Don't Move, Improve!

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DISCOVER LONDON'S TOP 100 HOME EXTENSION

This year's Overall Prize Winner, House Recast by Studio Ben Allen © French+Tye

Don’t Move, Improve! encourages great design in everyday life, celebrating the newest and most innovative home improvement projects from across London.

The annual competition – now celebrating its 11th year – showcases the diversity and character of homes being redesigned in London.

With an annual exhibition, magazine and regular advice sessions with architects, engineers, and designers, the programme aims to celebrate London’s best domestic-scale designs and encourage homeowners to embark on their own home improvement project.

Design Surgeries 2021

Get advice from the architects and related professions recognised by the annual competition in virtual one-to-one consultations and inspiration talks with experts in a week-long series of events.

In these events members of the public have the opportunity to get personalised advice and inspiration on home extensions. Expert talks are given on design considerations and practical advice, one-to-one consultations with expert practitioners, alongside family walking tours and workshops, and much more!

These sessions give you the opportunity to discuss your home improvement ideas and consult with architects.

The design surgeries take a hybrid form this year, offering 25-minute free consultations via Zoom and in-person from our Don't Move, Improve! exhibit at Coal Drops Yard.

Virtual Consultations - 27th July

In-person Consultations - 29th July

THE 2021 WINNERS

Discover the winning projects, with interviews from the architects and homeowners giving our audience an exclusive insight into the projects.

OVERALL PRIZE WINNER

Don't move, Improve

27 May 2021

Concrete connections: House Recast

House Recast by Studio Ben Allen is the overall winner of Don't Move, Improve 2021, a spatially "rich and interesting" refurbishment of a Victorian house in Haringey.

Don't move, Improve

06 May 2021

Timber Triumph: Grain House

Grain House by Hayhurst and Co. has won this year's Don't Move, Improve! Materiality & Craftmanship Prize. The prize recognises designs that take particular attention to detail and care when consideri...

Plaster pleasure: Council House Renovation

Don't move, Improve

06 May 2021

Plaster pleasure: Council House Renovation

Council House Renovation by VATRAA is the Joint Winner of this year's Compact Design of the Year Prize.

An interlocking puzzle: Two and Half Storey House

Don't move, Improve

06 May 2021

An interlocking puzzle: Two and Half Storey House

Two and Half Storey House by Bradley Van Der Straeten is the Joint Winner of this year's Compact Design of the Year Prize.

Don't move, Improve

13 May 2021

Walter works!: The Segal House

Winner of the Environmental Leadership Prize, The Segal House by Fraher & Findlay is a house in south London that was designed following architect Walter Segal's self-build methods. The extension foll...

Don't move, Improve

13 May 2021

Urban Oasis: Cloistered House

Cloistered House by Turner Architects has won the Urban Oasis of the Year prize. The restoration and extension of a Cubitt-built Georgian terraced house in a conservation area.

Don't move, Improve

20 May 2021

Fluid connections: ER Residence

ER Residence by Studio Hallett Ike is the winner of the Best Project Under £100K award. The previously cramped galley kitchen has been opened up and adapted, and is now a fluid connection between the...

Don't move, Improve

20 May 2021

Peak performance: Mountain View

Mountain View by CAN is the Unique Character Prize winner at Don't Move, Improve! 2021. A radical transformation of an Edwardian semi-detached house into a colourful family home topped with a stage se...

Don't move, Improve

20 May 2021

Live / work balance: Terrazzo Studio

Terrazzo Studio by Sonn Studio has won the Working From Home Design of the Year prize, a striking end of garden studio and workshop in Hackney that was designed and self-built by the architect.

EXHIBITION AT THE NLA GALLERY AT COAL DROPS YARD

The Don’t Move, Improve! exhibition is back to inspire and celebrate London’s best-designed and most innovative home extensions. This year's exhibition will be focusing on the Celebration of Home where we will be reflecting on our time spent at home over the past year and explore opportunities to make our homes work better for us.

Featuring the nine winning homes from this year’s Don’t Move, Improve! competition through photography, videos, models and product samples, this exhibition showcases the best interventions to Londoners’ homes completed in the last two years

Celebration of Home: Don't Move, Improve! 2021

Don't move, Improve

Start: Thursday 01 July 2021 - 08:00
End: Tuesday 21 September 2021 - 18:00

The Don’t Move, Improve! exhibition is back to inspire and celebrate London’s best-designed and most innovative home extensions.

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Celebration of Home: Don't Move, Improve! 2021

MORE DON'T MOVE, IMPROVE! 2021 CONTENT

Awards

Don't Move, Improve! 2021 Shortlist

Twenty-two exceptional projects have been shortlisted for the Don't Move Improve! 2021 awards and are now in the running to be awarded the Overall Winner or Special Prizes.

Awards

Don't Move, Improve! 2021

The 2021 competition seeking London's most innovative homes being re-designed in the capital.

Sponsorship & Advertising

Align your organisation with any element of the NLA programme and benefit from association with thought leadership

MAGAZINES

The Don’t Move, Improve! magazine, which also features editorial from industry professionals and tips for taking on a home improvement project, has a 4,000+ print circulation and is distributed with NLQ magazine, as well as being available to purchase at NLA and the RIBA bookshop, and for free download via the NLA website.

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2020

Creative and ingenious solutions to extending London homes, over 100 projects of all styles, scale and budget.

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2019

Showcasing all home projects featured in this year’s Don’t Move, Improve! competition, this magazine showcases a range o...

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2018

Showcasing all home projects featured in this year’s Don’t Move, Improve! competition, this magazine showcases a range o...

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2017

Showcasing all 120 projects featured in the 2017 Don’t Move, Improve! competition, this magazine showcases a range of so...

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2015/16

This publication accompanies the competition, now in its sixth year, inviting architects, designers and homeowners to su...

Insight

Don't Move, Improve! 2014/15

Providing a resource for anyone looking to create more usable space within their home, NLA's first publication to illust...

PAST WINNERS

Unique in the industry, the annual competition celebrates small scale home improvement projects within London. With a legacy of recognising emerging talent it is now an esteemed award for architectural practices.

Don't Move, Improve! 2020 Winners

Soffit House by Proctor and Shaw has been announced as the overall winner of Don’t Move, Improve 2020!

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Don’t Move, Improve! 2019 Winners

Chapel by Craftworks has been crowned overall winner of Don’t Move, Improve! 2019! Now in its ninth year, the annual competition celebrates London’s best-designed new home extensions and improvements,...

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Don’t Move, Improve! 2018 Winners

Sun Rain Rooms by Tonkin Liu has been crowned overall winner of Don’t Move, Improve! 2018! Celebrating London’s best-designed new home extensions and improvements, the annual competition promotes the...

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Don’t Move, Improve! 2017 Winners

The Sunken Bath Project by Studio 304 Architecture has been crowned overall winner of the ‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ 2017 awards, praised for its compelling design that created a new feature bathroom that...

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DISCOVER LONDON'S TOP 100 HOME EXTENSION

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Partners

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

By supporting Don’t Move, Improve! 2021 you will be aligning your organisation with London's best home extension projects. For more information on available packages please contact Hannah Nottridge or call 0207 636 4044

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