‘The Secret Garden Flat’ designed by Nic Howett Architect has been named Home of the Year 2023 in the coveted Don’t Move, Improve! Awards. 

 

The expert jury panel have selected this year’s overall winner and seven special prize winners from a shortlist of 15 entries that celebrate the newest and most innovative home improvement projects from across London.

This year’s programme theme of ‘Green Ambitions’ shone through the 2023 submissions, with the shortlist featuring renovations that highlight the importance of improving the sustainable credentials of London’s homes. Other significant themes for 2023 include a focus on wellbeing, with innovative improvements to daylight, better access to nature and inclusion of mood-enhancing colours. Maximising space to provide solutions for compact living is also notable across this year’s projects. 

 

The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect has remodelled a small awkward flat, moving the emphasis of living away from a busy main road to the garden behind. Self-building with a palette of simple and modest materials that could be crafted with their own hands, they have added a new bedroom and a secluded garden studio where both can work from home.

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Home of the Year: The Secret Garden Flat, Nic Howett Architect 

Environmental Leadership Prize: Low Energy House, Architecture for London 

Materiality and Craftsmanship Prize: Brückenhaus, R2 Studio Architects 

Unique Character Prize: CLT House, Unknown Works 

Urban Oasis Prize: Kitchen in the Woods, A Small Studio 

Compact Design Prize: Lubetkin Apartment, Studio naama 

Best Project Under £100K: Colour Casing, District. Architects 

Transformation Prize: Elizabeth Mews, Trewhela Williams