WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

A much-anticipated highlight on the decor and design calendar, Decorex Joburg offers design lovers a chance to engage with the best in local and international decor and its makers.

Throughout the four-day exhibition, visitors will encounter designer-led installations, thought-provoking showcases and carefully considered spaces that invite a slower, more intentional way of engaging with design.

Over recent years, Decorex has explored the forces reshaping our environments, from sustainability and technology to the systems and cultural shifts influencing how we live and work. This year’s theme – Soft Life – builds on this thinking, turning attention to the human experience within those spaces that prioritise wellbeing and clarity as the new markers of contemporary design.

A number of installations at this year’s showcase directly echo this broader shift towards design that speaks softly, yet with conviction. Here are our must-see highlights:

Kitchens defined by a quietly luxurious way of living

For nuuma, the contemporary kitchen is no longer defined by function alone. It’s an immersive space where materiality, atmosphere and daily ritual come together with quiet intention.

Rather than relying on excess, the brand works with refined proportions, layered finishes and subtle detailing to create luxury kitchens that feel calm, warm and deeply resolved.

Each space is designed to support the way people live, gather, cook and connect. Here, considered materials – stone, satin lacquer, textured glass and curated finishes – are chosen not only for their beauty, but for the feeling they create.

As modern interiors continue to move towards more immersive and personal expressions of design, the kitchen has become central to the experience of contemporary living.

nuuma’s work reflects this shift: bespoke kitchen design that is sophisticated, liveable and quietly luxurious for refined homes across South Africa and the African continent. nuuma.co.za | @nuuma_sa

Designer-led spaces exploring comfort

The Soft Life Pods bring this year’s theme into physical form through a series of intimate, designer-built micro-interiors that explore comfort, tactility, atmosphere and the future of wellness-driven living.

Each pod offers a distinct interpretation of intentional living, showing how thoughtful design can shape experiences, enhance functionality and create environments that feel both restorative and inspiring.

Local luminaries who shine

A new feature at this year’s Decorex, FloodLight celebrates some of the best local lighting design, brought together within a showcase shaped by the 2026 theme. At its heart is the idea of light as soft power: not simply as function, but as atmosphere, emotion and a tool for wellbeing.

Developed as a collaboration between Decorex and spatial lighting designer Martin Döller, the feature adds an experiential layer to the installation, using light to create mood, depth and theatre across the space.

New work from fresh talent

100% Fresh – Rising Talent shines a spotlight on the next generation of creative voices. Dedicated to emerging designers and makers, the platform showcases original work that explores new material narratives, evolving craft traditions and innovative approaches to contemporary living.

Reflecting the principles of Soft Life, the feature highlights designers whose work prioritises meaning, tactility and emotional connection, offering a glimpse into a future where design is not only innovative, but also more considered, adaptable and deeply relevant to the way we live.

Objects designed for living

TenxTen presents Soft Life as object-language – tactile, considered pieces that upgrade the everyday through detail and intention.

The immersive installation brings together 100 of the most compelling design objects of 2026 across 10 categories that map design from floor to ceiling. Objects have been selected by Decorex co-creative directors Alan Hayward and Garreth van Niekerk, along with a panel of category experts.

Dates & Times

30 July – 2 August 2026 | Sandton Convention Centre | Open daily 10am–6pm | decorex.co.za

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The post What to See at Decorex Joburg 2026 appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Ivo Tavares

TThe brief for Casa em Melides was deceptively simple: design a family home in the Alentejo that respects the surrounding landscape. For Sabrab Architecture, the challenge was to create a modern retreat that maximises contemporary comfort without imposing itself on the land.

Carefully positioned among centuries-old cork oak trees and gently following the natural topography of the land, the home was designed with its every aspect guided by the earth. The practice sought to reinterpret Melides’ vernacular architecture through a contemporary lens, creating a series of low, horizontal volumes finished in natural lime plaster, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a pared-back material palette, allowing nature to remain the protagonist.

Inside, the approach is equally restrained. Defined by natural light, balanced proportions, and visual continuity with the outdoors, the interior atmosphere is one of tranquillity.

Here, natural materials, soft textures, and a neutral colour palette create a sense of understated elegance; contemporary lighting, bespoke timber furniture, and a carefully curated selection of collectable design pieces enrich the space without detracting from or competing with the landscape beyond the glass. | sabrab.com

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Legendary American rock band Aerosmith said it best: “Pink, it’s the colour of passion, ’cause today it just goes with the fashion”. That was 1997, and the colour has stayed in vogue. Shades of pink, from bubblegum to flamingo and fuchsia, have a timeless, fun, flirtatious, playful and cheeky energy.

In interiors, pink tiles can be used to channel the same seductive energy into spaces that are stylish and versatile. From soft blush bathroom floors to statement backsplashes in kitchens or powder rooms, pink adds warmth and character without overwhelming the space.

