The winner of this year’s AJ Small Projects is Wrong House by Matheson Whiteley, a project that includes the construction of a wedge-shaped extension to a semi-detached Victorian townhouse in Hackney, east London, at just £93,000. The practice will receive £2,500 for the award.

Now in its 23rd year running, the event is a celebration of innovative projects built on a budget of less than £250,000. The jury praised the winning scheme for its ‘humility and restraint’ and the great contribution it made to a London street. Other highly commended schemes were Baxendale’s Riverside Solidarity and the PEER Gallery and Pocket Park by Trevor Home Architects. In addition, the People’s Choice award, voted by 1,700 people, was won by Matt + Fiona’s Made in Oakfield in Hull.

“We’re so shocked to win, particularly because it’s such a strong and varied field. There is so much quality in the different schemes and I’m glad the judges recognised we had squeezed some quality out of our situation,” said Matheson Whiteley, director at Donald Matheson.

Out of the 200 entries, 20 projects were shortlisted and then presented to the judging panel in Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ offices on Tottenham Street, London. Among the other finalists were a photography studio, woodland classrooms and a kindergarten in Fiji.

Part of the judging panel were Takero Shimazaki, director of Takero Shimazaki Architects; last year’s winner Kate Darby, principal of Kate Darby Architects; Lendlease’s Jonathan Emery; AJ sustainability editor Hattie Hartman and was chaired by AJ architecture editor Rob Wilson.

Past winners include Doma Architects in 2016, Carmody Groarke in 2015, Haworth Tompkins in 2010 and HawkinsBrown in 2000.

All shortlisted AJ Small Projects schemes are part of an exhibition at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ offices that will remain open until the 17th of May from 9am to 5.30pm, from Monday to Friday.