Hope Street wins a National RIBA Award

Our trauma informed design for Hope Street has won a coveted RIBA National Award and is one step away from the Stirling Prize.

The project is on behalf of our visionary client, One Small Thing. Inspired by One Small Thing’s commitment to systemic change for women and children in the justice system, Hope Street offers a community alternative for women who would otherwise be imprisoned unnecessarily due to a lack of safe accommodation or concerns around their wellbeing. Even very short prison sentences can have a devastating impact on families, separating an estimated 117,000 children from their mothers each year, often into emergency foster care. It is estimated that a third of women in prison have themselves been in care.

Hope Street offers a safe and viable community alternative to custody, bringing accommodation for women and their children together with holistic support all in one place for the first time. Hope Street has been purpose built and specifically designed by and for women to create a welcoming home environment, designed with light filled communal as well as private spaces, a 24 hour hub and onsite creche and play areas for children.

Hope Street’s unique approach recognises that women in the justice system are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society, overwhelmingly reporting a long history of trauma in their lives, with 60% of women in prison reporting domestic abuse and half entering with a substance use issues for example. Hope Street will pilot a new evidence-based approach designed to break this cycle. The building itself has been designed specifically to take the trauma women have experienced into account and make women feel safe and comfortable accessing support. Each resident will receive individually tailored programmes designed to address the issues that led to their becoming involved with the justice system; skills, education and training; and support on leaving the Hub in preparation for return to their own home.

In addition to its significant social impact, the project has also delivered ambitious environmental performance that exceed the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge targets.