PHOTOS Supplied

What began as a meeting between like-minded designers has evolved into a collaboration that brings a distinctly South African perspective to one of the world’s most influential design stages.

Cape Town-based studios SAOTA and OKHA, together with YARDCOM, a global leading supplier of outdoor furniture, have conceived an immersive spatial installation for Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026 that explores architecture, interiors, furniture, and landscape as a single integrated system. This marks the first time a South African architecture practise will be designing a pavilion at the prestigious showcase.

Designed by SAOTA principals Greg Truen and Dani Reimers, with team members Lu Ke and Zander Deysel, the pavilion draws on the culture of outdoor living that characterises many South African homes, presenting a spatial experience that prioritises movement, proportion, and atmosphere.

“Rooted in the ideas behind SAOTA’s Kloof House, the pavilion expresses the belief that architecture should operate as an open system rather than a closed object. Layered, interconnected spaces create a dialogue between people, building, and landscape, deepening the connection to place,” says Greg Truen.

For the pavilion, OKHA has developed a bespoke furniture collection for YARDCOM titled ‘Forma Lenta‘. Developed through OKHA’s Design Under License model, the collection brings the studio’s architectural design language into an outdoor context.

The collection includes sofas, armchairs, daybeds, and tables, conceived to move seamlessly between interior and exterior environments.

Defined by grounded forms and a quiet material refinement, ‘Forma Lenta’ establishes a measured dialogue with the architecture and reinforces the pavilion’s emphasis on cohesion and restraint. “The pavilion allows the furniture to be experienced in relation to space, light and movement, rather than as isolated pieces,” says OKHAs creative director Adam Court.

A defining feature of the collection is its use of bronze-finished, gunmetal, and soft-gold aluminium, an uncommon choice in outdoor furniture. “It allowed the work to move beyond a purely performance-driven expression,” explains Adam. Combined with refined etched surface treatments, the material introduces depth, patina, and a subtle interaction. “The etched finish softens the surface and changes how it interacts with light, so the pieces shift subtly over time. That introduces a sense of duration – something closer to architecture or even artefact than conventional outdoor furniture,” he adds.

For those heading to Milan for Salone del Mobile.Milano, you’ll find the collaborative pavilion in Hall 18 from 21–26 April 2026. saota.com | okha.com | yardcom.net

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of SAOTA

Designed by SAOTA with interiors by Claude Missir, Lagoon Villa reflects the client’s vision of living in closer connection with the lagoon and surrounding landscape.

In response to West Africa’s tropical climate, SAOTA has crafted transitional spaces that offer both protection from and engagement with the elements. The design fosters natural ventilation, minimising reliance on artificial cooling, while the strategic use of natural light enhances the warmth and ambience of the living spaces. The architecture incorporates tiered courtyards, substantial overhangs providing ample shade, and broad sliding doors creating a gentle transition between indoors and out.

Among Lagoon Villa’s most distinctive features is its permeable roof, formed by concrete beams and skylights that admit daylight, evoking the dappled effect of sunlight through leaves. This openness is carefully balanced with cooler, shaded interiors that offer a respite from the tropical heat while maintaining a connection with the outdoors.

Interior designer Claude Missir, who curated the interiors, has infused the home with refined practicality and a distinctive soulfulness. “The indoor colours were taken from the surrounding landscape, so it feels as if the inside and outside merged in a natural way,” says Claude. There is a synergistic dialogue between the architecture and interior design; as a result, the residence feels cohesive, with every element and detail working together. “When you open yourself to new challenges and ideas, daring colours, forms and materials, the outcome will often surprise you,” he adds.

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WORDS Gina Dionisio RENDERS Courtesy of SAOTA

While the annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) is best known for celebrating outstanding architectural and interior projects from across the globe, numerous talks, workshops and presentations also take place throughout the awards week.

One of these was delivered by SAOTA’s Senior Associate and Architectural Designer, Kerian Robertson, who presented Commune – a project that illustrates how design-led strategies can shape cities that are sustainable, connected, and socially vibrant.

