CAA Social Impact Award - Calling Academy Stellenbosch by SALT Architects, South Africa
Join the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) on Commonwealth Day celebrating the theme of ‘Together We Thrive’, and explore the Calling Academy Stellenbosch, Overall Winner of the 2024 CAA Social Impact Award.
The Calling Academy is an exemplar project in the transformative role architecture can play in being a catalyst for social change, particularly:
- Educational Equity: Enabling educational access to low-income learners to support opportunities in progressing toward greater social equity.
- Community Empowerment: Sourcing and development of local materials and building techniques to support the local economy. Multifunctional spaces offer diverse community uses beyond the education campus itself.
- Cultural Preservation: Understanding the context of the project which respects heritage and local identity, integrating these as part of the project vision and execution.
The jury commended the project for "...its elegantly simple design, which harmonises beautifully with the local context and materiality...The judges were particularly impressed with the project’s ability to revitalise an existing building, integrating local materials in a way that is both gracious and effective. The incorporation of clerestory lighting and elegant detailing further elevates the learning environment, making it a remarkable example of how simplicity and thoughtful design can create profound social impacts.”
Hear from Gustav Roberts from SALT Architects and Werner Cloete from Calling Education on their dedication to an architecture which seeks to serve not only its functional purpose, but acts in service to its locality to help strengthen and empower communities.
Upcoming sessions in the CAA 2025 CPD Programme:
June 2025
Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan
Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies Sustainability Certification Programme Part 1 - CAA x Sintali Collaboration
July 2025
Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies Sustainability Certification Programme Part 2 - CAA x Sintali Collaboration
August 2025
Future Architects - Sustainability and Social Justice | The CAA President's Award and Student Awards Roundtable
October 2025
Lessons from COP29 | Preparing for COP30 - Sustainability Roundtable
November 2025
Climate Responsive Design | Designing the Classroom of the Future
About the CAA
The CAA, which the RIBA is a member of, is a membership organisation for professional bodies that represent architects in Commonwealth countries. CAA membership encompasses national architectural associations from the five regions of the Commonwealth. All are united by shared values and the mission to have an impact at scale.
The CAA originated in a meeting of representatives from Commonwealth architectural institutions in London in 1963. The decisions taken were then formalised in 1964, becoming the Commonwealth Association of Architects. The first fully-fledged conference took place in Malta the following year.
The CAA aims to promote ‘the advancement of architecture in the Commonwealth and the promotion and acquisition of knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith. The Association shall promote co-operation between associations of architects with the object of ensuring the maximum contribution by architects to the well-being of society”.
