If you love your home but simply need more space than it has to offer, the prospect of moving can feel like a heartbreaking necessity. But what if you didn?t need to leave your neighborhood behind after all" There’s bound to be some kind of creative solution to transform your home ? even if you live on a tight urban lot.

The projects selected for the shortlist are so striking, it?s hard to imagine how the judges will choose the winners. All completed between 2016 and 2018, they strive to simultaneously contrast and complement London?s historic architecture, ultimately making it more functional for contemporary residents.
Perfect for the owner of a more traditional home who craves a bit of ultramodern flair, the extensions find unexpected ways to expand living spaces into backyards, alleys, and even rooftops, often featuring lots of glass to brighten up older, darker interiors. The additions also serve as inspiration for new construction projects all over the city, as London pushes to make use of as much available space as possible to accommodate its growing population.
?It?s good to see a trend of gentle experimentation with sustainable natural substances, particularly brick and wood, and of homes being extended in ways that revolve around their owners? lives, resulting in something both idiosyncratic and full of character,” says judge Philippa Stockley of the Evening Standard. “To make this happen, architects are really listening to and respondin...