SAOTA

We are a South African firm of architectural designers and technicians, established in 1985. We specialize in architecture, design, decor, and furniture, with expertise in master planning, commercial, hospitality, residential, and public buildings. We offer services like conceptual design, technical detailing, and project coordination across all five stages of architectural service, including construction detailing, building services, and contract administration.

We work globally, with projects on six continents and 85% of our clients based internationally in cities like Moscow, Sydney, Miami, Dubai, and Lagos. We serve corporate, institutional, commercial, and residential markets.

Our design process uses advanced computer technology, including Revit (BIM software) and virtual reality tools. We’ve adopted the NCS (National CAD Standard) to standardize electronic data exchange and improve project coordination.

We are committed to energy-efficient design. We have experience with Green-rated buildings, such as the New Engineering Building for the University of Cape Town, which earned a 4-Star Green rating. We also participated in an architectural bid for the NMMU Business School, requiring a 4-Star equivalent rating, and were involved in the BP Corporate Headquarters, an early 4-Star Green building in South Africa. We continually update our policies to improve our sustainability efforts.

Our design philosophy connects function and form, focusing on maximizing value and creating suitable architectural solutions. Our practice is marked by a spirit of inquiry among our staff. We aim for excellent service in our buildings and client interactions, emphasizing high standards and elegance.

We are dedicated to energy-efficient design and continuously integrate new sustainability policies into our projects.

We also engage in social responsibility. This includes frequent mentoring and upskilling through internships, forums, and judging events. We support external initiatives like the 9 Miles project, which helps youth through development, sports, mentoring, and arts & culture. Additionally, we support the educational program Bottoms Up and provide funding for UCT Masters Students’ educational overseas trips, especially for previously disadvantaged students.

We have a team of 201-500 employees, including architectural designers, technicians, in-house CGI and marketing teams, and support staff. Our direction is guided by Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, Greg Truen, Phillippe Fouché, Mark Bullivant, Roxanne Kaye, Logen Gordon, Dani Reimers, and Dominik George. A spirit of inquiry thrives among our staff, which helps us navigate a competitive industry. Our culture emphasizes excellent service, high standards, and elegance in both building design and client engagement. We offer career paths in Architecture, Interior Design, IT, BIM, Media, Marketing, and Graphic Design.