Following a long battle with terminal lung cancer, the beloved architect Neave Brown has passed away at the age of 88. Known for his modernist social housing, Brown's projects are considered to be some of most innovative and successful low-cost housing schemes of the late 20th century with many of his complexes judged as some of the best places anywhere to live; Brown himself, even lived in one. 

He also had, prior to his passing, been the only living architect to have all their works heritage listed. So, when RIBA announced back in October that they would be honoring Brown with their lifetime achievement award, the Royal Gold Medal—which he was nominated for by residents of his Alexandra Road scheme—the architecture community in the UK (and beyond) was delighted. 

Many felt that Brown was deserving of this honor much earlier in his career; the award, and more generally, the renewed interest in his work, was a rare optimistic moment last year, cheered by many. Brown had taken a step back from architecture and was "absolutely dumbfounded" by the announcement. Moreover, at a time when urban areas across the globe are facing severe housing crises, the celebration of someone who has provided well-designed, affordable and sustainable homes such as Brown, felt almost like a sort of vindication. His passing certainly stings.

"Neave was a pioneer: he showed us how intellectual rigour, sensitive urbanism, his supreme design skill and determination could deliver well-being to the local community he served so well in Camden. His ideas, for low-rise high-density housing with private outside space for all residents, still stand as a radical antidote to much of the unthinking, not to say degrading, housing product of the era" said RIBA President Ben Derbyshire. 

“The architecture community has lost a giant" he added.