South African architecture, buildings designs

South African Architecture Designs: Buildings

Key Contemporary Architectural Developments. Modern property design news.

post updated 21 September 2026

South Africa Architecture Links

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South Africa architecture designs, Buildings architects news, Modern property pictures

7 June 2025
Pepsico office Johannesburg
Architects: JLL Design

photo : Graeme Wyllie

16 January 2025
Winelands Villa, Cape Town
Design: ARRCC and SAOTA

photo : Adam Letch

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Here at e-architect we choose the best examples of South African Architecture.

Our property resource features completed buildings, new building designs and architecture competitions across South Africa. The focus is on contemporary South Africa buildings.

14 December 2024
Planted Pavilion, Constantia, Cape Town
Design: Malan Vorster Architecture

photo : Elsa Young

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South African Building Designs

Contemporary Architecture Designs – latest additions to this page, arranged chronologically:

2013:

25 Jul 2013
Kloof 151, Clifton, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects

photo : SAOTA
The client’s brief was for a family home with a guest and a ‘work-from-home’ wing spread over two levels. The home was not only to enjoy the dramatic views of the Clifton beaches, but also to engage with the natural fynbos on the slopes of Lion’s Head to the North.

12 Jul 2013
Clifton Beach Apartment, Cape Town
Design: ANTONI ASSOCIATES Architects

photo : Adam Letch
This waterfront project combines elegance, luxury and sophistication in a beach front property located along one of the pristine beaches of Cape Town. The Client’s brief was to renovate a ground floor double level apartment in a newly constructed luxury complex.

7 May 2013
De Wet 34, Cape Town, South Africa
Design: SAOTA

photo : Adam Letch
The site is positioned in the heart of Bantry Bay in Cape Town, on the slopes of Lion’s Head overlooking the bay. The brief was to create a home with all the spectacle of an Atlantic Seaboard showpiece but also to respond to the practical needs of family life and to create a feeling of sanctuary.

29 Apr 2013
Brian Road Residence, Morningside, Johannesburg
Design: Nico van der Meulen Architects

photo from architect
This 1960s home, located in a prime area in a quiet cul-de sac of Johannesburg has been completely renovated. The glass wall between the living areas and the lanai folds completely away to create one huge living space, with the second lounge area leading onto the garden, and the dining opening onto the moat.

15 Apr 2013
House Mosi, Johannesburg
Design: Nico van der Meulen Architects

photo from architect firm
Contemporary House in Johannesburg
Another luxury contemporary South African house by this architecture practice: as a result of an impeccable renovation, the house is divided into public and private spaces. To enter the private areas of the home, one must cross a bridge above a new internal water feature which breaks the public and private spaces, separating the entrance hall and study from the private home.

5 Apr 2013
Head Road 1815 House, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA Architects

photo : SAOTA
The house includes three storeys accommodating three en-suite guest suites on the ground floor, with a plant area and a staff flatlet at the rear. The first floor is the main living level, with a large living room and dining room opening to a covered and uncovered pool terrace.

21 Feb 2013
House Aboobaker, Limpopo
Design: Nico van der Meulen Architects

photo : David Ross + Nico van der Meulen
The client approached the architects to redesign and style their outdated home in Limpopo. It is situated on the Tropic of Capricorn where the heat is excessive, particularly in the summer months, and requires specialized treatment in ensuring an alteration and addition that will take these factors into consideration.

4 Feb 2013
Clifton View 7 House, Cape Town
Design: ANTONI ASSOCIATES

photo : Adam Letch
Access is gained to the apartment on the upper level. The dining room, living room and kitchen are open plan and have direct access to the extensive terrace.

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2012:

7 Dec 2012
Plett 6541 + 2 – House at Plettenberg Bay, The Robberg, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
The clients requested a 6-bedroomed family home with understated elegance and quiet grandeur, indoor / outdoor living spaces and uninterrupted views, with a ”lived-in beach-house” feel. The beach-front site is subject to hot summers and moderate winters, with a cooling on-shore breeze, from the Northeast.

22 Nov 2012
Head Road 1816, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA Architects
The clients required a four bedroom home for their young family, the design of which had to encapsulate all the qualities of luxury open-plan living while still providing a homely environment. The practicalities of the site – steepness and town planning restrictions – were key initial drivers in determining the parameters available.

29 Oct 2012
Glen Higgovale, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
The clients who lived in an existing house on the property needed to rebuild the house in order to suit the demands of their family. The site on Glen Avenue in Higgovale faces in a Northerly direction, with its boundaries on the Southeast.

