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A innovative interpretation of the historic almshouse, deliberately planned to tackle social isolation, has won a esteemed architecture prize for the United Kingdom's finest recently built building.

Appleby Blue Almshouse, which provides affordable apartments for older adults in a London borough, has won this year's Royal Institute of British Architects' (Riba) Stirling Prize.

This complex, located in a London neighborhood, includes 59 apartments as well as communal amenities, such as a rooftop garden, outdoor courtyard and communal cooking area.

The Stirling Prize judges remarked it "establishes an ambitious benchmark for social housing among older people".

The architectural team the creative minds have crafted "superior" and "thoughtful" areas to foster environments that really look after their residents", in the words of a panelist.

This development was praised for its "spacious" residences, terracotta-tiled hallways with benches and foliage, and a fountain that provides the building the "feeling of a forest retreat".

All this establishes an "desirable home atmosphere" that sits "sharply opposed to the impersonal feel frequently linked to elderly housing".

This prize-winning development was erected on the grounds of an former care home by a philanthropic group, which subsidises the flats for residents on low incomes.

Charitable housing were historically built from the medieval period to provide benevolent housing for those in difficulty.

The winning project beat a selection of other shortlisted buildings and architecture endeavors to win this year's Stirling Prize, ranging from the restoration of the iconic clock tower in London to a new design school, a lab building and an "creative" home extension.

The remaining candidates included:

• The restored Elizabeth Tower
• Hastings House

The award is presented to the building considered to be "the most influential of the year for the development of architecture and the urban landscape", and is assessed on factors like architectural concept, innovation and uniqueness.

It is Witherford Watson Mann's repeat achievement as winning designers, over a decade after they were selected for their concept for a groundbreaking current holiday home at the old Astley Castle in the county.

The major transport project - the city's east-west train line - secured the esteemed prize recently.

Other past recipients of the prize - first presented in 1996 - comprise the city of Liverpool's cultural venue, coastal landmark and the Scottish Parliament building in that city.