The 2026 Davidson Prize has been awarded to PLAYDECK, a visionary proposal that reimagines London’s decommissioned New Routemaster buses as traveling playgrounds designed to bring play directly into neighborhoods where public recreational space is scarce. Developed by the interdisciplinary collective R.U.A Studio, in collaboration with WW+P, Studio Egret West, and clinical psychologist Dr. Owen Walker, announced the project as this year’s winner during a ceremony held at the Vitra and Artek Showroom in Shoreditch as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
The winning proposal responds to the 2026 Davidson Prize theme, “Changing the Game: Building Play into Housing,” which challenged designers to rethink how play could become an integral part of everyday residential life. PLAYDECK focuses on adaptive reuse and public space, demonstrating how overlooked urban infrastructure can become a catalyst for healthier and more connected communities.
Reimagining London’s Retired Buses
Rather than allowing more than 1,000 retired New Routemaster buses to be scrapped, the proposal envisions converting them into modular mobile play centers capable of serving neighborhoods lacking accessible recreational facilities.
Each bus would become an interactive environment supporting climbing, gathering, music, movement, creative play, and social interaction across generations. The buses would temporarily occupy on-street parking spaces, transforming ordinary residential streets into vibrant public destinations that encourage children, families, and older residents to spend more time outdoors.
The proposal argues that housing should not end at the front door. By extending opportunities for play into the shared public realm, PLAYDECK aims to strengthen neighborhood relationships while promoting physical activity in an increasingly screen-oriented society.
A Design Rooted in Multiple Disciplines
One of the qualities praised by the jury was the project’s multidisciplinary approach. The team combined expertise from architecture, landscape architecture, and behavioural psychology.
The PLAYDECK team includes:
- Ru Quan Phuah — Architect, R.U.A Studio / WW+P
- Shaun Thomas — Architect, WW+P
- Esther Yik Chi Chan — Landscape Architect and Videographer, WW+P
- Carmen Du — Landscape Architect and Writer, WW+P
- Jessica Huynh — Landscape Architect, WW+P
- Kelci Vittachi — Landscape Architect, Studio Egret West
- Dr. Owen Walker — Clinical Psychologist and Consultant
About the Davidson Prize
Established by the Alan Davidson Foundation, the Davidson Prize is an annual ideas competition that explores the future of housing through speculative yet practical design thinking. Each edition addresses a contemporary challenge affecting the home and encourages multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative responses rather than conventional architectural commissions.
For 2026, the competition centered on “Changing the Game: Building Play into Housing,” inviting participants to examine how play can support well-being, social interaction and healthier communities both inside homes and within shared residential environments. Finalist teams each received development funding before presenting their proposals to an independent jury, with the winning team receiving a £10,000 prize.
Jury Praises Community Impact
The jury selected PLAYDECK for its ability to combine imaginative thinking with a realistic strategy for activating underused urban infrastructure.
Chair of the jury Deborah Saunt, founding director of DSDHA, noted that the proposal successfully integrates architectural, landscape, and psychological expertise while offering the potential for meaningful impact beyond a single site. The judges also highlighted its emphasis on reclaiming shared neighborhood spaces and encouraging intergenerational interaction through everyday play.
Marie Chamillard, Director of the Davidson Prize, added that the winning scheme demonstrates how the concept of “home” can extend beyond individual dwellings into shared community spaces, encouraging new ways of thinking about housing and public life.
Finalists and People’s Choice
Alongside PLAYDECK, two other proposals reached the final stage:
“No Snakes, Just Ladders – Your Second Stairs Can Do More!” by Barr Gazetas, Trigon Fire Safety, Adam Nathaniel Furman, and #toylikeme, which proposed transforming secondary staircases in residential buildings into playful communal spaces.
“This Is Not a Road: A Community-Led Toolkit for Play” by Artform, CW Studio, Made It Together, and Civic & Social presents adaptable strategies for reclaiming neighborhood streets as places for play.
The People’s Choice Award was presented to “THE (Connected) GREAT (Green) PARK (Play) ESTATE,” led by BPTW alongside Farrer Huxley, Julie Futcher, Arup and Play:Disrupt, recognizing its vision for integrating play into post-war housing estates.
PLAYDECK Project Details
Project: PLAYDECK
Award: Winner, 2026 Davidson Prize
Theme: Changing the Game: Building Play into Housing
Announcement: London Festival of Architecture, Vitra & Artek Showroom, Shoreditch
Concept: Adaptive reuse of retired New Routemaster buses as mobile community playgrounds
Prize: £10,000
Project Team: R.U.A Studio, WW+P, Studio Egret West, and Dr. Owen Walker (Clinical Psychology Consultant)
Organizer: The Davidson Prize / Alan Davidson Foundation
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