14 Aug 2012
Clifton House, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
The clients, a British couple living in Cape Town, requested a six-bedroom, seven-level home that makes the most of the site, the views and the mountain. The lower levels of the existing structure were totally remodelled while the upper level was demolished to allow for two new levels.

13 Aug 2012
The Soweto Theatre, Jabulani, Johannesburg
Design: afritects
This building is in the heart of the culturally rich Jabulani CBD precinct Soweto, South Africa.

9 Jun 2012
La Lucia, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
Durban Holiday House
The brief called for a relaxed family holiday beach house on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The building has been sensitively designed to gently nestle between protected milkwood trees, in an area that has strict environmental controls.

6 Apr 2012
South African Holiday Home, Pearl Bay, Yzerfontein
Design: SAOTA Architects
The clients: a couple from New York building a holiday home in the Southern hemisphere for summer vacations. Aware of contemporary architectural trends, they requested a sculptured building with clean horizontal lines, large areas of glass and screens creating a space that is ‘open as well as private’.

19 Mar 2012
Nettleton, Cape Town
Design: SAOTA Architects
South African House
This family home defines itself primarily by the way the principal living spaces at level two relate to the surrounding portions of site. This floor accommodates two generous living rooms, an open plan kitchen and triple volume dining room.

19 Mar 2012
Mankgaile Primary School, Limpopo
Design: SAOTA Architects
Mankgaile Primary School
Sponsored by PetroSA, this school commands the focal position in the village and replaces a very rudimentary set of dilapidated buildings. The main entrance is placed at the end of a linear spine which arranges the central public square and two open air classroom courtyards containing nine rooms on two levels.

19 Mar 2012
Cove 3 House, Pezula, Knysna, Western Cape
SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
Situated in The Cove at Pezula Estate outside Knysna, on the West Coast of South Africa, this family home enjoys sea views to the East and South.

South Africa World Cup Stadiums

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South African Architecture

Featured New South Africa Buildings, alphabetical:

Charity Chair Cape Town
Design: Hofman Dujardin Architects

Circa on Jellicoe Building, Johannesburg
studioMAS architects + urban designers

Cove 3 House, Pezula, Knysna, Western Cape
Design: SAOTA Architects

Cove 6 House, Pezula, Knysna, Western Cape
Design: SAOTA Architects

Durban Stadium
Design: gmp Architektenn>

Football training centre South Africa, Soweto
Design: RUF project

Freedom Park Building, South Africa
Design: GAPP Architects / Urban Designers

Glasshouse Johannesburg
Nico van der Meulen Architects

House Wright Durban
Sw(art)

Joc Blue Hills – House
Design: Nico van der Meulen Architects
Joc Blue Hills

JoziRows Johannesburg
Design: studioMAS architects + urban designers

Maboneng phase 1, Johannesburg
Design: Daffonchio & Associates Architects
Arts On Main & Main Street Life Maboneng

Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre
Peter Rich Architects
South African Interpretation Centre

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
gmp Architekten

Seth Mokitini Methodist Seminary
Boogertman+Partners
South African Methodist Seminary Building

Soccer City Stadium Building
BUE + Partners iwith Populous

Tyhume Valley Theatre Building, Eastern Cape
Ryder Architecture

Voelklip Beach House, near Cape Town
SAOTA Architects and Antoni Associates

More new South Africa Buildings Designs online soon.

South Africa Architecture – No Images

Beach House, Igoda River, East London
2007
Design Workshop

BP Africa HQ – Office Building, Cape Town
2005
KrugerRoos
Limited architecture competition winner

Carlton Centre, Johannesburg
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233m high, 50 storeys
Office skyscraper

Constitutional Court of South Africa, Johannesburg
2004
omm Design Workshop and Urban Solutions

FIFA world cup 2010 soccer stadium, Johannesburg
2007
Boogertman Urban Edge & Partners

Johannesburg Art Gallery Building
–
Edwin Lutyens architect

Red Location Museum of the People’s Struggle, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth
2006
Architect: Noero Wolff Architects
Client: Red Location Museum of the People’s Struggle
Architecture Awards : RIBA Awards – RIBA International Awards 2006; Lubetkin Prize

Telkom Joburg Tower, Johannesburg
–
Tallest structure in Africa
270m high
formerly titled the Hillbrow Tower

More modern South Africa buildings online soon.

Location: South Africa.

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