Alison Brooks facts for kids

For the United States Air Force aviator, see Allison Brooks. For the archaeologist, see Alison S. Brooks.

Quick facts for kids Alison Brooks FRSA RIBA RDI
Alison Brooks in studio at Highgate Studios, London.
Born	1962 (age 62–63) Welland, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	University of Waterloo
Occupation	Architect

Practice	Alison Brooks Architects
Buildings	Exeter College Cohen Quadrangle (Oxford), Newhall Be (Harlow), Quarterhouse Performing Arts Centre (Folkestone), Accordia Brass Building and Sky Villas (Cambridge), Ely Court (London), Windward House (Gloucestershire), Salt House (Essex)
Projects	The Smile (Chelsea School of Art) and her two installations at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Alison Brooks (born 29 December 1962) is a famous Canadian-British architect. She started her own company, Alison Brooks Architects, in London. She has won many important awards for her designs. These include the RIBA Stirling Prize and the RIBA House of the Year.

Her designs include the Cohen Quad at Exeter College, Oxford in Oxford University. She also designed The Smile at the Chelsea College of Arts. Alison Brooks Architects won the Dezeen Architect of the Year award in 2020.

Biography and Early Career
Awards and Recognition
Published Works
See Also

Biography and Early Career

Alison Brooks was born in Welland, Canada. She later moved to Guelph, Ontario, where she went to high school. She studied architecture at the University of Waterloo and finished in 1988.

After her studies, Brooks moved to the UK. She worked with designer Ron Arad and became a partner in his company in 1991. Together, they designed the Foyer of the Tel Aviv Opera.

Alison Brooks started her own company, Alison Brooks Architects, in 1996. Her first big project was designing a hotel interior on a German island.

Designing Homes and Buildings

In the 2000s, Alison Brooks designed several private homes. These included VXO House, Wrap House, and Salt House. Her buildings from this time were known for being very elegant and modern.

Her company also designed the Sky Villas and Brass Building in Accordia, Cambridge. This project won the Stirling Prize in 2008. This led to more work in designing housing. Other important housing projects include Newhall Be and Ely Court in London.

Windward House in Gloucester won the RIBA House of the Year award in 2021. It also won the AJ Manser Medal. The president of the Royal Institute of British Architects praised the house. He said every detail was carefully planned and beautifully finished.

Cultural and University Buildings

The Elliptical Cloisters of Exeter College, Oxford Cohen Quadrangle (2017)

Quarterhouse in Folkestone was Alison Brooks' first building for performing arts. It was finished in 2009. The building has special fluted mesh on the outside. This design was inspired by local scallop shells and stage curtains.

The Cohen Quadrangle at Exeter College, Oxford opened in 2017. This large building also has unique outer walls. It won many awards for its design as an education building. A critic from The Guardian newspaper called it "a tour de force that puts people first."

Alison Brooks Architects is also designing a new entrance for Homerton College, Cambridge. They were also chosen to redevelop a building for the London School of Economics.

Exhibitions and Art Projects

The Smile at the Chelsea College of Arts, London Design Festival (2016)

The Smile was a special project for the 2016 London Design Festival. It was a public building at the Chelsea College of Art. It showed how strong and useful cross-laminated hardwood (American tulipwood) can be. Engineers said it was the most complex structure ever built with this material. For Brooks, it showed that wood could be the "wonder material" of the 21st century.

Alison Brooks Architects has also shown their work at the Venice Architecture Biennale four times. In 2018, their 'ReCasting' project showed ideas about housing. It used four tall structures called 'totems' to represent different parts of a home. In 2021, their 'Home Ground' project explored how housing shapes how people live together in cities.

In 2014, Brooks also worked with a furniture designer. They created a stool for the kitchen as part of a special series.

Housing as a Social Project

Ely Court, London

Alison Brooks Architects works to create housing that helps communities. They design projects that include mixed-income housing. This means homes for people with different income levels.

Ely Court in London, finished in 2015, is a good example. An old building was replaced with three new buildings. These buildings have 43 homes. Her design also includes public spaces to help people connect. Other projects with affordable housing include Newhall Be and Unity Place.

Brooks believes that new buildings should also bring "civic pride and social rejuvenation." This means helping people feel proud of their community and making it better. She says, "Housing is the social project of architecture, it frames everyday life; it forms people's world view."

Awards and Recognition

Alison Brooks is the only architect in the UK to win all three major RIBA awards. These are the RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize (2006), the RIBA Manser Medal (2014), and the RIBA Stirling Prize (2008 for Accordia).

In 2012, Building Design Magazine named Alison Brooks Architect of the Year. In 2013, she received the Architects' Journal's Woman Architect of the Year Award. A judge said her mix of sculpture, architecture, and detail made her a strong force in British architecture. In 2020, Alison Brooks Architects was named Dezeen Architect of the Year. The judges praised their "groundbreaking practice" and how they question old ways of doing things.

