AIA UK DESIGN AWARDS GALA AND SUMMER PARTY

mborsett
May 12
3 min read

Last week we joined other AIA UK member architects at the Royal College of Physicians for a drinks and canapes reception and the 2025 Excellence in Design Awards ceremony, where this year's winners were honored.

A modern indoor space features a red banner for AIA United Kingdom, complemented by a classical bust and lush greenery, set against a backdrop of large windows with engraved names of notable individuals. © 2025 Mba Photography

We really enjoyed an evening celebrating some of the best design in the United Kingdom, and mingling with fellow architects and design fans in the wonderful setting of the Grade II-listed building by Sir Denys Lasdun(1914–2001) and its gardens. Opened in 1964 next to Regent's Park, it is widely considered a modernist masterpiece and one of London's most important post-war buildings.

The entrance to the Royal College of Physicians in London, surrounded by vibrant greenery, showcases a contemporary architectural design beneath the canopy of leafy trees. © 2025 Mba Photography

The AIA UK summer Party takes place in the courtyard of a sleek, minimalist structure, where guests interact on the vibrant green lawn. Benches and rugs are spread out over the grass, offering a laid-back and welcoming ambiance beneath the cloudy sky. © 2025 Mba Photography

For 30 years, these awards have proven highly valued by architects as they confer trans-Atlantic recognition for design excellence.

The awards were judged based on their design achievements & intentions, contribution to the built environment, innovation, and sustainability, which incorporates the AIA Ten Measures of Design Excellence.

For 2025, AIA UK chose to celebrate projects based in the UK. This year also marked the introduction of a new awards format, offering greater flexibility in recognising projects for a wider range of achievements.

The 2025 Design Awards centred on the following key categories: Beyond the Brief, Zeitgeist Award, Best Place Award, Innovation Award, Outstanding Visual Award, Emerging Practice Award, and the brand-new Iris Ceramica Award. While these categories served as a framework, final selections were at the jury’s discretion. Embracing this flexibility, the jurors interpreted the categories creatively, celebrating each winning project for its distinct contribution across diverse scales, typologies, and sectors.

The jury, chaired by Alison Brooks (Founding Principal & Creative Director, Alison Brooks Architects), featured leading voices in architecture and engineering: DaeWha Kang (Founder, DaeWha Kang Design), Matthias Schuler (Founder & Managing Partner, TransSolar Climate Engineering), Rob Partridge (Design Director, AKT II Engineering), Ellie Stathaki (Architecture & Environment Director, Wallpaper Magazine), and Margherita Giannoni (UK PR & Communication Manager, Iris Ceramica Group).

Audience members attentively listen to Adelina Koleva, AIA Vice President, at the podium during the AIA UK Design Awards 2023, with jury members' photos and names displayed on the screen. © 2025 Mba Photography

The main sponsor of the AIA UK Design Awards is Iris Ceramica Group,

For Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 (20-22 May), Iris Ceramica Group invites guests on a multisensory journey inside its London ICG Gallery, where appearances go beyond the surface. Ceramic materials are transformed: this isn’t magic, but cutting-edge technology applied to ceramics. Meet the winners of the 2025 AIA UK Excellence in Design Awards at a special event at the London ICG Gallery during Clerkenwell Design Week, where they will present their award-winning projects to an audience of architecture enthusiasts.