1 | From the editor

This month we're looking at large-scale buildings that aren't just prominent in the city, they are monumental

Emily Booth



4 | In pictures

Including a first look at Burgess Architects' community cabin in Feltham

Richard Waite



10 | RIBA National Awards 2026

All 32 schemes deemed to have made a significant contribution to architecture in the past year

Richard Waite



18 | AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards

All the finalists in the running for September's awards celebrating excellence in the renewal and repurposing of existing buildings



20 | Competitions

Haringey Council is seeking consultants for a new £120 million framework

Merlin Fulcher



22 | Letters

Architects respond to Andy Burnham's vision for a high street 'renaissance'

Alan Gordon



24 | Opinion

What protection is there for principal designers if there's an investigation?

Gessica Salerno



26 | Blueprints for Change

What the Igbo people of West Africa can teach us about building new towns

Tara Gbolade



74 | Culture: film review

Backrooms: an out-of-work architect stumbles on a secret labyrinthine world

Matthew Bovingdon-Downe



76 | Culture: photography

Are we right to revere Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building?

David Grandorge



77 | Opinion

It's time to face up to the facts. There are far too many architects in the UK

Russell Curtis



78 | Sketchbook

'I rarely draw to record a place; i draw to understand it.'

Shaun Jenkins



80 | Hellman

Rewiring Britain

1__ From the editor

Our detailed AJ100 survey is a deep dive into the fortunes of the largest practices

Emily Booth



4__ In pictures

Including a first look at Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo's Serpentine Pavilion

AJ news team



10__Competitions

Create Bulgaria's Christo & Jeanne-Claude Centre for Contemporary Art

Merlin Fulcher



12__Letters

'Hard to see what the RIBA's protection of function campaign will achieve'

Alan Gordon



14__Opinion

A plea to practices: keep employing Part 1s

Marcus Adams



The AJ100

The AJ's annual evaluation of the top 100 UK architecture practices by number of architects employed in the UK

Pamela Buxton



17__Survey Analysis

Professor Bruce Tether analyses the findings of our in-depth AJ100 survey



39__Awards

The winners of this year's AJ100 Awards, including the AJ100 Champions



83__Profiles

All this year's AJ100 Practices. What were their greatest achievements?



160__Culture: installation

All That Changes You. Metamorphosis at Charles Jencks' Cosmic House

Rob Wilson



162__ Culture: book review

The experiences of LGBTQ+ people living in Britain's suburbs

Luke Neve



164__Culture: photograph

Safe from harm

David Grandorge



166__The Secret Architect

Architects come with a lot of baggage. It's enough to make anyone swipe left



167__Sketchbook

'Sketching encourages me to keep asking how and why buildings are made'

Sam Sedgewick



168__Hellman

Deus ex machina

1__ From the editor

Manchester is a city on the up, literally

Emily Booth



4__ In pictures

RIBA announces BDP's Faculty of Science and Engineering for Manchester Metropolitan University as the North West's best new building of the year

Richard Waite



10_ Profile

Interview with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham

Richard Waite



14_ News feature

From no growth, to any growth, to good growth. How Manchester is developing

Gino Spocchia



18_ AJ100 Awards shortlists

All the finalists in the running for next month's prestigious awards



22_ Competitions

A multi-year heritage programme to enhance Tarbert's waterfront

Merlin Fulcher



24_ Letters

Tributes to Peter Aldington; beyond measuring carbon; Shipley's clocktower

Edited by Alan Gordon



26_ Opinion

Five ways to make your practice more resilient in a tough trading climate

Kunle Barker



28_ Photo essay

How Manchester's meteoric boom has transformed the city's skyline

Euan Kellie



34_ Projects map

Key schemes: who is building what and where in Manchester

Gino Spocchia, Fran Williams



36_ Manchester projects round up

A selection of recently completed schemes across the city

Rob Wilson, Fran Williams



82_ Culture: book review

Architecture Against Architecture: A Manifesto, by Reinier de Graaf

Will Hurst



84_ Culture: photography

From Dungeness to Manchester

David Grandorge



85_ Opinion

Manchester's historic buildings are a key part of its success

Elizabeth Hopkirk



86_ Sketchbook

'I begin every project with a sketch. It's the fastest way to capture ideas'

