Affordable housing is one of the most pressing social issues in today’s major cities. Affordable living? I’d take a palace over a house any day. For an open international competition for affordable housing in London, we proposed not to build on the designated site, but instead to convert Buckingham Palace and extend it with additional social housing units.

Unfortunately, the jury lacked the courage and vision to award the project first place. In the competition, it received only an Honourable Mention. However, the international press picked up the story, and Affordable Palace was published in numerous newspapers and magazines in over 100 countries, including:

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Daily Mail

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Archithese

AD Architectural Digest

ArchDaily

Dezeen

Bauwelt

Werk, Bauen + Wohnen

AXIS​

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The project was also featured in the prime-time news on France 2, on BNR, and many other outlets:

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France 2

BNR

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The project went on to win first prize in the SPIEGEL Social Design Award. The jury’s statement read:

“Affordable Palace transforms the Royal Palace into an innovative co-living structure. But behind this sober description lies a revolutionary idea: to add six new floors to Buckingham Palace, creating housing for 50,000 people. That the Queen & Co. claim 775 rooms and 79 bathrooms for themselves is, in the eyes of the young Munich architects at Opposite Office, no longer acceptable in times of housing shortages and skyrocketing rents. Their design envisions clusters where private sleeping quarters are arranged around shared dining and living spaces. Flexible partitions allow for adaptable living arrangements. Naturally, the rent would be capped — at €8 per square metre. Efficient planning ensures that only minimal space is consumed by corridors and staircases.

The architects are well aware that their idea will remain just that — an idea. But with Affordable Palace, they aim to make a provocative contribution to the debate on the right to housing and social justice.

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An open letter to the Queen went unanswered, but it did lead to an invitation to Buckingham Palace and an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum during the London Design Week. The project has also been shown at several architecture biennials.