Designers love pink because it plays well with a variety of textures, finishes and materials, including stone-look porcelain and patterned tiles. It’s perfect for layering with other natural materials like warm woods, lustrous metallics and natural fibres. Pink is the grande dame of cheeky sophistication.

At Stiles, our pink tile collection offers shades for every mood: gentle hues for subtle elegance and bold tones for maximalist flair. Whether you’re renovating a powder room, designing a full bathroom, or adding a punch of personality to a kitchen wall, pink tiles give you the freedom to dive into “a new obsession”.

The Rosa Kit Kat from the Funky Tiles range is a pink ceramic finger tile with a matt finish. It can be applied to indoor wall surfaces including kitchen and bathroom backsplashes.

The Rosa Liso tile is a subway-shaped tile with a vibrant pink colour and a matt finish. It can be used on indoor wall surfaces and pairs well with a variety of luxurious metallic finishes. Think of opting for brushed brass, lustre gold or copper, which bring out the inherent warmth of blush and dusty pinks. For a cleaner, Art Deco or vintage appeal, polished chrome offers a brilliant, crisp contrast.

The Matiz Pink Lux tile offers a unique style. This tile has a basic subway shape, but a raised relief finish like the roof tiles in a vintage LEGO set. This range offers bold shades inspired by the art of painting. With its glossy finish, this tile can be used in a flamboyant scullery, braai area or on indoor walls.

For a more subtle touch of pink, opt for the Forme Brick Rosato. This matt tile has a subway shape and a heavily textured finish, resembling a roughly plastered wall. It has a soft, rosy-peach colour and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor floor and wall surfaces.

For a super-skinny Kit Kat design, view the Twiggy Mattone Lux. This tile has a lux finish and is ideal for indoor walls and swimming pools. Mattone is the Italian word for brick, which describes the baked, terracotta-clay colour of this tile. The Twiggy range includes ten colours designed to provide elegant and versatile combinations.

For tile enthusiasts looking to bring character into their homes, explore the full range of pink tiles in-store or online at stiles.co.za. Let your interiors sing with a pop of pink!

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COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Nicolas Mathéus (Belledonne Bubble House), Sharyn Cairns (Sydney Home), Jan Ras (AardtsCabin), Elsa Young/Bureaux (The Nest), KLG Architects (!Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre)

All these spaces from the VISI archives share one defining quality: they mimic natural formations to create a dialogue between built and natural environments. Borrowing their geometry from nests, shells, boulders and caves, and drawing their material inspiration directly from the surrounding landscape, these biomorphic homes and spaces – from the French Alps to the Namibian desert – go beyond embracing nature. They emerge from it.

Belledonne Bubble House

This remarkable house in the French Alps is home to neither the Teletubbies nor space aliens. Originally built in 1966, it was designed by Claude Costy and Pascal Häusermann, who penned a number of similar dwellings during the late ’60s and early ’70s. Conceived as a critique of Modernist radicalism, these bubble or shell houses, as they’re generally referred to, favoured curves and human proportions, and represented the duo’s idea of sculpture-as-architecture that rethought ways of living and methods of building. The couple had met at the Geneva School of Architecture (where Claude was one of the first female graduates); they designed a series of environmentally friendly buildings that promoted harmony between construction and the environment.

Given its aesthetic, it might not surprise you to learn that this particular house was originally commissioned by a yogi, who bought this beautiful parcel of land in the Belledonne mountains with the idea of founding a living and wellness space open to the public, complete with swimming pool, solarium and sauna. Karma has it that his girlfriend came across a magazine article about the Häusermann/Costy designs, and the couple duly contacted the architects, enamoured both with the houses’ design and the economical construction techniques.

Read the full feature on the Belledonne bubble house here.

Sydney Home

Designed in 1968 by icon of Australian organic architecture David Hollander, the house sits like massive boulders on a hillside, with its sweeping cement curves nestled under a canopy of gumtrees. Walk through the asymmetrical front door and you enter a cosy burrow-like interior, with winding walls, shafts of daylight coming through the skylights, and planter boxes filling the spaces with greenery. “It was nonconformist and experimental, and reflective of its time,” says passionate owner Nancy Renzi of Renzi Design, who signed on the bottom line three days after the home went on the market. “The house was absolutely stunning – I loved the way it sits in the landscape, how it feels so good inside because of the rounded walls, and the light coming through those funny windows in the ceilings. It was like a fantasy land.”

While it originally embodied the anticipation and excitement that typified the ’60s, a renovation by the former owners had unfortunately left it with echoes of the ’80s, says Nancy, and chunky timber joinery that was at odds with the floating free forms. And the security screens on the windows were jarring. “The owners had tried to make the house look normal, by introducing lots of squares and rectangles, but that is something you can never do,” she says. “They replaced the original copper fittings with shiny chrome, and introduced a palette of greys, which made it look cold and uninviting.I wanted to strip it all back and play off the form and texture – shapes are the star of the show.”