Alison Brooks Architects' Notable Awards
Year	Awards
2022	RIBA South Building of the Year – Exeter College Cohen Quad, Oxford RIBA Regional Award – Exeter College Cohen Quad, Oxford
2021	RIBA House of the Year – Windward House, Gloucestershire RIBA National Award – Windward House, Gloucestershire Manser Medal – AJ House of the Year – Windward House, Gloucestershire Architecture MasterPrize – Exeter College Cohen Quad, Oxford Education Estates – Inspiring Learning Spaces – Exeter College Cohen Quad Oxford Education Estates – University Project of the Year – Exeter College Cohen Quad Oxford Building With Nature – Housing Design Awards – Knight’s Park Cambridge
2020	Dezeen Awards — Architect of the Year 2020 Civic Trust Awards Winner Building Design Architect of the Year Awards — Housing Architect of the Year Building Design Architect of the Year Awards — Individual House Architect of the Year, Highly Commended
2018	Evening Standard New Homes Award – Best Regeneration Project – Kilburn Quarter London RESI Awards – Development of the Year – Kilburn Quarter London National Housing Awards – Best Design – Kilburn Quarter London
2017	Wood Awards – Structural Award – The Smile London Shortlisted: Wood Awards – Small Architecture – The Smile London World Architecture Festival – Display – The Smile London The American Architecture Prize – Small Architecture – The Smile London
2016	Honor: Wood Design & Building Awards – The Smile London Shortlisted: Sunday Times British Homes Awards – Albert Crescent Bath RIBA National Award – Ely Court London RIBA Regional Award – Ely Court London
2015	Commended: British Home Awards – Development of the Year – Albert Crescent Bath Architizer A+ Award: Large Private House – Lens House London
2014	Shortlisted: RIBA Manser Medal – Lens House London RIBA National Award – Lens House London RIBA London Award – Lens House London Grand Designs Award: Best Extension – Lens House London London Evening Standard: Best Regeneration Project – South Acton Estate Regeneration: Phase 2aLondon
2013	Shortlisted: RIBA Stirling Prize – Newhall Be Harlow Housing Design Awards 2013: Supreme Winner – Newhall Be Harlow AJ Woman Architect of the Year 2013 RIBA National Award – Newhall Be Harlow
2012	BD Architect of the Year Gold Award BD Housing Architect of the Year
2010	Kent Design Awards Best Public Building – Quarterhouse Folkestone Audi Urban Future Award – Finalist – Audi Urban Future Initiative Venice / Mumbai XII Venice Architecture Biennale – German Pavilion, Contributing Architect Building For Life Gold Standard – Newhall Be Harlow
2009	British Home Awards: Small House of the Year – Newhall Be Harlow Housing Design Awards: Project Award – Newhall Be Harlow RIBA National Award – Quarterhouse Folkestone RIBA South East Regional Award – Quarterhouse Folkestone RIBA Stirling Prize Midlist – Quarterhouse Folkestone
2008	RIBA Stirling Prize – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge RIBA National Award – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge RIBA East Regional Award – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge
2007	RIBA Manser Medal – Salt House Essex RIBA National Award – Salt House Essex RIBA East Regional Award – Salt House Essex
2006	RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize – Wrap House London RIBA National Award – Wrap House London RIBA London Regional Award – Wrap House London Housing Design Awards: Overall Winner – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge National Homebuilders Awards: Best Large Scale Housing Project – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge National Homebuilders Awards: Best Housing Project of the Year – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge
2005	Shortlisted: Liverpool Affordable Housing Competition, Urban Splash Shortlisted: Lister Mills, Bradford, Urban Design and Housing Competition for Urban Splash
2004	Competition second place – Old Street Oasis Islington, London National Homebuilder Design Awards: Best Housing Project of the Year – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge Shortlisted: Housing at New Islington Urban Village Manchester
2003	Housing Design Award – Accordia Masterplan Cambridge Shortlisted: ICA New Galleries Competition
2002	RIBA London Regional Award – VXO House London Finalist: Blueprint Architecture Awards – VXO House London
2000	HotelSpec European Awards: Best Interior Design – Atoll Spa Hotel Helgoland HotelSpec European Awards: Best Guestroom Design – Atoll Spa Hotel Helgoland Competition second prize: Hurlingham Park Sports Pavilion
1999	Competition first prize: Liverpool Rope Walks Street Furniture Third prize: Corus/Building Design 'Young Architect of the Year' Runner-up: Europan 5 'New Housing Landscapes'
1998	Competition second prize: 'Concept House '99' Daily Mail Ideal Home Architecture Foundation Roadshow: 'Soundscape for Hammersmith'

Published Works

Alison Brooks has shared her ideas and methods in her books. In 2014, she published Synthesis: Culture and Context. This book explained some of her design processes.

In 2018, she also wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review. It was called "The Surprising Power of Questions: It Goes Far Beyond Exchanging Information."