Peter Rich is a South African architect whose work has been shaped by a lifelong engagement with African space-making traditions. Throughout a career that spans continents, he has remained committed to architecture that reflects community, culture, and identity. His designs have earned international acclaim, including the prestigious World Building of the Year Award in 2009 for the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in Limpopo, South Africa. Further honors followed: the UK Earth Award, the International Sustainable Architecture Award, and the Wienerberger Brick Award in 2010, along with a shortlisting for the Aga Khan Award in 2013. He is a recipient of the South African Institute of Architecture’s Gold Medal and holds fellowships from both the Royal Institute of British Architects and the American Institute of Architects.

Peter’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, and in 2025 he will return to Venice to showcase his work in the Intelligens Canon, celebrating transformative projects from the past 50 years.

Beyond his built work, Peter is a passionate educator, developing curricula and teaching across Africa, India, Europe, and the United States. He believes architecture must be an inclusive practice, shaped through deep engagement with communities—their needs, aspirations, and heritage—ultimately fostering a “new urbanism” that celebrates diversity and belonging.