Read the full feature on this Sydney home here.

Aardts Cabin

You need game-spotter eyes to see Aardts Cabin – the kind that can spot a motionless mountain zebra cloaked in a Karoo landscape. If you possess this model of eyeball, you’ll see both on a koppie outside the Klein Karoo village of De Rust – although you’re more likely to spot the zebra first, such is the way Abrie von Wielligh’s design appears to have emerged from its rocky, scrubby surrounds. It’s a design that caught Airbnb’s eye in 2022 – the concept was one of 100 global winners of their $10-million “OMG!” competition. The rental disruptor chose 100 designs, each receiving $100 000 to facilitate the build, with the proviso it be rented out on Airbnb’s platform for a year. 

“Ag, but ja,” says Abrie dryly. “We ended up a bit short, and had to spend a little more on the construction. You know how it is when you’re building – you think, ‘Why don’t we add this and that…’” And Abrie knows dry well: although he currently lives in George, he’s originally from Namibia. “George is a bit busy and wet for us, so we started looking around for a place to get away. It didn’t make sense to have a beach house, as it’s the same climate as George.” The “we” he’s referring to are his wife Jorika and their two daughters. The family bought the piece of land near De Rust five years ago and, after walking around the property a lot, decided on a location that was hidden from the farmlands in the valley below and allowed them to burrow into the land. 

Read the full feature on Aardts Cabin here.

The Nest

In the vast ancient desert of Namibia, nature is the greatest architect. Millions of years have refined the shapes of the shelters that birds and animals create for themselves here. The gigantic nests built by sociable weaver birds in camelthorn trees – vast domed structures of twigs and grass often 3m wide – are one of the most striking examples. “They’re architectural masterpieces,” says Swen Bachran, the entrepreneur and conservationist who established the Namib Tsaris Conservancy with his neighbours in the desert, not far from the famous red dunes at Sossusvlei and the haunting 700-year-old skeletons of dead camelthorn trees at Deadvlei.

Before he owned any land in the region, he and his designer and artist friend Porky Hefer visited a spot nearby the site of The Nest, as they dubbed this fantastical house modelled on these weavers’ nests, which they created over the next eight years. At that stage, Swen was still scouting around for a potential conservation project. “Porky came to the farm and we camped on this land together,” says Swen. They sat under the camelthorn trees and marvelled at the communal nests, their perfect efficiency suggesting countless lessons in biomimicry and possibilities for vernacular design.

Read the full feature on The Nest here.

!Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre

Opened on Heritage Day, 24 September 2018, the Heritage Centre at !Khwa ttu is an exciting new museum that tells the story of the San people “in their own words”. The building is called The Way of The San.

Some of the themes explored in the various exhibition spaces are human origins, colonial encounters, hunting and gathering, storytelling, star lore, traditional remedies and play. This is done through rock art, artefacts, a recording of ambient sounds of nature, and a life-size video installation depicting various aspects of San life.

Designed by KLG Architects, the building has a glass facade and a curved roof, and an organic oval shape, a reference to traditional nomadic San shelters and the role of the ostrich egg in San culture.

Read the full feature on the !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre here.

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Located at 142 Bree Street, The Madison, a new sculptural landmark by Tricolt Group, is set to add to the convivial energy of Cape Town’s most vibrant precinct.

Defined by flowing lines and a facade that responds to light, movement and perspective, The Madison is a confident, modern addition to the CBD skyline, offering uninterrupted views stretching from Table Mountain to Table Bay.

The Madison, which comprises 391 residences and rises 23 storeys above Bree Street, is shaped by the energy of its surroundings.

Designed for Creative Living

Executive Suites – Priced from R2 650 000 | $182 000 | €158 000
Ideal for secure, lock-up-and-go city living with seamless access to premium amenities. Designed for efficiency without compromise.

Executive One-Bed Apartments – Priced from R3 150 000 | $191 000 | €168 000
Perfect for professionals seeking privacy, generous proportions and elevated everyday comfort in the heart of the city.

One-Bed Apartments – Priced from R3 550 000 | $212 000 | €183 000
Well-balanced layouts designed for singles or couples who value flexibility, convenience and uninterrupted city views.

Two-Bed Apartments – Priced from R6 815 000 | $406 000 | €352 000
Thoughtfully crafted for couples or small families, offering space, flow and long-term liveability in a connected urban setting.

Penthouse Collection – Priced from R12 440 000 | $753 000 | €652 000
Live above the city in a limited selection of penthouse residences that crown The Madison and offer an elevated expression of urban luxury.

The Street That Sets the Tone

As the recognised epicentre of First Thursdays and Open Streets, Bree Street continues to draw both residents and visitors with an effortless pull.