Commissioned by the South African Design Indaba, Commune, which was shortlisted in the Future Projects – Civic category, is a transformative intervention in Cape Town’s CBD. The project reclaims a neglected urban site and introduces Africa’s first publicly accessible cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure, crafted from locally sourced invasive eucalyptus. This pioneering approach sets a benchmark for sustainable, low-impact construction while activating the city’s core as a vibrant hub for the creative industry, cultural production, and inclusive economic opportunity.

“Commune is rooted in the city’s broader urban strategy to strengthen pedestrian connections between key public institutions while attracting a diverse audience of locals and visitors,” says Kerian.

The design features layered, adaptable spaces that foster interaction and entrepreneurship. Elevated platforms create dynamic areas for commerce, performance, and social exchange, while sheltered spaces below offer subsidised opportunities for emerging designers, artisans, and food vendors, supporting small-scale creators who might otherwise struggle to gain visibility. saota.com | worldarchitecturefestival.com

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The World Architecture Festival has revealed its 2024 shortlist of innovative buildings from around the world, including five South African projects.

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) revealed its shortlist of over 480 projects up for awards in 2024.

This year’s finalists represent 71 countries, with the top five shortlisted countries including China, Australia, United Kingdom, India and Singapore. The finalists range from major world architects, including Zaha Hadid Architects, WOHA, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, MVRDV, Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, Kohn Pederson Fox and Nikken Sekkei, with many emerging practices also on stage competing against the big names.

Five South African projects have been shortlisted this year:

• Savage + Dodd Architects have been shortlisted in the WAF Completed Buildings: Creative Re-use category for the University of the Witwatersrand Flower Hall Test & Examination Centre.
• SAOTA has been shortlisted in the WAF Completed Buildings: Housing category for their Upper Albert project. SAOTA have had numerous projects shortlisted over the years, including their pink Buffelsdrift Farm House.
• GASS Architecture Studios has been shortlisted in the WAF Completed Buildings: School category for Green School South Africa (which VISI featured in 2022).
• ARRCC and SAOTA are shortlisted in the WAF Future Project: Leisure Led Development category for Kalahari Dunes.
• Boogertman + Partners are shortlisted in the WAF Future Project: Residential category for #Oxford Hive.

Below, in no particular order, are 20 outstanding international projects up for awards this year.

Rhodes House Transformation by Stanton Williams

WAF Completed Buildings: Retrofit

Designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1929, Rhodes House is located on South Parks Road in central Oxford. The transformation of the building required significant interventions and major structural alterations to open up the existing building to enable the creation of a new 300-seat Conference Hall, Foyer spaces and offices, all invisibly integrated into Rhodes House, along with 21 bedrooms in the old East Wing and new residential accommodation in the East Gardens. A new glass pavilion sits within the West Gardens above new lower-ground Office spaces.

Preston Level Crossing Removal Project by Wood Marsh Architecture

WAF Completed Buildings: Transport

Bell Station’s façade references the heritage-listed housing stock surrounding the site. The City of Darebin’s roofscape was abstracted into a three-dimensional façade pattern. Within this façade, windows filter coloured light into the double-height concourse space. These colours are drawn from the neighbouring Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre and reduce the need for artificial light in the concourse. Bell Station’s development includes the design of a public amphitheatre doubling as a flood basin. The dual-purpose space, adjacent to the Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre, allows the existing community asset to extend into the station development. Preston Station’s design reflects the influence of the neighbouring Preston Market. The façade was designed as an array of black vertical folds, resembling a barcode used by market vendors. These folds were filled with vivid colours drawn from the produce at Preston Market to extend the vibrancy of the market into the station. This extends into the station’s interior; the cladding continues into the concourse and the windows filter coloured light into this space.

Natural Connection: OLM Nature Escape Eco Aparthotel by Andreas Gruber Architects

WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel & Leisure

OLM Nature Escape is a 4-star superior Eco Aparthotel in South Tyrol, Italy, designed by Andreas Gruber Architects. Inspired by the cyclical nature of life, its circular design and use of sustainable materials symbolise continuity and harmony with the environment. This unique resort is the first completely autonomous tourist destination in the Alps, featuring photovoltaic panels, geothermal and hydroelectric power, and an artesian well for CO2-neutral operation.

