“Shaped by Place: 40 Years of Architectural Practice” by SAOTA

‘Shaped by Place: 40 Years of Architectural Practice’ is an exhibition that traces the thinking behind four decades of work by SAOTA, assessing how place, collaboration, research, and changing contexts have shaped the practice’s approach to the industry.

SAOTA is an architectural practice founded in Cape Town in 1986, with work across six continents and 90 countries. In 2026, SAOTA became the first architectural practice to receive the SAIA Gold Medal for Architecture, the highest honour conferred by the South African Institute of Architects.

In partnership with Poliform, this exhibition is an account of a design culture, and of how a building is arrived at — shown through architectural models, large-scale imagery, and curated narratives.

Open to the public and free to attend.