Platform on architecture, interior design and landscape architecture
Residential building SAWA in Rotterdam, by architecture firm Mei architects and planners and clients NICE Developers + ERA Contour, has been awarded BNA Best Building of the Year 2026. The chairman of the jury Winnie Sorgdrager announced this today in the Central Market Hall in Amsterdam. SAWA succeeds the National Holocaust Museum, which won the award last year. The Audience Award was won this year by Schoonhovens College, from architecture firm Geurst & Schulze architects and client Municipality of Krimpenerwaard. Station Wildeman, from BETA office for architecture and the city and client Stichting Samenwonen-Samenleven, Municipality of Amsterdam, received an Honorable Mention from the jury.
SAWA implemented wood and reclaimed materials for 75%, with plenty of space for plants and 140 nesting boxes, and a mix of mid-rent and owner-occupied housing. “The jury sees the building as a serious and important experiment in wood construction and entrepreneurship, with exemplary value; a turning point in the city. It is a self-aware building, taking up space, but fitted into its place in such a way that it also gives something back,” said jury president Winnie Sorgdrager. “To meet the climate goals, the construction industry must move from a linear to a circular approach, with reusable materials such as wood. The scale at which wood construction has been applied impresses. This project shows that it is possible to create truly sustainable buildings when developer, architect and contractor together make the most of their roles. It points the way to a future where we learn from each other, and give space to experiment and innovation.”
SAWA is a no-nonsense building, bolted together with simple materials. It is precisely because of that honesty and pragmatism that it works. SAWA scores in every category. It also gives something back to the neighborhood. Like a sunny forecourt with green spaces, space for biodiversity, but also knowledge - through an open and ‘learning’ building process, and through the many tours the developers give on the construction site. By investing the profits in subsequent construction projects, the lessons learned can also be applied directly. The project contributes to a livable neighborhood and sense of community, and can inspire designers and clients to be entrepreneurial and inquisitive. For example, at the beginning of the project, the developers set up a former cafe in the neighborhood as an information point, which got local residents involved and provided them with input for and feedback on the plans. With its wooden support structure and facades, planted balconies and roof full of solar panels, the building is an icon of sustainability and offers a fine living environment with warm, bright interiors and generous outdoor spaces. This is a project that comes from the heart; optimistic and forward-looking.
Unanimously, the jury chose SAWA as BNA Best Building of the Year 2026.
SAWA was designed by architectural firm May architects and planners. The building is the first completed project of developer NICE Developers + ERA Contour.
After the nominees were announced, the public was able to vote for their favorite. The winner is:
Schoonhoven College
Architectural firm: Geurst & Schulze architects
Client: Municipality of Krimpenerwaard
The new building for Schoonhoven College is the first step in the renewal of an aging business park on the edge of the town. The old school and sports hall on the site were demolished to make way for a combined building, constructed of yellow brick with large windows. The desire was for an ‘honest’ building that would be readable to students, from the brickwork to the installations, which were left in plain sight. The interior is done in wood, which radiates warmth and gives good acoustics to the bright hall cum auditorium.
“A magnificent building that shows that vmbo schools - just like elementary schools, colleges and universities - deserve beautiful surroundings,” the jury judged. The building is made with materials that students learn to work with; this is inspiring. The architects drew out every brick, right down to the ceramic waterfalls. The combination of brick, wood and polished concrete looks understatedly chic and brings tranquility to a building with lots of commotion. The sports hall is cleverly combined with the school, with its own entrance; this way it can also be used well outside school hours. In a cluttered neighborhood, a grand gesture has been made with this building, providing an impetus for further redevelopment.
The judges have decided to give an Honorable Mention this year to one of the nominated buildings that excels in innovation. The Honorable Mention goes to:
Station Savage
Architectural firm: BETA office for architecture and the city
Client: Stichting Samenwonen-Samenleven, Municipality of Amsterdam
From the jury report: The jury considers Station Wildeman particularly valuable because of the space ‘claimed’ for meeting in The Wildemanbuurt in Amsterdam Osdorp a neighborhood where problems are piling up. Located in the heart of the neighborhood, it had to become more than just a community center; it had to become a flywheel for the socio-economic and spatial development of the Wildemanbuurt. Homework classes prevent school dropouts and help resist the temptation of quick money. Adults receive life coaching, language courses, and are guided to work in high-potential sectors such as ICT and sustainability. Where social programs often tend toward fragmentation, Station Wildeman provides a single platform for a coordinated and integrated approach.
The jury sees in this project a turning point in the role of architecture with a social function in the neighborhood. It shows that there is a great need for this, and how architect and client together can play a pioneering role in this kind of transformation. In addition, these kinds of Post65 buildings are demolished with great regularity; many churches and schools have already disappeared. This is a wonderful example of how preserving these public facilities can make a difference for the neighborhood. Therefore, Station Wildeman receives an Honorable Mention.
From 79 entries, the jury nominated eight buildings for BNA Best Building of the Year 2026. View all entries and the nominees at the website
This year's jury was chaired by Winnie Sorgdrager, former Minister of Justice and Minister of State.
In addition, the jury consisted of:
