project as a “key element” in the 15-year South Kilburn Regeneration Programme, delivering 235 homes that restore historical street patterns and harmonise high-density housing with surrounding low- to medium-rise buildings through contextually sensitive materials.
Unity Place is a collaboration with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Gort Scott, RM_A and Brent Council.
Astrid Smitham, founder of Apparata and last year’s winner, highlighted the shortlist’s emphasis on strong client-architect partnerships in delivering high-quality housing, “At a time when the UK sets out to build 1.5 million new homes, this shortlist shows the importance of great partnerships between clients and architects in delivering housing of the very highest standard, that everyone deserves.”
RIBA President Muyiwa Oki PRIBA added that social housing is “a great opportunity” for architects, not a limitation, “This year’s shortlist reaffirms that creating social housing should not be seen as a limitation to architects, but a great opportunity.”
We are honoured to have been shortlisted and would like to thank our collaborators on Unity Place. Best of luck to all the shortlisted teams!
Citymakers Publication by Allies and Morrison
09.2024
Alison’s thinkpiece, “The University as Civic Commons,” is featured in this year’s Citymakers publication on the Knowledge City, by Allies and Morrison.
This piece is based on her lecture at the “City Knowledge, Knowledge City” event during Citymakers 2023, delving into the evolving role of universities within their host cities.
Alison’s analysis reflects a broader shift in how universities are perceived; once viewed as isolated ivory towers where information was a privileged commodity, universities are now increasingly expected to serve as bridges between academic communities and the wider public.
Notable examples from the publication include the Bissell Building at John P. Robarts Research Library in Toronto, Canada; the LSE Firoz Lalji Global Hub in London, UK; the Homerton College Entrance Building and the Eddington Masterplan in Cambridge, UK; and Cohen Quad at Exeter College in Oxford, UK.
Citymakers, the annual publication and conference by Allies and Morrison, explores the often-misunderstood role of masterplanning in shaping today’s cities. Alongside Alison’s contribution, the publication features insights from various experts, including Yolande Barnes, Sarah Chubb, Rod Cantrill, Rick Splinter, Paul Eaton, Paul Appleton, Lou Cordwell, Kenneth Kinsella, Kate Wittels, Joe Berridge, Jeremy Till, Jane Hutchins, Nancy Rothwell, and Artur Carulla, with a foreword by Antje Saunders.
Architecture on Stage: Alison Brooks by the Architecture Foundation and Barbican Centre
09.2024
Alison Brooks’ lecture and book signing event: (An Architecture of) Kindred Spirits, took place on the 17th of September.
Part of the Architecture on Stage series presented by the Architecture Foundation and Barbican Centre, Alison traced the foundations of her practice through projects such as Windward House, Cohen Quad and Cadence, the final piece of the King’s Cross regeneration.
She drew on her early influences from Europe after arriving in London in 1988, which embedded a sense of memory, material culture and a deeply human experience of place throughout her later works. Concluding the evening was a delightful conversation led by chair, Jamie Fobert, sparked by questions on the inclusion of indigenous voices in Canadian projects, advocating for female founders and architects in a challenging industry, and more.
Signed copies of the practice’s first monograph by TC Cuadernos were also available on the night.
Discover where to find the monograph here.
Alison Brooks Opens ‘Back to the Future’ forum, Oslo Urban Week
09.2024
Alison Brooks opened the packed three-day ‘Back to the Future’ forum at Oslo Urban Week with a conversation alongside Andreas Magnusson, activist for youth in the built environment, and Peter Butenschøn, renowned architect, urban planner, and writer.
Her keynote, ‘Making Future Heritage: Context is Everything,’ explored how diversity, civicness, locality, memory, and context are interpreted within the built environment – through the lens of projects such as Ely Court and Unity Place (both part of Brent Council’s twenty-year South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan), Rubicon and Cadence.
Held in Oslo’s historic Kvadraturen district – celebrating its 400th anniversary this year – Oslo Urban Week focused on shaping future built environments through sustainability and contextual sensitivity. The event took place on 24 September at Telegrafen, Oslo, where Rasmus Reinvang and Maren Bjerkeng joined the discussion, seeking solutions for more resilient cities.
Photography by Maria Brox, OMA. Check out the event here.
Open House Festival 2024 Tour of South Kilburn
08.2024
Join us on Saturday, September 14th, for a guided walk through 20 years of the South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan in North West London, led by the team at Alison Brooks Architects.
As part of this year’s Open House Festival, drop in and delve into Brent Council’s ambitious 20-year regeneration efforts. Discover the evolution of our ethos for Ely Court, Kilburn Quarter and Unity Place. Trace the development of 19th century typologies such as Terraces, Flatiron Block, Link Block, Mews House, Mansion Block and Mansard roofs, while reflecting on the lessons learned and the ongoing conversation around affordable housing in London.
Open House Festival is a London-wide festival that opens up and celebrates the city’s architecture, special sites and neighbourhoods, with open days and events taking place across all 33 London boroughs.
Sign up for the tour here: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/10231
Toronto City Council Approves First Phase of Quayside
07.2024
Toronto City Council has approved the zoning for the first phase of Quayside, a project that reflects the vision of Waterfront Toronto, Dream, and our entire Quayside design team.
This project aims to create a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable community on Toronto’s former industrial waterfront.
This milestone would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Waterfront Toronto, Dream, Great Gulf, and our masterplan team, including Henning Larsen, SLA, Adjaye Associates, Two Row Architect, and executive architects, Architects Alliance.
Inspired by the character of Toronto’s warehouses and the charm of its King Street and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods, our masterplan and first phase, Western Curve, are set to transform the city’s waterfront. We’re excited to continue this journey and bring this visionary project to life for Toronto.