In 2019, SAOTA and Jaco Booyens Architects, a specialist in clay buildings, won the gold medal at the seventh edition of the international Domus Restoration and Conservation Award in Italy.
They were awarded for their collaboration on the restoration of heritage buildings on Buffelsdrift, west of Ladismith in the Klein Karoo region of the Western Cape. The award recognises excellence in the field of restoration, redevelopment and architectural and landscape recovery at an international level.
Even though SAOTA is known for their contemporary architecture and luxury designer homes around the world, director Greg Truen acquired the farm in 2016 and chose to maintain the integrity of the heritage farm buildings and approach the project with the vision to conserve and restore.
The Cape heritage buildings consist of the main house, two barns and a flat-roofed Ladismith style building which was originally used as a wine store. Other structures on the property include a contemporary shed and a cottage further up a hill. The house, barns and wine store were all restored and the project resulted in a traditional yet contemporary working farm and a peaceful Karoo refuge for the family. Take a look at the home below.
