The Architects’ Journal recognises design excellence every year at their annual AJ Architecture Awards. The Awards highlight the very best projects across 17+ categories, from housing, health, and wellbeing, to workplace and culture.

With judges looking for a range of criteria including build quality, contribution to the neighbourhood, carbon impact and biodiversity, we were delighted to see three Low Line schemes recognised at the Awards ceremony in November, highlighting some of the transformative projects coming to life along the Victorian railway viaduct.

To the west of Borough Market in Bankside, Borough Yards by SPPARC won in the Best Mixed Use project category. The judges felt this major rework of the underbelly of the railway was inspired and really well stitched-in to the world-famous Market. The scheme brilliantly demonstrates the potential of the Low Line to reimagine sections of the viaduct and unlock sections of the historic structure.

In the heart of London Bridge, Sanchez Benton’s Holyrood Street Garden and Kiosk is a meanwhile scheme indicative of the work being done to transform Holyrood Street, winning the Best Project under £500,000 (up to £300,000) category.

Judges praised this kiosk as ‘outstanding’, loved the trellis and ‘Holyrood’ steel sign, and commented on it being a positive catalyst for potential change. They were also impressed with the collaborative team effort, Southwark Council’s broader regeneration vision and the commitment to circular economy principles and end-of-life considerations – the kiosk is designed to be fully demountable at the end of its 10-year use on the site.

Along the Low Line’s eastern stretch, Dockley Apartments by Studio Woodroffe Papa and Poggi Architecture was highly commended in the Housing Project category, with the judges referring to the regenerating impact on the railway arches and noting the relationship to the locales’ industrial history.

The judges’ acknowledgements chime perfectly with ambitions for the Low Line. Through repurposing underused space, both in the arches and adjacent urban realm, the Low Line is creating new opportunities for innovation, culture, connection and biodiversity through Bankside, London Bridge, and Bermondsey, producing partnerships and an environment that allows these world-class projects to be delivered.

More about all AJ Awards 2023 winners here.

Success for 3 Low Line projects at the Architects’ Journal Awards 2023