Gavin Watts



88_ Hellman

Chicago-style protection

1___ From the editor

AJ Small Projects celebrates great ideas achieved on slender budgets

Emily Booth



4___ In pictures

Including a first look at Mikhail Riches' Duncombe Square net-zero carbon homes development in York

Richard Waite



10__ News feature

How 'serious concerns' were raised over ACME's appointment to Network Rail's Liverpool Street station makeover

Gino Spocchia



12__ News feature

Could a green community in Essex be the blueprint for the next new towns?

Richard Waite



18__ Competitions

Redesign the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, home of Dinamo Zagreb FC

Merlin Fulcher



20__ Letters

Consult young people on housing design; safeguard Glasgow's heritage; RIBA's honouring of the Alabanian PM

Edited by Alan Gordon



22__ Opinion

Stalled projects and global instability are a double whammy for UK architects

Kunle Barker



104_ Culture: exhibition

A new show at the Sir John Soane's Museum marks the 300th anniversary of Sir John Vanbrugh's death

Rob Wilson



106_ Culture: exhibition

The work of Colombian artist Beatriz Gonzales on show at the Barbican

Veronica Simpson



108_ Culture: photography

Sometimes small is better

David Grandorge



109_ The Secret Architect

The Director is channeling unresolved trauma into a competition entry



110_ Sketchbook

'I insist all the graduates in the office are able to draw. It's an essential skill'

Neil Turner



112_ Hellman

High-rise timber gets the chop

1__ From the editor

Colour profoundly shapes how we experience the built environment

Emily Booth



4__ In pictures

Including a first look at Metropolitan Workshop's Maggie's Cheltenham cancer care centre addition

Richard Waite



10_ News feature

Why was John Lewis's build-to-rent housing delivery left on the shelf?

Gino Spocchia and Josh Butler



12_ News feature

Building on the urban fringe: 'Grey belt' housing schemes are increasingly being given the green light

Richard Waite



18_ Competitions

Create a 65ha Winter Harbour for Bratislava, capital city of Slovakia

Merlin Fulcher



20_ Letters

Stop ACME's Liverpool Street station plan; scrap the ARB; Scotland's Mack shame; remembering Paul Collinge

Edited by Alan Gordon



22_ Opinion

We must ensure the next generation believes architecture is still a profession worth investing in

Toko Andrews



80_ Culture: exhibition

50 years of Reimagining Heritage

Rachel O'Grady



82_ Culture: book

Architecture Is Climate,

by MOULD collective

Bobby Jewell



84_ Culture: photography

There are so many different colours

David Grandorge



85_ Opinion

From buildings to backdrops: how architecture lost its voice

Aga Szedzianis



86_ Sketchbook

'Drawing helps me to understand places beyond passing observation'

Hana Murakami



88_ Hellman

Sagrada Familia topped out

1 From the editor

Natural materials resonate with us at a profound level

Emily Booth



4 In pictures

Including a first look inside O'Donnell+ Tuomey's new School of Architecture at Liverpool University

Richard Waite



10 News feature

Saudi slowdown becomes a BIG issue

Gino Spocchia



14 News feature

Are you ready for the AI 'arms race' coming to planning?

Josh Butler



20 Competitions

Bring the Grade II-listed Ladywell Playtower back into sustainable use

Merlin Fulcher



22 Letters

Protection of function will rebalance the profession; Camden nimbys; small sites housing; remembering Axel Burrough

Edited by Alan Gordon



24 Opinion

Are you prepared for what protection of function will entail?

