Previous Years

Perhaps it was only fitting that JT Ross and Sons, founded in Durban over a century ago, should win the award for the total refurbishment off one of the oldest banking buildings in the city, the Absa Towers, located on the corner of West and Gardiner Streets, one of the oldest and busiest intersections.

Set on a green Umdloti hillside commanding magnificent Sea Views, Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom has become a landmark on KwaZulu-Natal's coastline. Not only was Sibaya the overall winner in the Building Excellence Awards for projects constructed in 2005 and winner of the Leisure and Recreation category, the project also won the Associations regional and national safety competitions in 2004. Constructed by WBHO-MEG joint venture, the R359-million contract included a casino, a theatre, cultural village complex, and hotel.

It seems apt that as the first recorded structure to be built in KwaZulu-Natal was the beehive hut, the winning entry, Thonga Beach Lodge, happened to be based on this very same design. Somewhat more sophisticated and infinitely more luxurious, the basic shape has remained the same. The Thonga Beach Lodge is nestled amongst the coastal vegetation on a remote pristine dune site within walking distance of Lake Sibaya in northern KwaZulu-Natal.