SAOTA Showcases Global Design Excellence at Asia’s Largest Architecture Fair

At the recent China International Building Decoration (CBD) Fair in Guangzhou – Asia’s largest gathering for high-end design and architectural innovation – SAOTA represented South Africa on a prominent global stage, reaffirming its position as one of the continent’s most forward-thinking architectural studios.

SAOTA’s participation offered a multi-dimensional presence. Principal Greg Truen delivered two keynote addresses at the High-end Residential Design Trends Summit. In Timeless Spaces, he unpacked the enduring language of architecture across cultural boundaries, while Quiet Presence explored how architecture enhances the human experience through subtlety, restraint, and a deep connection to landscape.

Alongside the talks, The Place Exhibition featured physical models of SAOTA’s standout international projects, from Switzerland to Senegal, Cape Town to Dubai. This curated display highlighted the studio’s versatility across typologies, including luxury homes, resort developments, and high-rise residential towers, each one thoughtfully designed in response to its unique context.

Also featured was South African-based international furniture studio OKHA, marking its first appearance at a Chinese design fair. For the occasion, Creative Director Adam Court unveiled TRACE, a sculptural side table designed exclusively for the exhibition, a prelude to OKHA’s upcoming showroom launch in Asia.

With over 200,000 design professionals in attendance and global media coverage exceeding 10 million impressions, the event served as a powerful platform for SAOTA to showcase not just its global reach but a distinct design philosophy grounded in clarity, craft, and cultural relevance.