The Madison offers a carefully curated collection of lifestyle amenities that mirror the creative spirit and pedestrian-friendly rhythm of its location:

• Concierge and reception services
• Sixth-floor podium clubhouse with swimming pool
• Landscaped outdoor leisure areas
• Cape Town’s first Gold’s Gym
• Sauna and steam rooms
• Flexible co-working spaces
• Retail, café, bar and hospitality offerings
• Secure parking and controlled access
• 24-hour CCTV and security control room

Built for Growth

For investors, The Madison presents a compelling case. Driven by strong tourism, soaring short-term rental demand and ongoing urban revitalisation, Bree Street continues to outperform as a consistently in-demand urban location.

The Madison offers early buyers the chance to secure an investment in one of Cape Town’s most tightly held and high-performing precincts, where capital growth is estimated at 10 per cent per annum. Registered buyers receive an R100 000 early investor benefit. The purchase price is VAT-inclusive and free of transfer duty.

For buyers interested in short-term rental returns, The Madison offers professional rental management, creating a seamless, hassle-free ownership experience from guest bookings to day-to-day operations.

The online sales launch takes place on 29 July 2026, with a R100 000 discount available to those who reserve on the day. Visit themadison.co.za to register and find out more.

The post A New Icon Claims Its Place on Bree Street appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Palesa Mohola PHOTOS Fredrico Farinatti

Situated outside The Colombian Coffee Company on the historic and busy Petticoat Lane as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2026, the temporary public space transforms an overlooked corner of the city into a space that invites people to pause, gather and reconnect.

This year’s festival explores the theme of Belonging, celebrating architecture’s ability to bring together both the public and the design profession. Macchiato’s circular seating, developed and built by Red Collective & Jamps Studio, references the familiar coffee ring left behind after a shared cup, but it also takes us back to the age-old tradition of gathering in a circle, whether around a fire sharing a meal and telling stories or a good old huddle. Circles have always been a symbol of closeness, bringing people together in connection and community across cultures.

There could not be a more fitting setting than Petticoat Lane. For centuries, the bustling market street has been shaped by London’s working-class communities and successive waves of migration, becoming a place where cultures, traditions and stories intersect. By creating another place to gather, Macchiato quietly adds a new chapter to that history while reinforcing the street’s enduring identity as a meeting place.

Every design decision contributes to this narrative. The colours of the park blend well with its surroundings; the soft brown tones of the pebbles reflect those of both coffee and the surrounding brick buildings, allowing the installation to feel as though it has always existed in the space, seemingly worlds away from the modern buildings in the near distance.

The oxidised patches on the steel planters introduce a rustic feel that speaks to durability and reinvention, while the steel benches bring a contrast between the old and the new. The greenery, provided by Susanna Grant of LINDA and Will Sholey of Sholey Garden and Design, softens the hard urban landscape, evoking a sense of the outdoors without having to leave the city in search of nature. The pebbles in varying shades of brown can be read as a subtle nod to the different stages coffee beans go through, from being pitted to the final stage, ready to be ground into the perfect cup of coffee.

In a fast-paced era where movement is promoted and rest areas in cities are becoming scarcer, Macchiato reminds us that meaningful public spaces do not need to be extravagant – sometimes all it takes is a shared circle, a cup of coffee and a thoughtful design to create a genuine sense of belonging. Every corner on Petticoat Lane has a story to tell, and now Macchiato is the corner where all those stories are shared. | out-architecture.com

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WORDS Robyn Alexander PHOTOS Supplied

Gardens and Landscapes: 10 Spaces of Beauty

by Anna Scaravella, with photographs by Matteo Carassale and text by Sala Bartolomeo (Rizzoli, 2025)

Driven by breathtaking photography – always the case with titles published by Rizzoli – Gardens and Landscapes takes you on a journey through 10 magnifi cent private Italian gardens. And as author and renowned expert in landscape architecture Anna Scaravella suggests in her text, each one of them has its own unique beauty. There is much for the amateur gardener to be inspired by here, from the lush elegance of Villa Albera in Lombardy to the striking contrasts in the design of a Mediterranean garden on the island of Elba. Varied as they are, all remain oases of peace and beauty – and the book is a window into virtually visiting and admiring them. | rizzoliusa.com

Gardens That Can Save The World

by Lottie Delamain, with a foreword by Isabella Tree (Thames & Hudson, 2026)

One of the key ways urbanised human beings remain in touch with the natural world is via growing and tending plants. And going outside to do so, this inspiring new book argues, is one very good way to counteract feelings of powerlessness in a fractured world. Gardens That Can Save the World brings together 65 projects that revolve around plants, showing how they can have a big impact on people, their loved ones and the environment. It also demonstrates that green spaces can repair damage previously done to soil and water, empower communities struggling with conflict and hardship, and help to heal stress, isolation and trauma. This is an immensely uplift ing book that also encourages everyone to try easy-to-replicate strategies in their own garden, balcony or windowsill plant pot. | thamesandhudson.com

