The Canada Water Plot K1 in Southwark has won a 2026 UK RIBA London Award for exemplary design quality in affordable housing
Delivered by Morris+Company with White Ink for the London Borough of Southwark, Canada Water Plot K1 is sited between dense urban areas and woodland.
It occupies a distinctive position between the dense urban character of Canada Water town centre and the rich ecological landscapes of Russia Dock Woodland and Stave Hill Ecological Park.
The brief called for a high-quality residential building delivering 79 dwellings, all of which were affordable housing for the London Borough of Southwark.
Key design features of Canada Water Plot K1
Canada Water Plot K1 occupies a distinctive position between the dense urban character of Canada Water town centre and the rich ecological landscapes of Russia Dock Woodland and Stave Hill Ecological Park. The brief called for a high-quality residential building delivering 79 dwellings, all of which were affordable housing for the London Borough of Southwark.
The architects adopted an open-ended courtyard typology for its design. From the street, the building presents a red-brick facade punctuated by generous balconies with subtle green metalwork and carefully considered brick detailing around windows and balcony openings.
Its massing is sensitively stepped to respect neighbouring building heights and the ecological edges that define the site. A clear and intuitive plan structure guides residents and visitors through two primary street-level entrances, leading to vertical circulation routes and then directly onto the courtyard access decks.
Spacious, well-proportioned, affordable homes
A key feature of Canada Water Plot K1 is the generous circulation deck that wraps the courtyard. Set slightly away from the residential facade, it creates a buffer zone that offers each home a personalised threshold.
Residents have used this space to add character and identity to their front doors, while strategically placed voids allow daylight to penetrate deeper into the homes. This arrangement fosters sociability and movement, encouraging informal interactions and strengthening community ties.
The jury praised the development for delivering exemplary design quality within an affordable housing scheme.
Members highlighted the innovative courtyard typology, which creates openness and generosity while promoting communal interaction and providing a sense of safety through clear sight lines that enable passive surveillance – residents looking out for each other.
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