South African architecture and design firm SAOTA has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the prestigious ‘Future Projects – House’ category at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2024. The award recognizes their innovative Meru project, an unbuilt residential design that seamlessly blends sustainability, cultural heritage, and modern architecture.
A Global Celebration of Architectural Excellence
The World Architecture Festival, held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, is one of the most significant global events in the architectural community. This year’s edition, which brought together over 1,500 industry professionals, showcased groundbreaking projects from around the world over three days of dynamic discussions, exhibitions, and award ceremonies.
The festival’s award program celebrates visionary designs that challenge conventional boundaries, with winners selected by an esteemed international panel of over 140 judges from 68 countries. Prominent figures like Charu Kokate of Safdie Architects and Mario Cucinella of Mario Cucinella Architects were among the panelists.
Meru: Drawing Inspiration from Nature and Heritage
SAOTA’s winning design, Meru, is inspired by the majestic Meru Oak tree found in Kenya and traditional kraal architecture, specifically the boma—a fortified enclosure used in rural African settlements.
Led by Principal Architect Philippe Fouché, the design embraces sustainability by using locally sourced materials such as sundried bricks, coral stone, and hessian cladding. The project emphasizes passive cooling strategies to ensure comfort while creating a harmonious relationship with its environment. The layout centers around protective courtyards that offer panoramic views of the surrounding bushveld, reimagining traditional concepts in a contemporary context.
Fouché elaborated on the firm’s approach:
“We focused on harvesting local materials sustainably. The design applies passive cooling strategies to ensure comfort and viability, while the courtyards and living spaces create a seamless connection between nature and the built environment.”
SAOTA: A Global Leader in Architecture
With a presence on six continents, SAOTA is renowned for its innovative approach to architecture, combining cutting-edge design with meticulous project execution. Led by a dynamic team that includes Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, Greg Truen, Philippe Fouché, and others, the firm continues to shape the future of architecture by redefining global design standards.
A First for SAOTA at WAF
The win for Meru is a landmark achievement for SAOTA, marking their first official WAF award. In addition to Meru, the firm had other projects shortlisted, including Upper Albert in the Completed Buildings: Housing category and Kalahari Dunes, a collaboration with ARRCC in the Future Project: Leisure Led Development category.
Honoring Architectural Innovation
The WAF 2024 awards highlighted the diversity of global architectural innovation, with winners such as CONTEXTO and Klein Dytham Architecture also taking home honors. SAOTA’s recognition underscores their commitment to creating designs that are not only visually stunning but also environmentally and culturally responsive.
For more information on SAOTA and their projects, visit www.saota.com.
All text and images courtesy of SAOTA.
