AY Architects' Montpelier Nursery wins 2013 Stephen Lawrence Prize

Congratulations to Bartlett Director of Architectural Research Yeoryia Manolopoulou, whose architecture practice AY Architects, has won the £5,000 Stephen Lawrence Prize for its nursery in Camden, London.

The elegant nursery saw off competition from five other projects to win the prestigious prize sponsored by the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, which celebrates schemes costing less than £1 million.

Speaking about Montpelier Community Nursery, the judges, who included Doreen Lawrence and winner of the 2012 Stephen Lawrence Prize Mary Duggan, said: "The architects were key to the vision for the nursery which was delivered without compromise and produces an all-encompassing educational experience.

"The selection of materials was a key part of the success. The black stained Siberian larch cladding allows the nursery to sit inconspicuously among the treescape and contrasts with the white-washed internal timber against which the playful objects to come to life."

Other notable Bartlett successes at this year's RIBA awards include: 

• Bartlett alumnus Matthew Potter, now Associate Director at Wilkinson Eyre Architects and project architect on 'Cool Conservatories, Gardens by the Bay' in Singapore, bagged the RIBA Lubetkin Prize for the most outstanding work of international architecture outside the EU by a member of the RIBA. 

• The architectural practice of Bartlett Unit 17 tutor Niall McLaughlin was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the new Bishop Edward King Chapel at Ripon College, Oxfordshire. 

Read more about AY Architects' Montpelier Nursery at: ayarchitects.com

Image credit: Montpelier Nursery by AY Architects Photography by Nick Kane.