National Star Observatory by Kyriakos Tsolakis Architects

WAF Completed Buildings: Civic & Community

Built in the mountains of Cyprus, this project is the first purpose-built observatory in the country. Designed to blend seamlessly into nature, its external surface aims to bring focus to the purpose of the building, which is to look out to the stars. To that effect, it almost blends seamlessly with the surrounding skies. Internally, the architects opted for a palette of natural materials such as timber, stone, and granite.

Sanctuary Pet Crematorium by Formwerkz Architects

WAF Completed Buildings: Civic & Community

Utilizing the spacious site and current buildings, a multi-level procession starts at the entrance hall. The building has been designed with the mourners in mind so that they walk through a peaceful linear garden that leads to the Service Hall. A formal structural symmetry along this path highlights the gravity of the ceremony, preparing individuals for the ultimate farewell.

Seddülbahir Fortress by KOOP Architects / AOMTD (Arzu Ozsavasci Architecture)

WAF Completed Buildings: Culture

The Seddülbahir Fortress is located at the southern entrance to the Dardanelles on the European shore of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Initially built in the mid-17th century by Hatice Turhan Sultan, the mother of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet IV, Seddülbahir, or “the Wall of the Sea,” protected the strategic waterway that connected the Aegean Sea to Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire’s capital.

A guiding concept in the restoration process at the Seddülbahir Fortress was to preserve the memory of the destruction of WWI and create a space to reflect on peace. Several elements of the fortress, such as the West and South Towers, are preserved as ruins and serve as “lieux de mémoire” of the toll that war has on buildings and their landscapes. The Main Gate of Seddülbahir Fortress and other demolished sections of the fortress, such as the Domed Building, with their silhouettes of light timber, suggest but do not declare what these sections of the fortress may have looked like originally. The slatted wood frame of the Main Gate allows sunlight and air, essential elements of life, to permeate the entrance to the fortress. Contemporary wood elements in the fortress are used sparingly, echoing the construction techniques used by the Ottomans.

Shanghai Blue Bay Kindergarten by EAST CHINA ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD | STUDIO DINGSHUN

WAF Completed Buildings: School

By embracing a layered, orderly, and diverse village-like layout, the design addresses sunlight and functional challenges in high-density urban areas. The volume units staggeringly advance and retreat, forming a staggered urban interface and a multi-directional transparent space view corridor. The courtyard is integrated and symbiotic with the architecture. This layout maximises natural light, greenery, and breezes, providing children with abundant opportunities to connect with nature, interact with peers, and explore endless possibilities. This design provides diverse visual experiences in upper and lower spaces. The kindergarten includes six themed courtyards, offering dispersed and varied activity areas for a large number of children. These courtyards facilitate various outdoor teaching activities. Large, centralised courtyards on the north and south sides are designated for public activities. Extensive ground greening enhances the microclimate and strengthens ecological functions.

Shenzhen Women & Children’s Center by MVRDV

WAF Completed Buildings: Retrofit

The Shenzhen Women & Children’s Center transforms an old mixed-use tower into a vibrant and colourful skyscraper hosting a hotel and a wide range of facilities for the welfare of women and children: a library, an auditorium, a children’s theatre and “discovery hall”, as well as therapy rooms and offices for staff. MVRDV designed a comprehensive transformation that would allow the building’s structure to be reused – a far more sustainable approach than demolishing and rebuilding. The most visible element of this transformation is the new façade: a grid of multi-coloured exterior frames increases the depth of the façade to a full metre. These frames provide extra shading to reduce thermal heat gain and incorporate openable panels on the inside that allow for natural ventilation – thus increasing occupants’ comfort and reducing the building’s reliance on air conditioning.

Architectural Design Of Liangzi Island Off-island Pier, Rational and Emotional by UAO Design

WAF Completed Buildings: Transport

The island’s new visitor centre, designed to symbolise “going home,” features a central raised structure flanked by waiting greenhouses. Its most striking element is a tent-like canopy with a circular glass skylight that introduces natural light to the entrances. The design includes 3-meter oblique columns and silver-grey roofing, custom-sized to fit the modular design.

