A Retrospective of Four Decades of Practice

After four decades of architectural practice, SAOTA celebrates its 40^th anniversary in 2026. SAOTA grew out of the practice Stefan Antoni founded in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1986, taking its present name when Philip Olmesdahl and Greg Truen joined him as partners. The studio has since evolved through successive generations of leadership, expanding its reach across six continents while remaining grounded in its South African origins. Today SAOTA is recognised internationally as a proudly African practice with a story to share with the global industry.

SAOTA began with a passion for the act of making architecture, and a profound connection to the extraordinary landscape of the city we call home. These origins have shaped an approach grounded in place, climate, landscape, and the relationship between architecture and experience. Today, through a collaborative design culture, SAOTA’s work responds to diverse climates, cultures, and ways of living.

Looking back, 2026 is a year of exhibitions, events, and publications that reflect on the people, projects, partnerships, and ideas that have shaped the practice. Beginning at Milan Design Week, the programme continues through China and the USA, before culminating in South Africa, where the practice was founded. To mark this milestone, SAOTA is also launching its second monograph, Shaped by Place, which traces the projects and philosophies that form the foundation of what the practice is and where it is going.

While this anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the past, it is equally a moment to look ahead. Guided by a shared design philosophy, strengthened by new generations of architects, and driven by a commitment to shaping places that respond meaningfully to people and context, SAOTA’s story continues.