The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced its 2025 Special Prize winners, with South African architecture firm Hubo Studio among the celebrated recipients. Hubo Studio’s Redhill Early Learning Centre, located in Midrand, South Africa, was awarded the coveted prize for Best Use of Natural Light, a recognition that highlights the project’s innovative and thoughtful approach to daylighting. This accolade comes during a challenging period for South Africa, where severe load-shedding has made the intelligent use of natural light a critical design consideration. The Redhill Early Learning Centre’s design integrates natural light in ways that ensure functionality, enhance atmosphere, and evoke emotional warmth for its young users. The design team approached natural light through three lenses: as a functional necessity, a material that shapes space, and an emotive element that creates feelings of safety and joy. This approach aligns closely with the centre’s educational philosophy inspired by Reggio Emilia, emphasizing child-led learning through exploration and creativity.
The Redhill Early Learning Centre caters to children aged three to seven and is designed as a flexible, vibrant environment that fosters collaboration, play, and expressive learning. It features adaptable studios, atelier spaces for creative work, a central piazza for gathering, and seamless outdoor learning landscapes. The design was realized in close partnership with Redhill School’s children, educators, and leadership, including input from Joseph Gerassi and Sue Pilkington-Williams, ensuring that the built environment reflects the community’s needs and aspirations. Hubo Studio’s design philosophy emphasizes human-centred, sustainable architecture that nurtures both the mind and body. The centre’s light-filled interiors provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, encouraging young learners to engage actively with their surroundings.
Hubo Studio, based in Noordwyk, Midrand, has been gaining recognition for its innovative contributions to South African architecture. Winning the Best Use of Natural Light at the 2025 WAF places the studio firmly on the global stage. The World Architecture Festival is one of the most prestigious platforms celebrating architectural excellence worldwide, making this award a significant achievement. Hubo Studio was shortlisted for two categories at the festival this year, reflecting its strong presence and impact in the architectural community. This accolade confirms the studio’s reputation as a leader in integrating sustainable and human-centred design principles. The award ceremony took place at a gala event in Miami, underscoring the international scope of the recognition.
The success of the Redhill Early Learning Centre is part of a broader wave of achievements for Hubo Studio in 2025. Founder Asher Marcus received the National Arts & Culture Award (NACA) for Architecture, which celebrates his dedication to educational architecture and his influence on the South African design landscape. Marcus’s work consistently prioritizes the creation of safe, nurturing environments that support childhood development and learning. This commitment is evident in the Redhill project and many of the studio’s other endeavors. The NACA recognition marks a milestone that acknowledges both leadership and innovation in the arts and architectural fields.
In addition to WAF and NACA, Hubo Studio’s Redhill Early Learning Centre was honoured as Educational Build of the Year at the SCAPE Awards, a key accolade recognizing excellence in South African architecture and construction. This award further validates the project’s outstanding quality and innovative approach to educational environments. The studio also earned a High Commendation for Architecture Firm of the Year at SCAPE, highlighting its rising prominence and expanding portfolio. These recognitions collectively illustrate the studio’s commitment to design that is both innovative and deeply responsive to user needs. Hubo Studio’s work balances aesthetic refinement with practical considerations such as sustainability and community engagement.
The Redhill Early Learning Centre exemplifies how architectural design can respond to local challenges while enhancing educational experiences. South Africa’s ongoing energy shortages necessitated a design that reduces dependence on artificial lighting and embraces natural illumination as a core strategy. Hubo Studio’s innovative daylighting design ensures that learning can continue uninterrupted during power outages, providing consistent light quality throughout the day. Large windows, carefully placed openings, and reflective surfaces work in harmony to maximize daylight penetration while controlling glare and heat. This intelligent design approach not only conserves energy but also creates a dynamic interior environment that changes with the sun’s movement, stimulating young learners’ senses.
Hubo Studio’s architectural approach embraces natural light not just as a tool but as a design material that shapes texture, shadow, and spatial experience. The Redhill Early Learning Centre uses light to define activity zones, accentuate architectural features, and modulate mood. Skylights and clerestory windows introduce layered light that animates spaces and fosters a connection to the natural world outside. This nuanced use of daylight elevates the centre’s learning environment beyond mere functionality into an inspiring setting for discovery and creativity. The project also demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can evoke emotional responses—light here conveys warmth, security, and joy, all critical for young children’s development.
The collaboration with Redhill School stakeholders was vital in refining the centre’s design to meet educational and community needs. The involvement of children and educators throughout the design process ensured that spaces support diverse learning styles and activities. Flexible studios and ateliers accommodate group work, individual focus, and hands-on exploration, encouraging varied modes of engagement. The central piazza acts as a social hub, encouraging collaboration and interaction among learners. Outdoor learning landscapes extend the educational environment beyond the building, blending nature with pedagogy in a seamless manner. This holistic approach aligns with Reggio Emilia principles, emphasizing exploration and interaction with the environment.
Hubo Studio’s success at WAF and other awards reflects a growing global interest in architecture that responds meaningfully to local contexts and societal challenges. The firm’s emphasis on sustainability, community participation, and education-focused design resonates strongly with contemporary architectural discourse. South Africa’s unique socio-environmental context demands innovative solutions, and Hubo Studio’s work exemplifies how architecture can meet these demands creatively and compassionately. Their projects set new benchmarks for educational spaces in the region and serve as inspiration for architects worldwide. The firm’s reputation is solidifying as one of the most influential voices in the African architectural landscape today.
Looking ahead, Hubo Studio continues to expand its portfolio with a focus on projects that blend environmental responsibility and social impact. The firm is exploring new methodologies for integrating natural elements and daylight in diverse building typologies. This ongoing commitment to innovation ensures that their future work will continue to address pressing challenges such as climate change, resource efficiency, and community wellbeing. Hubo Studio’s leadership in these areas positions them as a key contributor to the evolution of contemporary African architecture. Their ability to blend beauty, functionality, and sustainability remains central to their design ethos.
In summary, Hubo Studio’s achievement at the 2025 World Architecture Festival is a testament to their visionary approach to architecture. The Redhill Early Learning Centre stands out as a landmark project that combines innovative use of natural light, community collaboration, and educational excellence. The multiple awards and recognitions received by the studio in 2025 reflect their leadership in shaping South Africa’s architectural future. Their work underscores the importance of designing spaces that nurture, inspire, and adapt to local realities. As Hubo Studio continues to grow and influence, their projects will likely set new standards for educational and sustainable architecture on the continent and beyond.
Hubo Studio’s journey illustrates the power of thoughtful design to transform communities and educational experiences through architecture. By addressing both functional needs and emotional wellbeing through light and space, the studio creates environments where children can thrive. This holistic design philosophy challenges architects everywhere to consider the broader impacts of their work. As the global architecture community celebrates Hubo Studio’s achievements, the Redhill Early Learning Centre will remain a shining example of excellence in natural light design and human-centred architecture. With continued innovation and commitment, Hubo Studio is poised to inspire future generations of architects and learners alike.
