SAWA has been awarded the winner of the Rotterdam Architecture Prize 2026 by the RAP professional jury.
The award ceremony for the Rotterdam Architecture Prize took place on June 12 at Hotel nhow Rotterdam. During the festive ceremony, the professional jury chose SAWA as the winner of the Rotterdam Architecture Prize 2026. In addition, JagerJanssen Architects received both the public award and an honorable mention from the jury for the Sports Pavilion Steeds Hooger.
According to the jury, SAWA distinguishes itself not only through its innovative construction system, but above all through its commitment to quality of life. Generous outdoor spaces, collective facilities, nature-inclusive design and a strong focus on community make the building much more than a collection of homes. You can find the complete evaluation of the jury in the report of the Rotterdam Architecture Prize 2026.
We are incredibly proud of this recognition. It almost feels unreal that SAWA has been appreciated by so many different juries and industry peers in such a short time, and we are extremely proud of that. SAWA is the result of an intensive collaboration between Mei architects and planners, NICE Developers, Era Contour, and a wide team of partners, including Focus on Impact, Derix Group, Pieters, DGMR, and Bureau Stadsnatuur. This award is above all a tribute to that collaboration. That’s why we want to thank everyone who has believed in SAWA and contributed to making this ambition a reality.
Our thanks go to the professional jury for this special recognition. We also thank the residents of SAWA, who have embraced the building and made it a lively home base. In addition, we congratulate JagerJanssen architects BNA and the entire team behind Sportspaviljoen Steeds Hooger for winning the public award and the honorable mention. We also congratulate the team behind Fenix for their honorable mention from the professional jury.
Together, these projects show how versatile, innovative, and inspiring Rotterdam architecture is, and how it continues to contribute to an attractive and future-proof city.
