SA's top buildings

Presenting this year's winners of the South Africa Institute of Architecture's awards celebrating architectural excellence in the country.

//HAPO_ Freedom Park Museum, Tshwane: Office of Collaborative Architects (GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, Mashabane Rose + Associates and MMA Architects CC).

//Hapo (pronounced “Klapo” with a Khoisan click) is an interactive, interpretative exhibition space nestled in Freedom Park, a memorial site for those who gave their lives to the struggle, in Tshwane. The museum was a joint venture between GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, Mashabane Rose + Associates and MMA Architects. The copper-clad buildings resemble boulders that have tumbled down the hill.

Babylonstoren, situated in the Cape Winelands between Klapmuts and Simondium, is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. Malherbe Rust Architects restored the manor house, which dates back to 1777, as well as several other structures such as The Koornhuis (for storing wheat and hay) and the old cellar. New buildings, in a contemporary Cape vernacular, are integrated seamlessly into this hotel and wine farm.

UNISA Phase 2, Cape Town:MSa Michele Sandilands Architects

This project by Michele Sandilands Architects, a new wing at Unisa’s Parow campus, is designed on strict principles of sustainable architecture that include natural ventilation and lighting. Great care was taken to source all the materials locally and capture and reuse all the rainwater and grey water generated by the building.

New additions to St Cyprian’s Girls School, Cape Town: Noero Wolff Architects.

NoeroWolff Architects won for its sensitive additions and spatial interventions at the St Cyprian's Girls School in Cape Town. The historic landmark was originally designed by Frank Kendell and James Morris, associates of Sir Herbert Baker. The architects succeeded in establishing a new language of buildings instead of reverting to a pastiche imitation of the old buildings.

House Snyders, Blair Athol Estate, Johannesburg: W Design Architecture Studio CC.

For House Snyders in Blair Atholl Estate, Johannesburg, W Design Architecture Studio designed a structure that was in large part dictated by the natural setting on the Crocodile River.

Springfield Convent School pre-school campus, Cape Town: CCNI Architects.

CCNI Architects earned an Award of Excellence for its work on the Springfield Convent School pre-school campus in Cape Town.

House Kleynhans, Marble Hall, Pretoria: Thomas Gouws Architects & Interiors.

Thomas Gouws Architects & Interiors, known for its residential work, was awarded for Theodor and Thea Kleynhans' modern and earthy bushveld home in Marble Hall, Pretoria.

Dunkirk All Suites Hotel, KwaZulu-Natal: Designworkshop: SA, Architects.

Andrew Makin, principal of designworkshop:sa, rakes in an award for the Dunkirk All Suites Hotel in KwaZulu-Natal.

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Posted 2 Aug 14 By Design Indaba Architecture & Interiors Creative Work / Lookbook Comments

From the Series

Top 10 August 2014

Every two years, the Corobrik-SAIA Award for Excellence recognises exceptional contributions to the field of architecture.

The institute this year bestowed eight awards of excellence, 14 merit awards and two special commendations on projects ranging from residential units and public buildings to the restoration of heritage sites and even an academic research project.

“This year’s winners talked not only to materiality, programmatic requirements, the employment of resources and the application of socio-cultural debates," says SAIA president Sindile Ngonyama. “They also engaged and articulated the day-to-day intellectual and topical discourse of our ever-changing biophysical environment.”

The awards were presented at a gala dinner on 1 August, in Durban in the lead up to the International Union of Architects World Congress that takes place in the city from 3 to 7 August.

Look through our gallery above to see the eight winners of Awards of Excellence.