The Coastal Garden

by Phaidon Editors, with an introduction by Nigel Dunnett and texts by Sorrel Everton (Phaidon, 2026)

As anyone who has ever created a garden on the coast learns quickly, this sort of landscape requires working in harmony with the environment rather than attempting to compel it to conform to your will. This is the point made repeatedly by The Coastal Garden, which features landscapes as varied as a Mediterranean cliff side, a sheltered bay on the UK’s south coast, and the edge of a sandy beach in Australia. What all these gardens have in common is a sense of being rooted in their location, as well as beautiful views of the sea, an atmosphere of tranquillity, and an intense connection with nature. With gorgeous imagery and detailed explanatory text about each of the 48 extraordinary private gardens featured, there’s plenty to discover in terms of terrains, climates and garden styles here too. | phaidon.com

The Modern Japanese Garden

by Stephen Mansfield, Kengo Kuma, Mira Locher, Tim Richardson, Masuno Shunmyo and Pico Iyer (Thames & Hudson, 2025)

Japanese garden design has a lengthy history, which this major study of the subject begins by tracing, from pre-Shinto stone arrangements to the 19th century and into the present. The book also includes profiles of some of the most iconic and influential gardens in locations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka, and examines the work of several renowned Japanese garden designers. In addition – and much in the style of Japanese landscape design itself – interspersed throughout are short interludes on topics such as the ancient garden of Ryoan-jiin Kyoto, and essays by high-profile contributors such as architect Kengo Kuma and monk and garden designer Masuno Shunmyo, which consider various themes in Japanese gardening. | thamesandhudson.com

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The post The Constant Gardener appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Alex Lesage and Thom Fougere

Rising from the water as rugged stone formations crowned with windswept pines, Thirty Thousand Islands is the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. The islets, stretching along the eastern edge of Georgian Bay – part of Canada’s Great Lakes – are only accessible by canoe and kayak, rowing boat, motorboat and yacht. They spark childhood imaginings of adventure, the sort conjured by Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five or Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. While many are so small they host only migrating birds, others cradle summer homes that soak up seclusion and serenity. On Pine Island, one such home stands quietly among bottle-green foliage – a cottage intended to weather with grace while celebrating the great outdoors, and that reimagines our innate connection to nature through contemporary design.

Montreal-based architect Adam Robinson of Bureau Tempo and multidisciplinary designer Thom Fougere, founder of his eponymous studio, spent almost four years bringing their vision to life. The two first met many years earlier, at design school. “Our collaboration worked because it was more open than prescriptive,” says Adam. “The fluid nature of the brief allowed us to respond intuitively and give ideas time to mature. Often, a conversation or sketch would unlock a new direction, reinforcing the value of giving a project room to breathe and trusting the process.”

Their canvas was the footprint of a former derelict home, their process intentionally open-ended, and their brief an evolving conversation. Client time confirmed that all were intent on crafting a home that paid homage to the elements by emphasising material honesty, tactility and texture.

This dialogue with the land began, quite literally, barefoot. “When visiting the site early on with our client, we spent time walking alongside the mottled, stone-covered beach,” says Thom. “Translating that tactile experience into the interior in unexpected ways became a guiding goal. It often came down to finding the minimum touch with the maximum impact to achieve this.”

The Y-shaped design honours Pine Island’s topography. The home’s sleeping quarters are housed in two wings, two bedrooms in one, the primary suite in the other. These wings are uppermost on the slope, maximising privacy; they connect to the house via an elevated glass walkway that steps down to a compact, oak-lined entrance hall.

“The journey to the cottage serves up an abundance of stimuli, so the entrance was conceived as a moment of calm – a reprieve for the senses – before gradually reintroducing familiar tones and textures as the space opens and reconnects you to the landscape,” says Adam. As you step into the heart of the home, light pours in through oversized apertures, including a light well. The kitchen, dining and sunken living spaces (the latter with a double-sided fireplace that warms a porch) are interconnected, cascading down the slope.

“We spent time early on discussing the idea of patina and the beauty of materials that show signs of life and wear,” says Adam. “That dialogue built trust and allowed us to propose material selections and approaches designed to age gracefully over time.”

The cottage’s many tactile surfaces speak to this philosophy. Rough-to-the-touch local fieldstone, reminiscent of rugged picnic tables, forms a monolithic kitchen island. Burnished concrete floors in the living area fall almost level with outdoor stone formations that abut windows. Wood imbues the home with warmth, like walnut and white oak for kitchen cabinetry, and Douglas fir – which will patinate and mark with use – for the dining table. Eramosa, a Canadian stone with a marble-like appearance, was flamed for bathroom floors, its weathered feel suggestive of the island’s stone underfoot. In the primary suite, cupboard doors were replaced with hand-loomed rugs, suspended from forged iron frames that sway with use and provide acoustic dampening.