Atlantis The Royal by Kohn Pedersen Fox

WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

Atlantis The Royal rethinks the conventional iconic sculptural tower (typical of Dubai), focusing instead on indoor-outdoor living in a vertical city. This results in a 500-metre-long, 178-metre-tall mega-structure, operating as a screen permeable to people, light, and air. The building takes the form of a stack of individual blocks. Each block offers a bespoke private experience, resulting in a more intimate setting for each visitor, despite the building’s size. The design innovation is the creation of sky courts and terrace spaces between the shifting blocks. These gaps serve as naturally ventilated and shaded outdoor courts.

Kalyon Karapınar 1.350 MWp SPP – Central Control Building by Bilgin Architects

WAF Completed Buildings: Production energy and Logistics

The building is located in Karapınar/Konya, the only region in Turkey with a desert climate. A 20-square-kilometre area in this region, which has become unsuitable for agriculture but holds significant energy potential due to its desert climate, is designated as an energy specialisation area. The facades of the building are designed not only as an architectural element but also as a part of the earth and even the sky. Thanks to the high reflectance levels of the facades, the building becomes integrated with the geography it inhabits. The silhouette on the horizon continues on the facades. While ensuring meticulous energy usage, the facade design also serves as a significant part of the building’s identity. The facade, consisting of two layers, is designed to minimise the radiation falling on the main facade. This secondary facade, which prevents high heat exposures for most of the year, is formed by 7,200 stainless steel panels at four different transparency levels.

Lighthouse by 3XN

WAF Completed Buildings: Housing

Lighthouse is a residential-led, mixed-use development situated at the tip of Aarhus Ø. Openness, safety, and diversity characterise the development, which combines a high-rise structure with a group of mid-rise buildings designed to foster community and interaction. The challenge for the design team was to create an elegant structure that would perpetuate Aarhus’ tradition of progressive architecture while also providing an outstanding user experience. Detailed geometry studies were undertaken to create a tower with an elegant, slim profile when viewed from both the city and the water. The resulting design creates a slender silhouette and gives the appearance of having neither front nor back, addressing the view from all angles. Inspired by patterns and reflections of water, the unique façade adds visual interest and texture. Furthermore, it helps unify the numerous buildings within the development with a common architectural language and materiality.

6×18 Slender House by Spaces Architects@KA

WAF Completed Buildings: House & Villa (Urban/Suburban)

Slender House is a private residential project designed for a family of five, nestled within a small and slender site measuring 6 meters by 18 meters. The core concept driving Slender House was to punctuate the house with staggered cut-outs and strategically placed skylights. Despite the modest footprint, these design elements breathe life into the home, infusing it with light, air, and a sense of openness. The architects embraced the idea of sacrificing total floor area to create a space that resonated deeply with the client’s lifestyle.

Sponge Synergy: The Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park by Turenscape

WAF Landscape

The Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park project harnesses the natural topology of the area to engineer a water-resilient landscape. Utilising the concept of a sponge city, the project aims to alleviate flooding risks in the ancient city and purify contaminated waters. Crater-shaped islands emerge as multifunctional spaces, serving the community’s diverse needs while drawing inspiration from ancient Chinese cosmological symbols and the Eight Trigrams. These elements form a unique pattern language throughout the park, blending ecological sustainability with rich cultural narratives and social engagement.

Sunita Shekhawat Flagship Store and Gallery by Studio Lotus

WAF Completed Buildings: Shopping

The art of Meenakari, or enamel work, is an age-old technique renowned for its vibrant and intricate designs on metal surfaces. This 16th-century art is the foundation for the work of well-known Indian jewellery designer Sunita Shekhawat. Her eponymous brand lends a fresh spin to the age-old tradition with timeless yet contemporary jewellery. The design for the brand’s Flagship Store and Museum of Meenakari in Jaipur pays homage to this approach, a nod to the region’s vibrant cultural heritage amidst a fast-evolving cosmopolitan landscape.

