Residential Architecture: New Houses and Design Awards — 2026-09-11
The 2026 Houses Awards in Australia revealed their winners, with Billy Maynard Architects recognized for both the Emerging Practice award and specific housing categories. In Spain, the Balearic Islands' social housing model won the prestigious Obel Award, while the Spanish government launched a new public housing platform, "Casa 47." Meanwhile, Daniel Libeskind was named the recipient of the 2026 Praemium Imperiale for Architecture.
Residential Architecture: New Houses and Design Awards — 2026-09-11
Top developments
Australia’s 2026 Houses Awards Winners Announced
The winners of the 2026 Houses Awards were announced on September 5, 2026. Billy Maynard Architects was named the Emerging Architecture Practice of the Year, with judges citing their "sophisticated understanding of residential architecture" and "strategic thinking." The firm also won in the Apartment or Unit category for "Apartment on The Loop." Additionally, Wowowa Architecture won the House in a Heritage Context category (jointly) for the Borland Crossman House
Balearic Social Housing Model Wins Obel Award 2026
The Obel Award 2026 was awarded to the Balearic Islands' social housing model, recognizing it as an "engine for change" for public administration. The model, led by architects Cris Ballester and Carles Oliver, was praised for demonstrating how public land and parametric bioclimatism can improve community resilience. The jury emphasized that quality design in social housing is critical to avoiding social problems
Daniel Libeskind Receives 2026 Praemium Imperiale
Daniel Libeskind has been awarded the 2026 Praemium Imperiale for Architecture, one of Japan's most prestigious international arts awards. He joins a distinguished list of laureates including Cate Blanchett, Jenny Holzer, and Andy Goldsworthy. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the field of architecture and design
Spain Launches "Casa 47" Public Housing Platform
On September 7, 2026, the Spanish government presented "Casa 47," a new digital portal for the state-owned housing and land company. The platform initially lists 800 homes, with plans to expand to 1,500 properties soon. This initiative aims to streamline access to public housing stock and manage state-owned land more effectively
Local view
Japan: Shinkenchiku (New Architecture) released its September 2026 issue of Jutaku Tokushu (Housing Feature), titled "Resonance of House and Place." The issue explores contemporary residential projects that respond sensitively to their specific contexts. Ginza Tsutaya Books highlighted the new issue as a key resource for architectural professionals
Spain: El Español published its "100 Lions of Architecture and Design 2026" list, identifying top architects and studios redefining the industry in Spain. This ranking serves as a barometer for influential practices in the current residential market
Context & numbers
- Award Entries: The 2026 Residential Design Architecture Awards (RDAA) received over 516 entries from top firms in the US
- Policy Funding: The Spanish Ministry of Housing published the provisional resolution for the second call of architecture aids, endowed with €2.5 million to promote architecture research and dissemination
- Housing Supply: The new Casa 47 platform starts with 800 homes, targeting 1,500 in the near future
On the radar
- Modern Living Award Voting: Voting for the 22nd Modern Living Award in Japan closes on September 16, 2026. The general public selects the "Best 6" from 12 nominated houses, which then feed into the final Grand Prize decision by architects
- RIBA House of the Year: The RIBA jury is currently visiting shortlisted projects for the 2026 House of the Year award to decide the winner, continuing the tradition of rigorous site assessments
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
