Celebrating Excellence: ILASA Awards of Excellence 2026

The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa (ILASA) recently celebrated the 2026 ILASA Awards of Excellence, recognising outstanding work, research and contributions to landscape architecture across South Africa. The awards celebrate projects that advance professional standards and make meaningful contributions to landscape architecture practice, while also recognising exceptional achievement in specific areas of the profession.

This year's awards showcased the breadth of contemporary landscape architecture, from research and public-realm strategies to site-scale projects, infrastructure, urban-scale interventions and innovative proposals.

In Research, Technology and Publications, the District Six Public Realm Strategy by TERRA Plus Landscape Architects received a Merit Award and was named the 2026 Category Winner. The judging panel described the project as a significant example of applied research, translating the complex social and spatial history of District Six into an implementable strategy. Its approach to public space as a form of living memorialisation also offers broader possibilities for thinking about social cohesion, spatial justice and reconciliation.

For Category 2A: Project Proposals, the Rehabilitation of the Keyser River by ARLA Consulting was named Category Winner. The proposal demonstrates how landscape architecture can respond to climate resilience, flood management, ecological concerns and community wellbeing, even within significant engineering, infrastructure and public-safety constraints.

The Judges’ Commendations also highlighted a range of important contributions. These included the Paarl Arboretum Climate Smart River Park by ACG Architects, recognised for Advocacy and Community Upliftment; 3 Parks Boulevard Roof Terrace by Insite Landscape Architects, recognised for Design Excellence in Detailing; UMP Gate House by kwpCREATE, recognised for Indigenous Planting Excellence; and Truform Landscape Architects, recognised for the Pioneer Implementation of SANS Compliance in Contemporary Play Design. Together, these commendations demonstrate the different ways excellence can emerge through community engagement, technical detailing, indigenous planting, safety and innovation.

In Category 2B: Site-Scale Projects, the judges selected two joint Category Winners: Springfield Convent Siena Roofscape by Tarna Klitzner Landscape Architects and Bo-Kaap Market by Yes& Studio. The Springfield Convent project was recognised for its thoughtful response to site constraints and its careful integration of old and new, while Bo-Kaap Market was celebrated for its sensitive transformation of public space, strong community focus and protection of its existing trees.

At the larger scale, Category 2C: Infrastructure and Urban-Scale Projects also produced two joint winners: Zululami Coastal Estate by Land Art Studio and Westown Square by Uys & White Landscape Architects. Zululami was recognised for its environmental restoration, blue-green infrastructure and response to coastal ecological systems, while Westown Square demonstrated what a landscape-first approach can contribute to large-scale commercial development and public space.

The awards also presented the Just Trees Award to Bo-Kaap Market, adding another recognition to a project whose existing trees were identified by the judges as fundamental to the character and success of the space.

Honouring a Lifetime of Contribution: Bernard Oberholzer

Perhaps one of the most significant moments of this year's awards was the presentation of the 2026 ILASA Lifetime Achievement Award to Bernard Oberholzer.

For more than five decades, Bernard Oberholzer has contributed to the development of landscape architecture in South Africa through professional practice, education, environmental planning, heritage conservation, writing and mentorship. Since returning from postgraduate study in the United States in the mid-1970s, he has worked across both the private and public spheres and, as co-founder of OvP Associates, was involved in landmark projects including the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town's Greening of the City programme and the Southernmost Tip of Africa Icon Project in Agulhas National Park. His work has also extended into heritage conservation, visual assessment and scenic-route planning.

His influence extends well beyond built projects. In 2000, Bernard led the creation of the University of Cape Town's postgraduate Master of Landscape Architecture programme, helping to establish an environmental approach rooted in the study of natural systems. His publications, including Reading the Landscape, Guidelines for Site Planning, Urban Streetscapes and A Legacy of African Landscapes, reflect his longstanding commitment to knowledge-sharing.

His contribution has also been recognised beyond ILASA. In 2025, IFLA Africa presented Bernard with the InSite IFLA Africa Award in Pretoria, recognising his outstanding lifetime achievements and lasting contribution to landscape architecture in Africa. His career and contribution to education, heritage, practice and mentorship were highlighted as part of that recognition.

There is therefore a meaningful connection between the two recognitions. The 2025 InSite IFLA Africa Award and the 2026 ILASA Lifetime Achievement Award both acknowledge a career that has extended far beyond individual projects, contributing to the education of practitioners, the development of professional knowledge and the wider understanding of landscape architecture in Africa.

As the 2026 ILASA Awards demonstrate, excellence in landscape architecture takes many forms. It can be found in research, public space, ecological restoration, technical innovation, indigenous planting, community engagement and the careful transformation of places. It can also be found in the people who spend decades building the knowledge, institutions and professional culture that allow the discipline to grow.

IFLA Africa congratulates Bernard Oberholzer and all the 2026 ILASA award recipients for their contributions to the profession, and celebrates the continued growth and diversity of landscape architecture across the continent.

Read more about the ILASA Awards of Excellence 2026

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