TAWA Refugio by CONTEXTO

WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

At the intersection of the Puelo River and Tagua Tagua Lake lies TAWA, a hotel for travellers seeking to enter a valley of steep mountains and ancient trees. The territory inspires its shape and site: a shelter that takes the shape of an A-frame house, opening the views to the highest hills in search of light and closing the lateral roof slopes to protect itself from the cold and rainy winds that enter through the valley and from the lake. In an effort to conserve resources, reduce waste and emissions and enhance local knowledge, all the volumes were built in wood, combining traditional construction techniques and mechanised assemblies, raw and laminated timber, exposed structures and cladding. An epic work conceived in times of pandemic and executed by 4 skilled carpenters. A more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable alternative.

Texoversum by allmannwappner, Menges Scheffler Architekten, Jan Knippers Ingenieure

WAF Completed Buildings: Higher Education and Research

The Texoversum, a centre for cross-cutting textile technologies, was created as part of the Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences’ campus expansion plan. Textile construction is the theme of the design both in function, with a weaving of different disciplines and activities on the interior, and in form, with the representational woven exterior that makes the building so distinct. The first building of its kind with a façade of woven carbon and glass fibre tiles, the building stands as a symbol of the future potential of innovative fibre-based materials and textile techniques.

The Chodge by DCA Architects of Transformation

WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa – (Rural/Coastal)

The Chodge is a family vacation home located at Waipamu Station in South Waikato, New Zealand. The station is on the banks of Lake Whakamaru with 360 views over the unique landscape. The design is an exploration of the interstitial space between inside and outside, how you live when on holiday, the relationship with landscape and the connection to a rural vernacular. The outer structure cladding is weathertight and light-emitting. A translucent skin on the interior of the outer structure contributes to the control of heat gain and heat loss. Inside this outer shell is an extruded wooden container for living functions, designed to Passive Haus principles, super-insulated, airtight with heat/cool recovery heating system.

Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks by line+ studio

WAF Completed Buildings: Transport

Situated amidst the natural mountainous landscape of the Xiayanbei Scenic Area in Southeastern China, the passageway serves as both an entry point to the scenic area and a pivotal element in landscape restoration. Its inception stems from the necessity to seamlessly integrate the surrounding environment with human interaction, catering to the needs of visitors while preserving the ecological integrity of the site. The selection of its location, situated on a small hill at the village bend, the passage bridges a split in the hill caused by earlier road construction, addressing potential landslide risks while serving as foundational infrastructure to restore ecological integrity.

Xiangyang National Sports Center Project by Central-south Architectural Design Institute

WAF Completed Buildings: Sport

Located in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, this project has a total cover area of about 138800 square meters and consists of three parts: a stadium, a national fitness centre, and sports-supporting buildings. The construction area of the stadium is about 40.000 square meters, with 30.000 seats. The design emphasises natural ventilation and lighting, using light guide tube technology to introduce natural light into the stadium, improving the problem of insufficient lighting in the venue and reducing artificial lighting. The roof of the sports supporting part adopts a planting roof, which is insulated and helps with rainwater collection and recycling. The indoor fitness centre intelligently links carbon dioxide monitoring with fresh air to pay attention to the physical and mental health of users.

World Architecture Festival and Inside World Festival of Interiors will take place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on 6 – 8 November 2024. | worldarchitecturefestival.com

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Local leading surfacing brand Caesarstone has announced the winners of the Caesarstone Student Design Competition 2022.

The brief, conceptualised by award-winning architect Mokena Makeka was “From Ashes, We Rise”, pushing the boundaries of the entrants to think outside the box and get creative with their designs. The concept revolved around the rethinking and rebuilding of the home of South African Democracy, the National Assembly. “The National Assembly is where democracy can thrive and there’s an avenue for change to happen,” says Megan Noel, Head of Marketing at Caesarstone.

Through the brief, entrants were asked to be bold in their designs and re-imagine a new National Assembly in its entirety. Entries needed to reflect the traditions and symbolism of South Africa’s heritage – while showing off their unique design aesthetics and talents.

