Praised for its sleek design and seamless integration of architectural components, the London rail network has won the UK’s top architecture prize.
The Elizabeth Line has been awarded the prestigious Stirling Prize, which honours excellence in British architecture.
Judges praised the 62-mile rail network’s “slick suite of architectural components”, in which “the typical commuter chaos is transformed into an effortless experience”.
“The Elizabeth Line is a triumph in architect-led collaboration, offering a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport,” says Muyiwa Oki, the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
The Elizabeth Line was one of six finalists, three of which were also based in London. Among the other nominated projects was the newly revitalised National Portrait Gallery, a converted dairy farm in Dorset and the ongoing regeneration of the Grade II-listed, Brutalist Park Hill estate in Sheffield.
Designed by a collaborative team of architects, engineers, and designers including Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation, and AtkinsRéalis, the Elizabeth Line stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west through central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
After 35 years of planning, construction on the line began on May 15 2009. The project is estimated to have cost nearly £19 billion (€23 billion).
During its first full year of operation, the line saw more than 150 million passenger journeys. In 2023/24, there were 210 million journeys made on the service, a dramatic increase.
The winner of the Stirling Prize was announced in a ceremony at London’s Roundhouse on 16 October.