The creatives paid equal attention to other sensory and mood-enhancing details. “Lighting was often at the heart of our decision-making process,” explains Adam. “We did not want to disturb the serenity of the darkness on the island, and how finishes would feel when very dimly lit was paramount in selecting materials.”

To this end, walls and ceilings were finished in plaster, its hue tinted by shifts in exterior conditions. Diff use light, like that from an Akari pendant above the dining table and lantern-like lamps throughout the home, adds warmth to rooms. Task lighting was sourced from brands such as Artemide and Flos, and bespoke cast-iron sconces repeat the blacksmith-forged tactility of wrought-iron handrails.

The home’s many bespoke finishes and furnishings nod to a collaborative personalisation of the living experience. An integrated sofa, steps and storage, for example, will acquire character with use. Commissioned tables, cabinets, benches and rugs, all in hues hand-picked from the island, speak to a contemporary aesthetic with a rustic backstory. Much like the past, with time this cottage too will become weathered and worn and lived in, its patina as rugged as that of the windswept pines. bureautempo.ca | thomfougere.com

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COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Vinay Panjwani, Hiroyuki Oki, Fernando Guerra, Trieu Chien, Samuel Hartnett, Hufton + Crow Photography, PHX INDIA, Dook (Kalahari Dunes), Elsa Young (Klaff Family Sports Centre), FLINK Studios (Mombo & Bisate), Carlo Antonelli (Ivory Coast Embassy), Elsa Young (The Gianni Ravazzotti Biodiversity Centre), Gordon Jubber (Volley Roper) RENDERS SAOTA

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has revealed its full 2026 shortlist of over 416 projects up for awards in the Completed Buildings, Interiors, Future Projects and Landscape categories.

This year’s top 10 shortlisted countries include the USA, China, India, UK and Australia. The finalists range from major global architecture firms – including Foster + Partners, Snøhetta, Herzog & de Meuron, Coldefy, Grimshaw, Sanjay Puri Architects, Perkins&Will and Woods Bagot – to work from an exciting new generation of emerging studios.

10 Outstanding International Projects

Below, in no particular order, are 10 outstanding international projects up for awards this year:

The Folia by ET Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Mixed Use

Located in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, at the confluence of Huxi Stream and Lingfeng Lake, The Folia sits within the ‘Two Mountains’ Future Science and Technology City. With a gross floor area of 157,000 square metres, this super-tall mixed-use complex brings together a hotel, offices, retail and apartments in a single landmark development.

Prestige University by Sanjay Puri Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Higher Education and Research

Set within a 32-acre university campus, this five-level building houses the main administration offices, auditorium, seminar halls, library and cafeteria. Its terraces step up diagonally from the northern end and are fully accessible to students and faculty – effectively transforming the building into an open-air auditorium set within a landscaped environment.

Lotus Clubhouse by MIA Design Studio | WAF Landscape

In tropical cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, openness, shade, vegetation, airflow and water are not aesthetic luxuries but essential infrastructure for human comfort. Conceived as a living organism rather than an isolated architectural object, the Lotus Clubhouse breathes in harmony with its terrain, preserving ecological continuity and biodiversity within a new urban development. Architecture dissolves into landscape, allowing nature to remain the project’s primary spatial identity.

Copper Villa by Jacobsen Studio | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa (Urban)

Situated on Jumeirah Bay Island in the Arabian Gulf, Copper Villa occupies a privileged position between the intensity of Dubai and the quieter atmosphere of a seaside retreat. Defined by materiality and spatial clarity over historicist language, the project reinterprets principles drawn from Brazilian residential architecture – openness, continuity and the tactile presence of materials – in dialogue with local traditions of shade, enclosure and filtered light.

Saha Casa Boutique Hotel by Ho Khue Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

Set in Da Nang’s tourist district – an area dominated by bland concrete and glass – the Saha Casa Boutique Hotel offers a considered alternative to its surroundings. Designed to shelter guests from the city’s noise and activity, the project creates a calm, restorative environment that optimises functional density without compromising on tranquillity or lasting architectural significance.

Terra House by Atelier Design N Domain LLP | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa – (Rural/Coastal)

Rooted in the landscape of Mallapuram, Terra House takes its cue from the horizon – where earth and sky exist in constant dialogue. Wind, light and monsoon air move freely through the structure, which listens to rather than imposes upon its setting. Spaces flow into one another through courts, thresholds and bridges, allowing joy, solitude and openness to coexist.

Techo International Airport by Foster + Partners | WAF Completed Buildings: Transport

Located 20 kilometres south of Phnom Penh’s city centre, Techo International Airport offers a new vision for Cambodia’s capital. The design draws on one of the world’s oldest civilisations, responding to vernacular forms and tropical climate, while a broader masterplan envisages a new airport city centred on a state-of-the-art terminal that sets new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability.

