Gateway to Clapham Competition Winners

13th November 2025

The Clapham Society and This is Clapham BID are delighted to announce the Phase 1 shortlist of the Gateway to Clapham Competition: an exciting design initiative to create a new landmark reimagining the railway bridge spanning Clapham High Street, seeking to celebrate the identity, heritage, and vibrancy of Clapham.

Following a strong response from architects, designers, and artists across the UK, the judging panel has selected four shortlisted schemes to progress to the next phase of the competition, each offering a distinctive interpretation of what a gateway to Clapham could be.

The Judging panel consisted of:

Jake Johnson, The Clapham Society Chair, Architect (Chair of the Jury)
Jeremy Keates, This is Clapham BID, Manager
Sinclair Johnstone, Ayesa UK & Ireland, The Clapham Society President, Structural Engineer
Julia Barfield, Marks Barfield Architects, The Clapham Society Vice President, Architect
Nicola Doal, Lambeth Council, Transport Strategy and Programme, Big Shift Programme Manager
Trâm Nguyễn, Studio Voltaire, Curator (Civic and Learning)
Petr Kaiser, Best of South West LDN, Founder

Each shortlisted team will now be invited to progress into Phase 2 of the competition and will each receive a prize of £1,200 following the submission of a visioning document and interview with the jury in early 2026. We are excited to share that we will be organising an exhibition and celebration event in Clapham in early 2026.

Jake Johnson, Chair of the Clapham Society and Chair of the Jury, said:

“The Gateway to Clapham competition has inspired an incredible range of ideas, from poetic reflections of Clapham’s layered history, to bold and contemporary gestures that look to its future. The shortlisted schemes demonstrate the imagination and care that this special place deserves. We would like to thank all of the teams who took the time to participate and share their creativity with us.”

The competition has been organised, and equally funded, by The Clapham Society and This is Clapham BID. The judging panel included representatives from The Clapham Society and This is Clapham BID, design professionals, stakeholders, and the local community. The organisers have been in communication with Network Rail regarding the competition and we look forward to engaging with them moving forward into Phase 2.

To view the project brief, please visit: Clapham Rail Bridge Design Competition – The Clapham Society

The project was announced on 1st September 2025 on the Architects Journal: Designers sought to overhaul ‘unwelcoming’ space under Clapham bridge

We are delighted to share the Phase 1 shortlist below – Congratulations

GS Architecture