John Morden Center by Mæ new Winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023
22/10/2023.
[LON] UK
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
The 2023 RIBA Stirling Prize awarded this year to the John Morden Center located in Blackheath Park, in southeast London, designed by Mæ Architects, is much more than the award for a good architectural solution, it means bringing to the fore the relevance and problems of nursing homes. The magnitude of the challenge facing all of society in the current social care system.
The project has racked up a number of major awards this year, with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling awarding this care home for the residents of Morden College, a retirement community located in Blackheath, London, in the United Kingdom, the focus is on the need to provide an adequate response to how we will live with increasing life expectancy.
In a country where the privatization of public assistance is widespread and where half of retirees do not reach the thresholds that would allow them to access expensive residences, being forced to pay for their care, and many having to sell their homes to do so, the prominence of residential charities such as Morden College is a benchmark in a care desert, helping older people who are struggling.
The project has racked up a number of major awards this year, with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling awarding this care home for the residents of Morden College, a retirement community located in Blackheath, London, in the United Kingdom, the focus is on the need to provide an adequate response to how we will live with increasing life expectancy.
In a country where the privatization of public assistance is widespread and where half of retirees do not reach the thresholds that would allow them to access expensive residences, being forced to pay for their care, and many having to sell their homes to do so, the prominence of residential charities such as Morden College is a benchmark in a care desert, helping older people who are struggling.
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson
Location plan. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Axonometry. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Site plan. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Ground floor plan. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Section. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Program. John Morden Center by Mæ.
Mæ Architects has created a day center for the residential charity Morden College, set up by wealthy 17th-century merchant John Morden to provide a home for destitute and "decayed" sailors. The cross-laminated timber (CLT) and brick construction, which offers medical and social facilities, is integrated among existing structures (including an asylum and a chapel attributed to the architect Sir Christopher Wren of London's St Paul's Cathedral) of the listed university grounds. maximum protection.
The center is actually a necklace that links a series of red brick "pavilions" that house various social and service spaces characterized by their large chimneys that establish an interesting dialogue with the neighboring 17th-century buildings. The connection is made through a central wooden "cloister" or covered path whose cover is coated with zinc.
The award was initially introduced in 1996 and aims to recognize the best architectural proposals in the UK. It is the first time that Mae Architects, selected from a group of 6 shortlisted projects, and which was also shortlisted for last year's award, has won the UK's top honor.
Ellen van Loon, speaking on behalf of the RIBA Stirling Prize jury: "The John Morden Centre is a place of joy and inspiration. It sensitively and seamlessly integrates medical facilities and social spaces, delivering a bold and hopeful model for the design of health and care centers for the elderly. Creating an environment that lifts the spirits and fosters community is evident at every turn and in every detail. This building provides comfort and warmth, with thoughtful features designed to prevent isolation. It illustrates how buildings can themselves be therapeutic – supporting care and instilling a sense of belonging. Great architecture orients people so they can thrive, and this building is exemplary at achieving exactly that."
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson.
Project description by Mæ Architects
John Morden Centre is a daycare center for residents of Morden College. It brings together facilities currently spread across the college site into an innovative, characterful new building designed to tackle social isolation among older residents by providing spaces to interact.
Morden College is a Grade I listed almshouse in Blackheath, London founded in 1695 by Sir John Morden and built by Sir Christopher Wren’s master builder and successor, Edward Strong. The new building makes reference to the historic architecture in its colonnade, roofscape, and brickwork.
The public spaces of the college –dining room, chapel, library– form additions to the main quadrangle connected by a colonnade. The generous social spaces of the new building are also linked by a meandering colonnade, which forms a spine of circulation and opens up connections to landscaped gardens.
Each part of the building has a distinct roof and a chimney for stacked ventilation echoing the profile of the neighbouring buildings.
"John Morden Centre sits at the heart of the college, a hub of life and activity. A place that not only inspires our residents to spend time in, because time spent in John Morden Centre will enable them to feel good about themselves and about life; but also a place that inspires our staff, to care even more. Residents walking into John Morden Centre find themselves in a place that recognizes their importance."
David Rutherford-Jones CEO of Morden College
More information
Architects
Collaborators
Structural Engineer.- Michael Hadi Associates.
Environmental / M&E Engineer.- BOOM.
Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant.- Calford Seaden.
Interior Design.- Scott-Masson Interior Design.
Project Management.- Calford Seaden.
Landscape Architect.- J&L Gibbons.
Planning Consultant.- Stanway Little.
Environmental / M&E Engineer.- BOOM.
Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant.- Calford Seaden.
Interior Design.- Scott-Masson Interior Design.
Project Management.- Calford Seaden.
Landscape Architect.- J&L Gibbons.
Planning Consultant.- Stanway Little.
Client
Morden College.
Contractor
Clive Graham Associates.
Area
Internal gross area (GIA).- 911 m².
Dates
2019 – 2021.
Location
John Morden Centre, Blackheath, London, UK.
Awards
RIBA National Awards- Winner 2023.
RIBA London Awards Building of the Year - Winner 2023.
RIBA London Awards - Winner 2023.
Brick Awards - Winner 2021.
New London Architecture Awards, Caring Prize - Winner 2020.
RIBA Stirling Prize 2023.
RIBA London Awards Building of the Year - Winner 2023.
RIBA London Awards - Winner 2023.
Brick Awards - Winner 2021.
New London Architecture Awards, Caring Prize - Winner 2020.
RIBA Stirling Prize 2023.
Photography
Alex Ely. Mæ
Mæ is a RIBA Chartered Architecture Practice and a member of the London Practice Forum. We are an ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited practice. They are a partner in RE-SET-GO, a workplace experience and mentoring programme established with the mission of diversifying architecture practices. They are an Architecture Foundation sponsor and a Paradigm Network Partner.
Alex Ely founded Mæ in 2001. He has led the practice in establishing an international reputation for innovation and excellence. Alex balances working for architecture and civil society advising the government and its agencies on the built environment. He has been responsible for award-winning schemes from masterplans to cultural buildings, housing to health care as well as for the Mayor of London’s Housing Design Guide and numerous best practice publications for CABE.
Alex is a former Mayor's Design Advocate, CABE Built Environment Expert, a member of the GLA’s and LLDC’s Review Panels and the RIBA's Housing Policy Group. He is a frequent public speaker at national and international urban and design forums.
Alex Ely founded Mæ in 2001. He has led the practice in establishing an international reputation for innovation and excellence. Alex balances working for architecture and civil society advising the government and its agencies on the built environment. He has been responsible for award-winning schemes from masterplans to cultural buildings, housing to health care as well as for the Mayor of London’s Housing Design Guide and numerous best practice publications for CABE.
Alex is a former Mayor's Design Advocate, CABE Built Environment Expert, a member of the GLA’s and LLDC’s Review Panels and the RIBA's Housing Policy Group. He is a frequent public speaker at national and international urban and design forums.
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