Barr Gazetas has been shortlisted for The Davidson Prize 2026, recognising our team’s exploration of how residential buildings can create more opportunities for play, community and connection.

This year’s prize invited designers to explore the role of play in housing, challenging teams to consider how homes and shared spaces can better support creativity, wellbeing and social interaction.

Our proposal explored a simple question: how can we deliver more, even when housing projects face increasing pressures around viability and space? Our response was to look differently at an existing requirement within residential design: second staircases in buildings over 18 metres.

Rather than viewing these spaces purely as a regulatory necessity, we explored how they could become valuable parts of the building experience. By embracing the objectives of building regulations while applying creative thinking, these often overlooked spaces could be transformed into places that encourage movement, interaction and wellbeing.

The project also raised wider questions around the future of high-rise housing design. How can we ensure communal spaces remain meaningful and social? How can regulations be met through considered design solutions? And how can we prioritise quality, simplicity and long-term value within our buildings?

Although we were not selected as the winning team, being shortlisted for The Davidson Prize was an opportunity to develop and share ideas that challenge how we think about the spaces between homes. We hope the conversation continues around how regulations, design and creativity can work together to create better places for people.

Congratulations to the winning team, R.U.A studio, and to all the finalists who contributed thoughtful and inspiring ideas to this year’s prize!