Showcasing all 120 projects featured in the 2017 Don’t Move, Improve! competition, this magazine showcases a range of solutions at a variety of budgets, completed within London’s distinct typologies — from small flats in 1960s housing blocks and Victorian terraces to Edwardian semis and post-war detached homes.

In addition to the featured projects, readers will discover emerging trends, learn tips on how to choose an architect, and discover London’s up-and-coming architectural practices in an extensive directory section, providing inspiration for anyone looking to embark on their own project.

2016 was the year that London surpassed its highest ever population, at over 8.6 million people. Driven by higher birth rates, people living longer, and vastly improving schools, Londoners are choosing to stay in the capital for longer. Adapting and expanding our homes continues to prove a real alternative to upsizing or moving on.

New London Architecture’s annual Don’t Move, Improve! competition celebrates the best new home extensions across London, offering up creative and innovative solutions to creating more space to live in a denser capital city. Selected by our panel of experts from across the fields of design, architecture and development, this year we were overwhelmed by the number of high-quality submissions, offering a bumper 120 projects at a variety of budgets, styles and locations. From 1960s housing blocks to Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis and post-war detached homes, the projects demonstrate solutions for extending above, underneath, sideways, as well as reconfiguring existing layouts to optimise space. 

Working with an architect you trust is key to ensuring a successful project, and in the following pages, architect Carl Turner, chair of RIBA London and creator of his own Grand Design, presents his dos and don’ts, while our Don’t Move, Improve! directory will point you to London’s up-and-coming architectural practices. 

Letter from the Editor
By Catherine Staniland, NLA Director

Choosing your architect
Carl Turner, of the award-winning Carl Turner Architects, tells us his top tips.

Emerging trends in design
Rose Etherington, Clippings editor-in-chief, looks at the brightest ideas from this year’s entries.

Projects
Winners and shortlisted schemes.

Directory
London’s up-and-coming architectural practices. 

Published January 2017
76 Pages