Dezeen Magazine

Don't Move, Improve! unveils London's best house renovations of 2024

A dwelling with a "tin hat" by Nimtim Architects and a colourful extension by Charles Holland are among the 16 London homes named on the shortlist for this year's Don't Move, Improve! competition.

A triangular house in a former garage by studio Brown Urbanism is also on the shortlist, alongside an extension by Cairn that is the first structure in the UK to be built from a low-carbon cement called LC3.

It is the fourteenth edition of the annual awards programme, hosted by New London Architecture (NLA), which aims to celebrate "the diversity of homes across the capital" – specifically those that have been renovated or extended.

House Made by Many Hands by Cairn
Cairn made the 2024 shortlist for this extension made of low-carbon cement. Photo by James Retief

NLA's head of content Federico Ortiz hopes that the 2024 shortlist will become a useful resource for people in the city looking to improve their homes.

"The shortlist for Don't Move, Improve! 2024 is an extraordinary showcase of innovation and creativity, offering a unique resource for Londoners who want to reimagine their living spaces and keep calling their neighbourhoods home," said Ortiz.

Other projects on the list include the pink-hued Aden Grove by Emil Eve, the light-filled Apartment with a Mezzanine by Office Ten Architecture and the renovation of the 1960s Chelsea Brut by Pricegore.

A House in East London by Charles Holland
A colourful home by Charles Holland Architects is vying for the prize. Photo by Jim Stephenson

Whittaker Parsons' wood-lined Flitch Cottage extension also made the cut, alongside The Green Machine by Suprblk Studio and Heyford Avenue by Manuel Urbina Studio.

Other extensions up for the prize include one in Stoke Newington by VATRAA and the Perforated House by Novak Hiles Architects in Wandsworth, which is named after its perforated brickwork.

The final four projects competing this year are Two-Up Two-Down House by Khan Bonshek, Wimbledon Villa by Gundry + Ducker, Jacob's Flat by Paul Archer Design and Hillside House by Mike Tuck Studio.

The projects were shortlisted from over 150 entries by a jury made up of urban design manager at London Borough of Camden Ed Jarvis, architecture director of Wallpaper* magazine Ellie Stathaki, David Kohn Architects associate Jennifer Dyne and Hilson Moran sustainability director Marie-Louise Schembri.

Hillside House by Mike Tuck Studio
Mike Tuck Studio made the shortlist for Hillside House. Photo by Luca Piffaretti

The jury highlighted the standout trends for 2024 as the use of sustainable materials, bold colour palettes and cost-efficient solutions.

This year's overall winner will be revealed at a ceremony on 14 May at The London Centre, alongside other prizes including the People's Choice Award, which is now open for voting.

Last year's overall winner was The Secret Garden Flat, designed by Nic Howett Architect to feel "like an oasis" in the city.

Other winners included Low Energy House by Architecture for London, which took home the Environmental Leadership Prize, and CLT House by Unknown Works, which received the Unique Character Prize.

Scroll down to see all 16 shortlisted projects:


Exterior of Aden Grove by Emil Eve
Photo by Taran Wilkhu

Aden Grove by Emil Eve


Interior of Apartment with a Mezzanine by Office Ten Architecture
Photo by Sarah Rainer

Apartment with a Mezzanine by Office Ten Architecture


Interior of Chelsea Brut by Pricegore
Photo by Johan Dehlin

Chelsea Brut by Pricegore


Interior of Flitch Cottage by Whittaker Parsons
Photo by Ellen Hancock

Flitch Cottage by Whittaker Parsons


The Green Machine by Suprblk Studio
Photo by Nicholas Worley

The Green Machine by Suprblk Studio


Exterior of Heyford Avenue by Manuel Urbina Studio
Photo by Rayan Bamhayan

Heyford Avenue by Manuel Urbina Studio


Interior of Hillside House by Mike Tuck Studio
Photo by Luca Piffaretti

Hillside House by Mike Tuck Studio


Exterior of House extension in Stoke Newington by VATRAA
Photo by Jim Stephenson

House extension in Stoke Newington by VATRAA


Interior of A House in East London by Charles Holland Architects
Photo by Jim Stephenson

A House in East London by Charles Holland Architects


Interior of House Made by Many Hands by Cairn
Photo by James Retief

House Made by Many Hands by Cairn


Exterior of Jacob's Flat by Paul Archer Design
Photo courtesy of Paul Archer Design

Jacob's Flat by Paul Archer Design


Exterior of Perforated House by Novak Hiles Architects
Photo by Marcus Peel

Perforated House by Novak Hiles Architects


Exterior of Tin Hat by Nimtim Architects
Photo by Megan Taylor

Tin Hat by Nimtim Architects


Triangle House by Brown Urbanism
Photo courtesy of Brown Urbanism

Triangle House by Brown Urbanism


Interior of Two-Up Two-Down House by Khan Bonshek
Photo by James Retief

Two-Up Two-Down House by Khan Bonshek


Exterior of Wimbledon Villa by Gundry + Ducker
Photo by Andrew Meredith

Wimbledon Villa by Gundry + Ducker