South African innovation has once again earned international recognition after Nelson Mandela University students topped the global podium at the 2026 Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest.
Belgrade, Serbia (28 June 2026) – South Africa has done it again!!! Not on a rugby field or athletics track, this time, our flag flew proudly (and the highest) because of innovation and a belief that the cities of tomorrow deserve better than the ones we inherited. Against some of the brightest young architectural minds from across the globe, two South African students have been crowned the winners of the prestigious Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest 2026.
After three inspiring days in Belgrade, Serbia, the International Stage of the 21st Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest came to a close, with 34 finalist teams presenting their visions for a more sustainable and innovative built environment.
South Africa claimed the coveted first prize, followed by Portugal in second place and France in third. Morocco received the Teacher’s Prize, while China earned the Student’s Prize.
Back in May, Good Things Guy shared the story of Nelson Mandela University students Ruan Smith and Rudi Scholtz after they won the South African leg of the competition. Their prize-winning concept reimagined Belgrade’s Sava River riverfront, transforming an underutilised space into a vibrant civic destination designed around people, accessibility and sustainability.
Rather than simply redesigning an urban space, the pair envisioned reconnecting communities through walkways, cycling paths, public gathering spaces and an athletics centre, all centred around a welcoming civic hub. It was a project that balanced environmental responsibility with human connection, showing that great architecture is about far more than buildings. It is about creating places where people can belong.
At the time, Samukelisiwe Mkize, Academy Manager at Saint-Gobain South Africa, explained exactly why competitions like this matter, “The Architecture Student Contest is about more than competition; it’s about preparing students for the realities of an industry that is evolving rapidly. 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.”
South Africa has built an impressive record in the competition over the years, including a second-place finish in Madrid in 2017 and a global victory in Dubai in 2018. This latest win adds another remarkable chapter to that story and reinforces the calibre of young talent emerging from our universities.
Congratulations to Ruan Smith, Rudi Scholtz, Nelson Mandela University and everyone who helped support this journey. Their success belongs to them but it also belongs to a country filled with young people whose ideas continue to earn respect on the world’s biggest stages.
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