The 15 projects shortlisted by our judging panel include homes from all over the world, from Brazil to France to VietnamThe private house occupies a unique position in both the history of architecture and human imagination. Beyond its core function of shelter, it is an object of fantasy, a source of delight, a talisman and a testing ground.This years judging panel includes: Stella Daouti, co-founder of Architecture Research Athens (AREA), who were commended in the AR House awards 2021for a weekend house on Salamis Island Boonserm Premthada, founder of Bangkok Project Studio, whose own home and office was shortlisted for the AR House awards 2023 Mike Tonkin, co-founder of Tonkin Liu and based in LondonThe judges were interested in houses that broke the mould, with emphasis placed on rigorous plans that could offer surprise. Architectural quality was appreciated for distinguishing itself from ordinary surroundings, with extensions and renovations rewarded for retaining the legibility of existing structures. Most importantly, the judges asked Would I like to wake up in this house?The winner and commended projects will be announced online later this month and published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of The Architectural Review.AR House 2024 shortlistRF Residence byAndrade Morettin Arquitetos Associados in Jaguarina, BrazilCredit:Andrade MorettinMapleton House byAtelier Chen Hung in Mapleton, AustraliaCredit:David ChatfieldToue Cabane byAtelier du Ralliement in Le Cellier, FranceCredit:Francois Massin CastanShiplap House byChenchow Little in Sydney, AustraliaCredit:Peter BennettsHouse VMVK II bydmvA in Mechelen, BelgiumCredit:Sergio PirroneReciprocal House byGianni Botsford Architects in London, United KingdomCredit:Schnepp RenouThe Old Byre byGianni Botsford Architects in Cowes, United KingdomCredit:Schnepp RenouOcarina House byLCLA Office in El Carmen de Viboral, ColombiaCredit:Luis CallejasPost-hurricane housing by Manuel Cervantes Estudio in Acapulco, MexicoCredit:Cesar BejarCLT House bynARCHITECTS in Clinton, United StatesCredit:Michael MoranHouse renovation and extension byRAUM in Quiberon, FranceCredit:Charles BouchaibCasa Cosmos byS-AR in Puerto Escondido, MexicoCredit:Camila CossioRosedale House byScale Architecture in Rosedale, AustraliaCredit:Tim ClarkLoli House byT+M Design Office in Hanoi, VietnamCredit:Hoang LeNiwa House byTakero Shimazaki Architects in London United KingdomCredit:Felix KochIt is very rare for two projects by the same practice to feature on the shortlist. It happened once before, in 2014, with two houses by Marie-Jos Van Hee Architecten. This year, the shortlist includes two projects by Gianni Botsford Architects. All entries are submitted and discussed anonymously, and the judging panel only finds out who the project authors are after the shortlist has been agreed. This year is also the first time in the history of the awards, which launched in 2010, that the shortlist does not include a Japanese house.