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RIBA has named the Elizabeth Line as the winner of this year鈥檚 Stirling Prize.

The institute described the 118km line and its 10 new stations as an 鈥渆xtraordinarily complex architectural feat masked by an elegant simplicity鈥�.   

The 拢19bn project was opened in May 2022 by Queen Elizabeth II in one of the late monarch鈥檚 last public engagements.

Designed by Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation and AtkinsR茅alis, with several other practices including WW&P contributing to individual stations, it connects Heathrow and Reading in the West with Essex and South-east London in the east via 42km of tunnels running beneath central London.

RIBA hailed the construction of the line, which now carries 700,000 passengers a day, as a 鈥渕onumental achievement鈥�.

The network navigates through centuries of history buried deep beneath London while avoiding both new and ancient underground structures and sewage systems. 

The excavation project became part of Britain鈥檚 largest-ever archaeological dig, uncovering a wealth of historical artefacts ranging from a Tudor bowling ball to 55-million-year-old woolly mammoth remains. 

Six million tonnes of earth were excavated to create room for the network鈥檚 tunnels, which was repurposed to create a nature reserve in Essex. 

But RIBA reserved its strongest praise for the design of the project鈥檚 seven central London stations, running from Paddington in the west to Canary Wharf in the east.

鈥淚n contrast to much of the old network, the Elizabeth Line provides a quietly calm environment,鈥� the institute said.

鈥淐urvaceous, fluid lines converge and diverge, carefully guiding passengers to flow around corners, down cavernous vaulted tunnels and onto wide, open platforms.鈥�

It said the stations鈥� muted palette of perforated cladding, subtle lighting touches and intuitive wayfinding systems 鈥済ive the whole network coherence, helping passengers to navigate with confidence鈥�.

Judges also praised the project鈥檚 focus on inclusive step-free design and engineering interventions such as acoustic mats hidden behind cladding to absorb noise and spaces set aside for future expansions of temperature control facilities so the line, which has been designed to last 120 years, can effectively manage future climate change challenges.

RIBA president and Stirling Prize jury chair Muyiwa Oki said the network was a 鈥渢riumph in architect-led collaboration, offering a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport鈥�.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an uncluttered canvas that incorporates a slick suite of architectural components to create a consistent, line-wide identity 鈥� through which thousands of daily passengers navigate with ease,鈥� Oki added.

鈥淒escending into the colossal network of tunnels feels like entering a portal to the future, where the typical commuter chaos is transformed into an effortless experience. 

鈥淭his is architecture of the digital age 鈥� a vast scheme that utilises cutting-edge technology to create distinctive spatial characteristics and experiences .  

鈥淚t rewrites the rules of accessible public transport, and sets a bold new standard for civic infrastructure, opening up the network and by extension, London, to everyone.鈥�  

Grimshaw partner Neill McClements, speaking on behalf of the line wide design team, said the Elizabeth Line had been 鈥渢ransformative鈥� for London鈥檚 transport network and for people鈥檚 lives.

鈥淚t is also a recognition of the challenges that our profession faces today 鈥� the responsibility we have to rapidly respond to the climate emergency, decarbonise our cities and prioritise social and economic equity,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e know this is only achievable through collaboration and the Stirling Prize recognises all of the design and construction teams that have come together to make the project the success that it is.鈥� 

The 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize jury included Alex Ely, founder director of 2023 winner M忙, Mary Duggan Architects director Mary Duggan, Chanel global head of arts and culture Yana Peel, Cambridge University professor of architecture and environmental policy Minna Sunikka-Blank and Autodesk EMEA consulting director David Light.

This year鈥檚 winner beat five other finalists including Jamie Fobert Architects and Purcell鈥檚 National Portrait Gallery revamp and Allies and Morrison and Porphyrios Associates鈥� King鈥檚 Cross masterplan.

Also on the 2024 shortlist was an 11-home Hackney scheme by Al-Jawad Pike, the second phase of Mikhail Riches鈥� regeneration of Park Hill in Sheffield and Clementine Blakemore Architects鈥� transformation of a Dorset dairy farm into holiday lets.