Toko Andrews



80 Culture: exhibition

Memoryscapes, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark

Jamiee Touveneau Williams



84 Culture: photography

To build naturally

David Grandorge



85 Opinion

Why our practice is logging off social media

Jack Richards



86 Sketchbook

'Studying a building and translating it onto the page gives you a deep understanding of it'

Holly Spilsbury



88 Hellman

Saudi projects

1__ From the editor

There are many reasons why it's amazing to be an architect

Emily Booth



4__ In pictures

Including a first look at Morris+Company's Becontree housing scheme

Richard Waite



10__ News feature

Ten reasons why you should still be an architect in 2026

Richard Waite, Gino Spocchia



16__ News feature

How self-build could open the door to a small sites revolution

Gino Spocchia



22__ Competitions

Create an Antepavillion 'for a future post-AI era' using reclaimed materials

Merlin Fulcher



24__ Letters

Bradford's big opportunity; RIBA vs ARB; Government's housing target; remembering Terry Farrell

Edited by Alan Gordon



26__ Opinion

Why architects are key to the government's 1.5 million homes target

Kunle Barker



82__ Culture: exhibition

Architecture for the People: the works of Manchester City Architect's Department (1902-2003)

Jo Sharples



83__ Culture: photography

There goes the sun

David Grandorge



85__ The Coach

Am I wasting my time answering job ads?

Matthew Turner



86__ Sketchbook

'I have the same watercolour case I got for art A-level more than 25 years ago'

David Eland



88__ Hellman

Why you should still be an architect in 2026

Homelessness



1 _ From the editor

Homes and housing are emotional topics. To be an architect is to care deeply about both

Emily Booth



4 _ In pictures

Including an Architecture OO-designed office block backed by Swansea Council

Richard Waite



10 _ Salary survey

Architecture salaries lag well behind inflation. How much are you underpaid?

Richard Waite



14 _ Christmas quiz

Buildings that made headlines in 2025

Richard Waite



16 _ News feature

Homelessness and the role of architects in providing temporary housing

Gino Spocchia



22 _ Competitions

The British Council is seeking a UK - Malaysia team to design the British Pavilion for the 2027 Venice Biennale

Merlin Fulcher



24 _ Letters

Tributes to Frank Gehry; why UK fees are trailing; legal protection of function

Alan Gordon



26 _ Opinion

Generation Debt: Is London dying?

Kunle Barker



28 _ Essay

A solution to homelessness exists

Russell Curtis



74 _ AJ/Bespoke Careers roundtable

What makes a good leader in today's rapidly evolving workplace?


78 _ Culture: exhibition

Egypt: Influencing British Design 1775-2025 at Sir John Soane's Museum

Julia Thrift



80 _ Culture: books

Winter reading: selection of the latest books on architecture and design

Rob Wilson



83 _ Culture: photography

Gimme Shelter II

David Grandorge



84 _ Opinion

To get New Towns right, let's look to The Netherlands

Aga Szedzianis



86 _ Sketchbook

'I've yet to find a better way to start a project than to quickly throw a few pen lines onto a scrap to trace'

Amy Leung



88 _ Hellman

A House of the Year

Bradford - Ainsley Gommon Architects, Tim Ronalds Architects, Greig & Stephenson, AOC Architecture

- From the editor: Denmark has an inspiring story to tell Emily Booth

- In pictures: Witherford Watson Mann's Appleby Blue Almshouse wins the RIBA Stirling Prize ; by Richard Waite

- News feature: A system for re-using concrete trialled in Denmark is set to become a UK first ; by Richard Waite

- In memoriam: Remembering Terry Farrell ; by Richard Waite

- Competitions: Renewing Denys Lasdun's ziggurats at the University of East Anglia ; by Merlin Fulcher

- Letters: 'Affordable housing is a misnomer' ; Edited by Alan Gordon

- Opinion: 'Don't take good practice culture for granted - it needs mentoring' ; by Emily Posey

AJ Student Prize 2025
- Who'd be an architecture student now?
- What are the bookies backing to win the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025?
- Results of the AJ's second artificial intelligence survey: How architects are getting to grips with AI