Architecture is shaped by place, purpose and the people who use it, with each practice developing its own response to the challenges and opportunities of the built environment. For the 2026 House & Garden South Africa Designer of the Year Awards, five architectural practices and practitioners are nominated for Architect of the Year: dhk Architects, Kritzinger Architects, Lisa Rorich, Scott + Partners and Tiaan Meyer. Their work spans architecture, urban design, interiors, hospitality and public space, reflecting the breadth of contemporary South African practice. Here, each nominee shares insight into their approach, influences and the work that continues to define their practice.
dhk Architects
Few architectural practices can demonstrate the combination of sustained excellence, measurable urban impact, continental influence, technical innovation and global growth that dhk Architects has achieved.
Over nearly three decades, dhk has evolved into one of Africa’s most influential architectural studios, employing 150+ people in two offices. Since 1998, dhk has shaped city skylines and major urban environments in some of Africa’s largest centres. dhk works across architecture, urban design and interior design, delivering projects spanning multiple sectors, scales and geographies. The projects delivered are benchmarks for design excellence. The studio’s design-led approach is underpinned by technical implementation expertise and a deep commitment to sustainable design.
dhk Architects was established in 1998 in a merger between Derick Henstra Architects and KCvR Architects. Today, dhk is part of 10N Collective, the global collective of urbanism, architecture and related design experts created by Egis. The studio remains rooted in Africa, sharing its expertise with the world.
Kritzinger Architects
Kritzinger Architects is an award-winning Cape Town practice founded in 2010 by architects Jed Kritzinger and Julia Abell. Both founders spent a decade working in London with renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster before establishing their own studio. Their portfolio spans private residences, boutique hotels, schools and art galleries across South Africa and internationally, with projects in France, Mauritius, Seychelles, Belgium, Portugal and Panama. Rather than adhering to a predetermined style, the practice approaches each project as a unique response to its site, context and client. Notable projects include Sir Richard Branson’s Manor House and Coot Club, an acclaimed nature retreat on the Klein River.
Lisa Rorich
Lisa Rorich Architects is an architectural firm based in Durban, Kwazulu Natal. The firm has worked extensively throughout Africa and Southern Africa specializing in bespoke, sustainable design within the leisure and residential industry. Their projects range from luxury safari lodges to contemporary beach front homes, all designed with a focus on environmental sustainability and innovative design solutions. The firm prides itself with high end quality design - both architecture and interior architecture - striving to incorporate & hero bespoke, locally produced interiors & finishes & the incorporation of extensive landscaping and/or preservation of cutural heritage, traditions & natural surrounds play an integral role in our conceptual design ethos & development.
Lisa Rorich Architects also places a strong emphasis on utilizing sustainable building materials and energy-efficient technologies in their projects. By prioritizing eco-friendly practices, the firm aims to minimize its environmental impact while creating beautiful and functional spaces for their clients.
Scott + Partners
Scott + Partners is a Cape Town-based architectural, interior and furniture design studio founded in 2018 by Greg Scott, following his 14-year partnership at Greg Wright Architects. Working as a collective design practice, the studio approaches each commission without a predetermined formula, instead responding to the specific opportunities and challenges of the brief. Its work spans architecture, master planning, interior design, décor and bespoke furniture, with a strong emphasis on refined, considered solutions. The practice describes its approach as “anti-formulaic”, seeking to create buildings, spaces, installations and objects that enhance the experience of their users while responding thoughtfully to their context.
Tiaan Meyer
Tiaan Meyer is the founding principal of Cape Town-based Meyer & Associates Architects and Urban Designers, an integrated practice spanning architecture, urban design and interior design. With more than 20 years’ experience in the architectural and urban design industry, Meyer holds a BArch from the University of the Free State and a Master’s in City Planning and Urban Design from the University of Cape Town. His work ranges from architecture and public-space projects to urban frameworks and development strategies, with notable projects including Bosjes, Spens Garden Café and the Kuyasa Public Transport Interchange. Meyer has also served in leadership roles within the Urban Design Institute of South Africa.
Together, these five nominees demonstrate the diversity of architectural practice in South Africa today. dhk Architects brings nearly three decades of large-scale architectural and urban impact, while Kritzinger Architects takes a highly contextual approach across residential, hospitality and international projects. Lisa Rorich’s work is closely attuned to landscape and the experience of place, while Scott + Partners explores architecture, interiors and furniture through an intentionally anti-formulaic lens. Tiaan Meyer’s integrated practice connects architecture with urban design, planning and public space. Across their different approaches, each nominee reflects the evolving role of architecture in shaping how people experience buildings, cities and landscapes.
Credits
Images: Supplied, Courtesy of Kritzinger Architects, Courtesy of Scott + Partners, Courtesy of Meyer & Associates Architects