Zayed National Museum by Foster + Partners | WAF Completed Buildings: Culture

Located at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum traces the history of the UAE from its earliest human settlements to the civilisations that shaped its culture and identity. Rooted in the values of the nation’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the building’s form draws on the challenge of sustaining life in a desert environment while honouring the UAE’s rich cultural traditions.

Two Sheds by RTA Studio | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa – (Rural/Coastal)

Situated just below the crest of a hill with commanding views of the Remarkables, Kingston and Coronet Peak, this rural home draws on the vernacular sheep-shed architecture of the region. The programme is divided between two sheds – one housing the living spaces and primary bedroom, the other containing guest bedrooms, a family living area and garaging – with entry positioned between the two.

New Government Quarter by Nordic Office of Architecture with Haptic Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community

The New Government Quarter consolidates ministries, public institutions and everyday city life within an open yet secure civic landscape, giving physical form to the ambition of ‘more democracy, more openness, more humanity’. Five new buildings and two sensitively restored structures are arranged as a ring around a sequence of interconnected public spaces, stitching the quarter back into Oslo’s historic centre and transforming what was once a barrier-laden area into a walkable, human-scaled campus.

South African Firms on the 2026 Shortlist

Nine projects by South African practices have been shortlisted this year:

Klaff Family Sports Centre by Hubo Studio

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Sport

The Klaff Family Sports Centre at King David Linksfield reimagines the school sports facility as a complete educational complex: a place where performance, recovery, analysis, belonging and joy are designed as one continuous experience. The project’s power lies in its kindness. School sport can be intimidating, exclusionary and overly performance-driven. Here, the architecture deliberately softens that culture without diluting ambition. Colour, acoustics, material warmth and spatial openness are used to create an environment where students of all abilities feel invited to participate. | hubostudio.com

Kalahari Dunes Private Game Reserve by ARRCC

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure & WAF Interiors: Hotel

Conceptually, this primal and raw building starts with a simple rectangle. The main lodge incision creates the focal point for the entrance and overall connecting space. This also creates a separation between the private owner’s wing and the public accommodation to the north and west. The Main Lodge’s public functions sit over four bedrooms and support functions. Guest villas, grouped in three pairs of cottages, are arranged along the sand dune ‘chain’.

The interiors are defined by a restrained material and colour palette that draws directly from the Kalahari. Rust and honeyed tones reference the desert sands, complemented by copper, brass and weathering steels that deepen over time. Materials are selected as much for performance as for expression, with surfaces allowed to retain a degree of grit and patina rather than being overly refined or polished. | arrcc.com

The Sanctuary at Wilderness Mombo by Black Sable Designs and Artichoke Interior Design

Location: Botswana 

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

Situated in a remote location in the Okavango Delta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – with seasonal flooding, submerged access routes and bridges, sits Mombo’s spa – conceptualised as The Sanctuary. Employing local skills and labour, and responding to the strict laws governing construction in this extremely sensitive location, the buildings were unable to incorporate any form of permanent construction, such as concrete. Instead, the buildings use temporary construction methods, such as ground screws and roped timber foundations, so that they can be fully removed and the site restored if required.

The building is conceptualised as a series of deliberate thresholds that slowly prepare you for your spa treatment. From the outside, a dry, grassy and hot natural environment leads to a protected oasis and through to a central sanctuary. This sanctuary is low, slatted and surrounded by a series of intricate, organic, curved walls with water features at floor level and muted, dappled skylights overhead. blacksable.co.za | artichokeinteriordesign.com

The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate by Black Sable Designs and Artichoke Interior Design

Location: Rwanda 

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

In the remote forests of Eastern Rwanda sits Wilderness Bisate Sanctuary, a place where guests can relax and connect with themselves and others between the arduous treks to see the endangered mountain gorillas.

By utilising various types and lengths of thresholds between spaces, the preceding and succeeding spaces are given a place to exist independently, allowing guests the time to transition between them. The thresholds also serve as a counterpoint, being in direct opposition to what comes before and after, deeply emphasising each space. blacksable.co.za | artichokeinteriordesign.com

9Miles Learning Centre by SAOTA

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Future Project: Education

9Miles Learning Centre is conceived as a permanent community infrastructure for Strandfontein, a marginalised coastal settlement on Cape Town’s Cape Flats. Designed pro bono for 9Miles, an organisation committed to improving its crime- and drug-scourged community, the project establishes a safe, robust and resilient environment for youth development. It brings together education, mentorship and community engagement within a single architectural intervention, set against a context shaped by environmental fragility and historic exclusion.

A sheltered roof garden introduces a proactive space that enables hands-on learning while responding to wind exposure through built form. At ground level, an amphitheatre extends the building into the public realm, supporting events, dialogue and collective use. The space incorporates an illustration by Russell Abrahams, known as Yay Abe, a local multidisciplinary artist whose work captures the character of the community. | saota.com

Yardcom Office by SAOTA

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Future Project: Office

The project transcends traditional preservation by treating heritage as an active urban gene. Rather than a superficial makeover, the design uncovers the building’s historical stratification, allowing construction traces from different eras to coexist in a continuous, multi-layered dialogue.

