The winners for Don't Move, Improve 2025, a Danish contest that celebrates innovative architecture and engineering, have been announced

In the heart of London, a 20th-century split-level property in Clapton has been transformed into a contemporary family home with a Danish twist. The Environmental Prize winner of the Don't Move, Improve 2025 competition, Elemental House, has been recognised as the Home of the Year.

The architects behind this remarkable transformation, Archmongers, have skillfully hollowed out the existing structure, creating unexpected volumes and flows. Federico Ortiz, head of program at the New London Architecture, praised their work, stating that they have managed to breathe new life into the property while preserving its original character.

Elemental House, which was untouched since the 1970s, now boasts improved air tightness, an open-plan approach, and a serene atmosphere, thanks to the use of natural materials and textures. The house, located in London, has the right DNA to become a special place to live, according to Archmongers' director Johan Hybschmann.

Other notable winners of the Don't Move, Improve 2025 competition include Nina's House in South Tottenham, which features an open-plan design and a cosy, sanctuary-like feel. The Transformation Prize went to EBBA Architects for their renovation and extension of a terraced home in Camden, London.

Natallia Tanko won the Cost Effective Prize for her self-build project that extended and renovated a 1970s ground-floor flat in Lewisham. THISS Studio was recognised for their compact design in a Victorian terraced home in London, which was reimagined for a growing family.

O'Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects won the Best Interior Design and Best Outdoor Space awards for their reimagining of a Lambeth home into a hybrid work/live space. The People's Choice Award went to Terzetto, a two-bedroom lower-ground flat in a four-storey Victorian mansion block with its own garden.

However, the architects responsible for the "Terzetto" project, the winner of the People's Choice Award in the 2025 Don't Move, Improve competition, are not identified in the provided search results. Despite this, the transformation of these properties showcases the creativity and innovation that can be achieved when existing homes are thoughtfully renovated and extended.

The winners for Don't Move, Improve 2025, a Danish contest that celebrates innovative architecture and engineering, have been announced