ILASA Awards of Excellence 2026 Winners x 2!

We won 2 Prizes at the annual ILASA Awards of Excellence! The 2026 ILASA Awards of Excellence took place on 10 September. We were honored to receive prizes for 2 categories, Site-scale Design and The Just trees award for best use of trees in a design!

CATEGORY 2B: Site-scale design
Joint Category Winner: Bo-Kaap Market (Yes& Studio)

“This project demonstrates bold and sensitive design in transforming a public space for community benefit. The designers made strong spatial moves – opening up the space and confidently handling level changes – while maintaining thoughtful detail in how people use and experience the landscape. The existing trees are the true holders of this space, and the design celebrates and ruthlessly protects them. The careful selection and use of materials create an exemplary response to the site and its context. Throughout, the project reflects genuine respect for the existing landscape and community needs. The thoughtful integration of built and natural elements, combined with commitment to sustainability, creates a space that serves the local community while fostering a deeper connection between people and place. This is work that demonstrates the real impact landscape architecture can have on our surroundings.”

JUST TREETS AWARD:
“Bo-Kaap Market (Yes& Studio) The Trees Have Spoken Nine 100 litre Ficus natalensis trees were planted at this corner site in 2004 by the City of Cape Town. In a mere 21 years, they have matured into a small city forest that now forms the backbone and heart of a beautiful and functional “neighbourhood stoep”. The winner of the Just Trees Award for the Best Use of Trees in a Landscape Design is Yes & Studio, for the Bo-Kaap Market. Congratulations on the thoughtful protection and integration of these existing trees and for getting the very best out of this space that now serves the community for gatherings, trading and everyday interaction beneath the mature tree canopy.”