Appleby Blue Almshouse
RIBA Stirling Prize Winner 2025
Neave Brown Award for Affordable Housing 2025
Architects - Witherford Watson Mann
Client: United St Saviour’s Charity (USSC)
Developer-Contractor: JTRE
Product - Ketley quarry tiles in light and dark multi, commercial grade
Appleby Blue Almshouse is a landmark social housing scheme that redefines later-life living. Designed for older Londoners, the project offers 57 bright, spacious flats arranged around a lush central courtyard of shimmering ginkgo trees and tinkling pools. It’s a place of care, shelter, and social connection—where architecture fosters dignity and joy.
At the heart of the building is a double height garden room, which looks out onto the courtyard and provides a community space for a range of socialising activities.
Architects Witherford Watson Mann selected a natural palette of high quality materials that brings a domestic warmth to the project. Ketley quarry tiles (commercial grade) in a mix of dark and light multi line the shared spaces and glazed galleries which wrap around the building offering contemplative areas to sit, chat, and enjoy views of Victorian terrace gardens as well as the Bermondsey streetscape below. In warmer months, large sliding screens open the galleries to the elements, enhancing the sense of light, space, and joy.
Ketley quarry tiles can be downgraded from best to commercial quality for many reasons. They can have inconsistencies in colour and shape, small chips or marks. Here the irregularities add to the natural, earthy aesthetic of the place, bringing an indoor/outdoor feeling to these shared spaces.
The Stirling Prize judges said Appleby Blue "sets an ambitious standard for social housing among older people" They add it" is a provision of pure delight. Its architects have crafted high-quality spaces that are generous and thoughtful, blending function and community to create environments that truly care for their residents. "
