Max Fordham fabric-first MEP design behind Stirling Prize-winning Lion Green Road

Lion Green Road, a 157-home scheme in Coulsdon for which Max Fordham delivered the mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) design, has won the 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize, the engineer announced on 16 October.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) named the winner at a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London on 15 October. Mary Duggan Architects was design architect and RUFF Architects delivery architect, according to RIBA's project listing.

Max Fordham said it developed the MEP design to Employer's Requirements Stage 3 and carried out the sustainability, energy and overheating modelling that supported the planning application.

Neil Smith, Director, MEP Engineering and Partner at Max Fordham, said: "Through a fabric-first approach, passive environmental design and significant on-site renewable energy generation, the project sets a benchmark for sustainable housing."

The engineering

The design relies on the building fabric first, Max Fordham said, combining highly insulated, airtight construction with high-performance glazing and careful detailing of thermal bridges.

Ventilation is by mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). According to Max Fordham's project page, the MVHR units have summer bypass modes to provide low-energy cooling, while inset balconies and deep window reveals cut the overheating risk passively. Large photovoltaic arrays on the roofs supplement the development's electricity demand.

RIBA said every home is dual-aspect. The five blocks replace a former car park on a sloping site with an eight-metre height difference, and share a brick palette in three shades of brown. RUFF Architects said the blocks range from five to seven storeys.

The project team

RIBA's project page credits Max Fordham, DMO Electrical Services and NRG Consulting as environmental and M&E engineers. Symmetrys and JFP are listed as structural engineers, and Mary Duggan Architects with Planit as landscape architect.

Max Fordham described the scheme as combining privately owned and socially rented homes for Croydon Council. RIBA and RUFF Architects both list the client as Brick by Brick.

Chris Williamson, RIBA President, speaking for the Stirling Prize jury, said the scheme shows "density can be achieved without compromising the quality of the places we create."

Four of six on the shortlist

Lion Green Road was one of four Max Fordham projects on the six-strong 2026 shortlist, alongside Mill Lane at Pembroke College with Haworth Tompkins, BEAM with Bennetts Associates and River Wing at Clare College with Witherford Watson Mann.

The practice said this year's four shortlistings bring its total to 17 Stirling-shortlisted projects, including three winners.

Lion Green Road was also shortlisted for the RIBA Neave Brown Award for Housing, which went to Rowan Court by Satish Jassal Architects, RIBA said.

The 2026 prize, sponsored by Autodesk, marks the award's 30th anniversary.