An impressive judging panel included names like Stefan Antoni of SAOTA, Dorothy van’t Riet of Dorothy van’t Riet Design & Décor Consultants, Juliet Kavishe of IID, Jonathan Anstey of Anstey Architects, and Michele Rhoda of ARRCC.

First Place & Best Presentation Award:

The first-place prize for the 2022 SDC was awarded to Wian van der Merwe. His lecturers are Jaco Landman and Nica Maree at BHC School of Design. Stefan Antoni of SAOTA had this to say about the winning entry: “Overall the graphic is just so clear, and so engaging that you’re drawn to it. You can feel the spaces and magic inside – that’s why it was such a clear winner.”

Second Place:

Anine Naudé’s outstanding entry boasted a powerful narrative implemented throughout the presentation. “The space was used really well, and we all thought that this is something that’s extremely buildable,” says Michele Rhoda of ARRCC. Her lecturer is Gené Keet at CAD4ALL Institute of Applied Architecture who helped her develop the presentation into a worthy second-place spot. 

Third Place:

Nielle Crafford’s magnificent entry was selected by the judges because it really summed up the ‘rise from ashes’ theme. “To take something quite disastrous that happened, but then to celebrate it in a beautiful way in the idea of the protea is wonderful,” says Jonathan Anstey of Anstey Architects. Her lecturers are the multi-talented Jaco Landman and Nica Maree from the BHC School of Design.

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Local architecture firm SAOTA has built a brand new home in the Los Angeles Hollywood Hills called Bellgrave House, that pays homage to the iconic Mid-century style of the region.

Towering over the well-known Laurel Canyon Boulevard, uninterrupted views and vistas travel as far as Santa Monica. Drawing influence from Pierre Koenig’s famous Stahl House (known as Case Study House No. 22), it can be spotted from the views of the new rendition.

Using the precedent of Stahl House and other inspiring examples, SAOTA embraced the notion of indoor/outdoor living – appropriate to the climate and lifestyles of the people in the suburb.

READ MORE: SAOTA’s WAF 2022 Shortlisted Projects

Perched on pillars on a raised platform, the home was elevated for maximum views, projecting outward over the edge of a cliff. In the main lounge, as another ode to Stahl House, Bellgrave is built within a glass box at the front of the house, with a long infinity pool extending beneath the architecture. This creates a feeling of magically floating, with the edge of the rim-flow pool lining up with the horizon of the Pacific Ocean.

The grid of the city guides the angles and lines of the house, connecting it with the landscape below while having an adequate level of elevation and privacy. Careful consideration was taken in creating an indoor/outdoor experience, through the use of landscaping, focal points and a variety of outdoor areas for al fresco dining, relaxation and entertaining.

READ MORE: Contemporary Cape Town Family Home Designed by SAOTA

On arrival, you are greeted with curved arched walls immediately providing a sense of “occasion” for the home beyond. Inside the bedrooms and private spaces offer sweeping views but are contained enough to counteract the vast city below, for a feeling of intimacy and cosiness.

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Three projects by local architecture and design studio SAOTA – Buffelsdrift, in Ladismith, South Africa; Starlight in Arizona, USA and project One in Dakar, Senegal – have been shortlisted as finalists for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2022.

In the Completed Building – Old & New category, Buffelsdrift is a working farm that entails restored Cape heritage buildings; a main house, two barns and a wine store converted into a guest dwelling. It’s a collaborative project between SAOTA and Jaco Booyens Architect, a specialist in clay buildings. The brief sought to honour the site’s architectural history; simple, well-proportioned spaces, a profound connection to place, simple use of materials and a building suited to its climate.

Shortlisted in the Future Projects – House category is Starlight – a desert oasis that appears a mirage emanating out of the Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Inspired by the geology of the desert landscape and the rolling erosion that characterises the surrounding topography, Starlight is a dialogue between sculptural forms. Rammed earth walls slide out of the mountain and the strong cantilevering horizontal planes echo the structural heroics of the rock formations. The heart of the space looks across the paradise valley basin and back towards the mountain across a courtyard carved into the rocky embankment. 