A biophilic design approach maximises natural light, integrates natural elements and fosters a healthier and more connected spatial experience. Although the light well is relatively compact, it effectively enhances daylight penetration and contributes to a more comfortable, healthier and more supportive working environment throughout the office. | saota.com

Ivory Coast Embassy by GLH & Associates Architects 

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community  

Set among Pretoria’s mature jacaranda trees, the Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is a contemporary diplomatic landmark that expresses unity, identity and openness, rooted in West African cultural traditions. Its elliptical spiral form – a ribbon-like volume suggesting upward movement and continuity – lends the building a distinct civic and ceremonial presence. The fully glazed facade is wrapped in a sun-shading screen of laser-cut stainless steel panels, their diagonal bands and diamond-shaped openings inspired by traditional Ivorian fabrics and basketry, and carefully calibrated to solar orientation for generous daylight, long views and energy efficiency. | glh.co.za

The Gianni Ravazzotti Biodiversity Centre by Office 24-7 Architecture

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Interiors: Temporary/Meanwhile Uses  

Designed as an immersive journey through the region’s rich ecology, the Centre offers hands-on educational environments that promote active learning and foster a deeper connection between people, communities, and the natural world.

The exhibition features five themed spaces and nineteen subthemes, engaging learners from Grade 4 and aligning with South Africa’s Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, and Geography curriculum. Through tactile, multisensory exhibits and the integration of local vernacular, the Centre prioritizes inclusive participation and accessibility for both rural and private school groups.

Innovative design elements – including a life-size termite mound crafted from over 1,600 CNC-cut plywood components – highlight a unique approach that limits digital technology in favour of analogue activities, creating a vibrant, sensory learning experience.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Centre, with exhibition structures made from responsibly sourced birch and pine, minimizing environmental impact and supporting long-term resilience. | office24-7.co.za

Volley Roper by TANN Architecture

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Housing 

The Volley Roper student housing project creates a new aesthetic language to one of the main academic arteries in Pretoria – Volley Roper is home 155 students – framing the Brooklyn suburb in Pretoria en-route to the University of Pretoria main campus. The main waved facade interprets the spatial and material character of Brooklyn’s modernist architectural heritage within a contemporary student living scheme.

In the suburb, the 1960’s residential work of deceased architect John Claassens helped shape a distinctly local modernism – One of his houses flank Volley Roper to the south on the same site and the Claassens House was refurbished as social and study spaces to the student housing – a house which informed the nature of the new building’s facade.

The dynamic breeze-block screen wraps the building, giving it a distinct identity and creating a layered architectural expression responsive to light, privacy, and climate, with the main facade being west facing. Rooted in community, the Volley Roper building fosters a thriving student living environment that encourages connection, interaction, and a strong sense of belonging. | tannarchitecture.com

World Architecture Festival and Inside World Festival of Interiors will take place at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 18 – 20 November 2026. | worldarchitecturefestival.com

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PHOTOS Supplied

Tapping directly into the office design trends defining 2026, Belgotex’s new Terranova range introduces a touch of nature underfoot through texture, colour and materiality.

Conceived as a deliberate antidote to the clinical and corporate, the modular range speaks to a growing demand for tactile surfaces, nature-inspired tones and sustainable materials in office environments – creating zoned, layered and expressive interiors.

With its multi-high-low loop construction and tricolour SDN (Solution Dyed Nylon) yarn system, Terranova echoes the layered complexity of soil and embedded rock, resulting in a textured surface with depth and variation.

The palette consists of 25 nature-inspired colourways drawn from naturally occurring mineral pigments, offering a spectrum of earthy tones – from warm reds and ochres to muted greens and soft neutrals – that reflect the diversity and richness of the continent’s terrain.

Thanks to Terranova’s modular nature, its colourways work together to creatively delineate different zones within an office space:

• Willow Brook and Lake Blue, laid in a checkerboard pattern, create a high-impact, nature-forward first impression, making this pairing perfect for reception and arrival zones.
• The grounding hues of Goldstone and Stone Creek reference the warm mineral tones of sun-baked earth, making them a natural choice for collaborative zones and lounge areas.
• Lichen Mist and Blue Lustre, used as individual colourways, bring a calm, meditative quality to spaces designed for deep concentration.
• Together, Dusk Birch and Aged Bark create a sophisticated, quietly luxurious palette ideal for boardrooms and executive spaces.

With green building certification, reduced environmental footprint and circular design principles now central to how leading developers and interior designers specify products, the sustainably-minded tufted tile range is built to perform in the most demanding commercial environments. | belgotex.co.za

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