South Africa’s brightest young architects went head-to-head in a national sustainability challenge… and one standout team is now heading to represent the country on the global stage.
Johannesburg, South Africa (04 May 2026) – The future of our cities isn’t being written in boardrooms or policy papers… it’s being sketched, debated and brought to life by a group of young South African architects who are already thinking far beyond the present.
Last week, that future unfolded live, as the national leg of the Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest streamed from Johannesburg and gave us a front-row seat to something extraordinary.
As climate pressure, rapid urbanisation and resource constraints continue to redefine how cities are built, this competition has become a proving ground for the next generation of architects. Now in its 21st year globally, and with South Africa participating since 2016, the contest challenges students to respond to real-world briefs that mirror the complexities they will face in their careers. It’s about energy efficiency, carbon reduction, human wellbeing and smarter use of materials… but more than that, it’s about responsibility.
This year, students from Tshwane University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Nelson Mandela University came together at Saint-Gobain Africa’s Head Office to present their ideas, and from the moment the livestream began, it was clear that the judges had a tough job ahead of them.
The talent was incredible. The ideas submitted were bold and inspiring. Every proposal seemed to push the boundaries of what sustainable design can look like in a modern world. You could feel it through the screen… that sense that something meaningful was happening.
After much deliberation, the winning team was announced: Rudi Smith and Rudi Scholtz from Nelson Mandela University.
Their proposed project was a visionary upgrade to Belgrade’s riverfront along the Sava River.
But this wasn’t “just” about beautifying a space. Their concept focused on reconnecting a “ruined” and underutilised area with the city through walkways, cycling paths, an athletics centre and accessible public spaces… all anchored around what they described as a civic hub. It was smart, it was human-centred and it was exactly the kind of thinking the world needs more of.
“The Architecture Student Contest is about more than competition; it’s about preparing students for the realities of an industry that is evolving rapidly,” says Samukelisiwe Mkize, Academy Manager at Saint-Gobain South Africa. “We are seeing young designers engage deeply with sustainability, not as a concept, but as a responsibility. They understand that the decisions they make today will shape how people live, work and interact with their environments in the future.”
That’s what makes this platform so important. It’s not just about awards or recognition. It’s about giving young architects the space to test ideas, challenge conventions and step into real-world thinking long before they graduate. South Africa has already shown what it’s capable of on this stage. From a second-place finish in Madrid in 2017 to a global win in Dubai in 2018, local students have consistently proven that they can compete and lead at an international level. And now, once again, that opportunity is within reach.
The two Rudis will go on to represent South Africa at the international finals in Belgrade, where they’ll stand alongside some of the brightest young minds from across the globe in a three-day showcase of design, collaboration and innovation.
To follow their journey, visit Saint-Gobain’s social media pages.
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