READ MORE: World Architecture Festival 2022 Shortlist

A finalist in the Future Projects – Residential category, project One is sleek, angular, futuristic – a luxury residential apartment building situated along the coastal line of Dakar. Its dusty site is lined with statement dark granite – the start of stories in stone. SAOTA notes One’s design methodology as comparable to metamorphism – the process precious stone undergoes during its lifetime.

WAF 2022 will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from 30 November to 2 December 2022. See more outstanding examples of projects from the Completed Buildings category here.

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Carved into the western slopes of Lion’s Head, this tiered hideaway – Kloof 145 – takes its cues from the indigenous trees and fynbos that once covered the landscape.

Five levels. Authentic materials. A clear design narrative. This sleek yet organic residence in Kloof Road, Clifton, makes a dramatic statement.

From the gabion-walled ground-level exterior that mimics the mountainside strata from which it emerges to the fold-away glass doors, skylights and pale timber used in the uppermost level, each floor of Kloof 145 tells a convincing story of natural progression. Most notably, a vertically slatted box hovers over the middle terrace, with space for the forest bushwillows from the second tier to grow. These lightweight aluminium screens, which can open and close, filter the amount of natural light entering the interiors.

“The idea was to architecturally express the varying relationships to the site and the greater context of mountain, sea and sky,” says lead architect Phillippe Fouche of SAOTA. Cécile & Boyd did the interior design, led by partner and designer Paul van den Berg, who focused on organic interior furnishings and finishes to reinforce the unfolding experience of natural elements that the house affords.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at this modern Pretoria home.

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Shortlisted for a WAF 2021 Award and inspired by the architectural typology of hut and kraal making and fractal structures of vernacular African architecture, SAOTA‘s La Reserve is a concept design of a hotel resort in Dakar, Senegal that makes poetry of the relationship between human and land.

Comprised of a series of smaller buildings in earthen attire – rammed earth walls and earth berms made using compacted clay-rich soil from the site, La Reserve sprouts between a meandering of existing baobab trees. As is custom in Senegalese culture, the hotel resort’s central gathering place is around the largest baobab.

Towering earth berms further marry structure with site, creating serpentine forms that both hold and hide dwellings from view to allow uninhibited scenes of the natural surrounds. The tall berms stretch into the sky to create thermal chimneys and naturally ventilated walkways, allowing cascading light to pool below while functioning as barriers to sight and sound.

Traditional methods of enclosing circular spaces, as seen in kraal and hut making, are contemporarily reimagined to result in a main building comprised of circles within circles. Fractal forms continue in the club stage and boma screen which feature traditional weaving methods, requiring intricate curved works to be crafted by local artisans.

Love La Reserve? Check out SAOTA’s first completed project in Bali for more architectural inspiration.

h/t: designboom.com

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Set upon an island in the Moskva River, SAOTA‘s Silver Pine in partnership with ARRCC, Max Kasymov and OKHA is a modernist force that reinterprets Moscow’s architectural character to deliver a bold façade and a warm, luxuriant interior reminiscent of the way the outer shell of a geode reveals shimmering agate within.

Located in Moscow, Russia, the villa’s design centres its rare position amidst a pocket of natural pine forest near the capital’s historic centre. The result is a mediated dialogue between both settings; a design centred around spaces from which to savour the changing seasons in comfort, however harsh they become, and an architectural premise of contrasts.

Outside, the street’s silver-grey cladding frontage speaks to Moscow’s defined architectural character – built to resist extremes of heat and cold. It features a sculptural buckle: a backlit bronze-clad façade that connotes the promise of luxury beyond the threshold.

Inside, interiors by ARRCC and Max Kasymov see choices of exotic marbles, metal and timber contrast exteriors with playfulness, softness and warmth, while continuing the exterior conversation through details like the television’s arresting metallic frame by OKHA. Other ogle-worthy OKHA pieces include the Nicci Swivel armchair, Mesh side table and the To Be One Lamp in the living area.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? See SAOTA’s unique take on a lakeside retreat in Canada, here.

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