Hubo Studio Wins at the World Architecture Festival 2025

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced the winners of its 2025 Special Prize categories, with South African firm Hubo Studio named as one of this year’s recipients.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Elsa Young

Earlier this year, the World Architecture Festival (WAF) revealed its 2025 Special Prize shortlist, which recognises projects that embody exceptional architectural merit. Among this year’s shortlisted projects was the Redhill Early Learning Centre by South African architecture practice Hubo Studio.

At last week’s gala event held in Miami, the overall winners were announced, with Hubo Studio’s project named the winner in the Best Use of Natural Light category. This Special Prize recognises the project’s innovative use of natural light at a time when South Africa was facing severe load-shedding. The design team explored natural light through three core lenses:

• Light as a functional necessity, ensuring learning continuity even without power.
• Light as a material, shaping atmosphere, texture and spatial experience.
• Light as a feeling, capturing warmth, safety, focus and joy for young learners.

The Redhill Early Learning Centre is a purpose-built, Reggio Emilia–inspired environment for children aged 3–7. The design supports curiosity, play, collaboration and expressive learning, with flexible studios, atelier spaces, a central piazza and integrated outdoor learning landscapes.

Designed and delivered by Hubo Studio in close collaboration with the children, teachers and leadership team (Joseph Gerassi and Sue Pilkington-Williams) at Redhill School, the Redhill Early Learning Centre has become a flagship model of child-centred educational design and a showcase of how architecture can meaningfully support early childhood development. hubostudio.com | worldarchitecturefestival.com

Full list of Special Prize winners at WAF 2025

• The American Beauty Prize, supported by the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust: Isla Intersections Supportive Housing & Paseo by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects in Los Angeles, California, United States.
• Best Use of Colour: Alibaba Xixi Tech Campus Landscape by ASPECT Studios in Hangzhou, China.
• Best Use of Natural Light, supported by VELUX: Redhill Early Learning Centre by Hubo Studio in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
• Best Use of Stone, supported by Turkish Stones: Dialogue with Nature – Commune Store by Atelier Global Limited in Mount Wuyi, Fujian, China.
• Best Use of Timber: Quinta De Adorigo Winery by Atelier Sergio Rebelo in Tabuaço, Douro Valley, Portugal.
• Small Project of the Year: The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas by Fernando Menis in La Laguna, Spain.
• Student Charrette Prize, supported by Broadway Malyan: SPONGE OF THE KEYS by the University of Manitoba.
• The Sustainability Prize, supported by ROCKWOOL: 1265 Borregas by MGA | Michael Green Architecture and SERA Architects in Sunnyvale, United States.
• The GROHE Water Prize: ‘waterspaces’ by Rizoma del agua in the Chimalhuacán area, Mexico City, Mexico.

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