Love in the details: celebrating architecture that puts people first
Last week, Mary Duggan Architects and Ruff Architects won the Stirling Prize for Lion Green Road, an inspiring social housing scheme in Croydon. In their citation, the judges commented:
“Its transformative values are not expressed through spectacle, but through the everyday experience of living in a secure, generous environment, supporting privacy and encounter, independence and belonging, and the multiple patterns of contemporary domestic life.”
This description neatly articulates the ‘why’ of great human-centred design. It connects the architecture of a building to the universal things we all want and need: a sense of safety and belonging, opportunities for both privacy and connection, and a home that lifts us up when we return to it.
As Thomas Heatherwick observed on BBC London, Lion Green Road has “love in the details”. The architects have brought real care, character and attention to this project, making something joyful and generous not only to its residents, but to the wider community. It shows how architecture can give something back to everyone who encounters it, including those simply passing by. And it has people’s needs at its heart.
“Too often, architecture is discussed behind closed doors, in language that excludes the very people who experience it every day (all of us!)”
And this is precisely what the Humanise campaign, which turns three this week, is trying to do: strengthen the case for more human buildings and cities, and broaden the public conversation about why we need them.
Too often, architecture is discussed behind closed doors, in language that excludes the very people who experience it every day (all of us!). The debate is dominated by questions of function, efficiency and process: what we build and how we build it.
These things matter, but they aren’t the whole story. Over the past three years, we’ve worked to take the conversation beyond the architectural sector. We’ve gathered evidence, amplified citizen voices, engaged city leaders, and collaborated with artists and creative partners around the world.
Together, we’re making the case for buildings and places that do more than just function. We’re fighting for buildings which connect with us emotionally, strengthen our sense of belonging, and make everyday life better.
By helping people recognise the importance of more human buildings, we can show how architecture has the potential to support healthier, happier lives, strengthen communities, benefit the planet and contribute to wider prosperity.
Like any campaign, we want to understand whether we’re making progress. Independent research by Thinks Insight has found that online discussion about how buildings look and feel has grown by 89% compared with the period before Humanise launched. We certainly don’t claim all the credit, but it is an encouraging indication that the terms of the architectural debate are beginning to change.
Of course, changing the public conversation isn’t an end in itself. But it’s a powerful way to create the cultural conditions for change, showing those with the power to shape our cities that there is public support and growing demand for something better.
Through our newly announced research partnership with UKRI and the University of Glasgow, we’ll be developing the economic evidence needed to understand what it costs to create humanised places at scale, as well as the savings and long-term value they can deliver.
We know that those who commission buildings, invest in places and lead the regeneration of our cities need this evidence. If human-centred design is to become the norm rather than the exception, we must demonstrate that it represents a robust investment in healthier people, stronger communities and more prosperous places.
But for now, let’s celebrate a social housing development that shows, in abundance, what joyful design can achieve. Congratulations to Mary Duggan and everyone involved in Lion Green Road.