Reconstituted in 2015, the South African Institute of Architects is a voluntary association and is the natural successor to the Institute of South African Architects which was originally established in 1927 and renamed the South African Institute of Architects in 1996.
SAIA incorporates the nine existing regional institutes: Border-Kei [Eastern Cape], CIfA [Western Cape], Eastern Cape, Free State, GIfA [Gauteng], KZNIA [KwaZulu-Natal], Limpopo, Mpumalanga and PIA [Gauteng.
The mission of the Institute is to act as the collective voice serving the interests of its members in pursuit of excellence and responsible design. It aims to uphold the dignity of the architectural profession and contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of society and the environment. The fundamental principles of equality and justice are implicit in our Constitution.
SAIA is a member of the Africa Union of Architects (AUA), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the International Union of Architects (UIA), the International Commission on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the International Committee Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. (DOCOMOMO).
SAIA is a member of the Africa Union of Architects (AUA), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the International Union of Architects (UIA), the International Commission on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the International Committee Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. (DOCOMOMO).
View the SAIA ConstitutionBoard
SAIA is directed by a Board comprising members appointed on a rotational basis by the Regions. Board members hold office for a period of two years. The Management Committee comprises the president, vice-president, treasurer and deputy treasurer who are directly elected by the membership.
Read moreSaia Regions
SAIA’s Regions comprise the previous Regional Institutes of the former Cape (founded 1899), Eastern Province (founded in 1900 as the Port Elizabeth Society of Architects), Border (founded in 1946 as the East London Chapter of the Cape Provincial Institute), KwaZulu-Natal (founded in 1901), Orange Free State (founded in 1921) and Transvaal (founded in 1909). The Pretoria Institute of Architects was established in 1993 and the following new regional institutes were established in 1996: Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo (founded as Northern Province) and Mpumalanga. The Northern Cape is now incorporated in the Free State and North West is incorporated into Pretoria.
View the RegionsCode Of Ethics
The South African Institute of Architects and the Regions are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and competence.
Members who voluntarily enrol with the Institute are required to uphold and subscribe to these objectives and, within the built environment, strive to improve the standards of health and safety for the protection and welfare of all members of society and to enhance with their professional skills, the natural environment to the benefit of all. Members of the Institute, registered as professional architects, are educated and trained to provide leadership, critical judgment, specialist knowledge, skills and aptitude, for the design and development of the built environment.
The SAIA Code of Ethics establishes principles for the conduct of Members in pursuance of these goals.
View the SAIA Code of Ethics View the SAIA By-laws View the SAIA B-BBEE CertificateSaia Transformation Policy
Through its representative Board, its members and its employees, SAIA drew guidance from our nation’s National Development Plan published on 11 November 2011 to address the elimination of inequality and the reduction of poverty, through the establishment of its own Transformation Policy.
SAIA’s approach to the normalisation of our society is guided by a single important philosophy – that our efforts towards transforming the architectural profession should be employed in such a way that the skill and experience be retained and enhanced towards building a transformed profession which will meet the needs of South African society in the creation of a human(e) built environment in the country.
View the SAIA Transformation PolicySaia Heritage Policy
At a meeting of the Regional Heritage Representatives of SAIA held on Robben Island on 9 and 10 August 2001, it was resolved that, in recognition of complex cultural landscapes in South Africa and the role of the built environment within those landscapes, the Robben Island Heritage Vision would relate the aims of the Constitution of South Africa, particularly the Bill of Rights dealing with the environment to the management of those complex cultural landscapes.
The spirit of Robben Island should live on through this Heritage Policy Document which would ensure that the contribution of the diverse cultural groups within our country to their environment should be respected and conserved to the best of our collective ability.
View the SAIA Heritage PolicySAIA Affiliated Organisations
