Don’t Move, Improve! 2025: winners announced

The winners of NLA’s annual Don’t Move, Improve! competition have been announced.

Don’t Move, Improve! celebrates London’s most innovative home improvement projects, putting the spotlight on both emerging and established architects who are pushing the boundaries, when it comes to home renovation.

The winners were announced on Wednesday, 19 February at a Winners Reception hosted at The London Centre, alongside the launch of the Don’t Move, Improve! 2025 exhibition highlighting this year’s shortlisted projects.

This year’s competition, proudly sponsored by VitrA, has awarded ‘Home of the Year’ to Elemental House by Archmongers, the reimagining of a 1970s split-level house in Hackney.

The home was designed by Archmongers’ founder Johan Hybschmann and his wife, Anita Freeman, with the project seamlessly integrating thoughtful structural changes with the home’s original character.

Described by the judges as a “gift that kept on giving”, the architects have infused the space with a series of intentional, delightful surprises at every turn.

The result is a light-filled, energy-efficient space that is both future-proof and deeply connected to its architectural heritage.

Praised for “engineering precision” and use of recycled materials, the project also won the prize for ‘Materiality & Craftsmanship’.

The full list of 2025 Don’t Move, Improve! competition winners includes:

• Home of The Year: Elemental House by Archmongers
• Environmental Prize: Nina’s House by Nina+Co with ROAR
• Transformation Prize: Steel House by EBBA Architects
• Compact Design Prize: Hartley House by THISS Studio
• Cost Effective Prize: Hands-on Home by Natalia Tanko
• Materiality & Craftmanship Prize: Elemental House by Archmongers
• Best Interior Design: RAW House by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects
• Best Outdoor Space: RAW House by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects
• Best Kitchen Design: Steel House by EBBA Architects
• People’s Choice Award: Terzetto by ConForm Architects

The 2025 Winners were selected by the Don’t Move, Improve! Jury Panel from 14 Shortlisted projects, whittled down from 60 top projects chosen by the Peer Review Panel from over 150 entries:

• Anna White, Property & Lifestyle Writer
• Ed Jarvis, Urban Design Manager, London Borough of Camden
• Mary Duggan, Founding Director, Mary Duggan Architects, London
• Peter Molloy, Architectural Photographer and Designer

Previous winners of ‘Home of the Year’ include Aden Grove by Emil Eve Architects, The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect, Little Brownings by Archmongers, and House Recast by Studio Ben Allen.

Federico Ortiz, Head of Programme, NLA, said: “The architects have skilfully hollowed out the existing structure, creating unexpected volumes and flows that seamlessly integrate with the house’s original heritage. The inversion of the stairs, the removal of the garage, and the subtle manipulation of sections are all brilliant yet restrained moves. The use of recycled materials has created an environmentally conscious space that is both functional and homely. It’s a profoundly intelligent approach that remains grounded, never showy—simply exemplary.”

Mary Duggan, Founding Director, Mary Duggan Architects, said: “The layers of interventions at Elemental House have been very carefully considered channelling the design choices strategically. The exterior has been subtly upgraded by exchanging cladding panels and glazing with beautifully chosen systems. Internally, the volume has been entirely remastered by Archmongers to create a generous series of interconnected spaces which flow together effortlessly.”

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