Threads: Venice Architectural Biennale 2023
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 ARCHITECTURE / Others Architectural Projects
Company Name:Kate Otten Architects
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Kate Otten
Design Team / Other designer(s):Salma Wadee, Lele Ramphele, Damon Hoskin
Architecture Firm:Kate Otten Architects
Construction Company:Frances v.H Mohair, The Herd
Photo Credit:Ste Murray, Kate Otten, Frances van Hasselt, Mbali Mthetwa
Project Location:Johannesburg, South Africa
Design Status:Completed
Website: View
Video URL:View
Project Description:
Threads tells a visual story of Johannesburg’s beginning; how 2 billion years ago, a meteorite struck the earth, forcing rock and debris upwards that settled back in an arc-shaped ridge, now known as the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, burying gold deposits in the earth. Using traditional crafts, woman narrate intuitive readings of landscape and social geographies. This gold discovered in 1886 and the gold-rush that followed, led to Johannesburg’s establishment and a Dangerous Liaison between land and people, great wealth and exploitation, and the migration of people to and from this City of Gold. A mohair tapestry or cloak to wrap the body, traces topography, apartheid settlement patterns of green, wealthy, privileged areas and parched, tree-less poor townships, divided by mining waste. Yellow pompoms mark gold mines, blue thread the watercourses and hanging weft threads a messy underbelly. A golden beaded neckpiece, jewelry to adorn a body, depicts the night sky above the Dome - metaphorically, extracted gold is claimed as African artefact not a commodity for export. Lit from above, shadows mark the geology underground. The experience is immersive, 3-d and spatial
Threads tells a visual story of Johannesburg’s beginning; how 2 billion years ago, a meteorite struck the earth, forcing rock and debris upwards that settled back in an arc-shaped ridge, now known as the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, burying gold deposits in the earth. Using traditional crafts, woman narrate intuitive readings of landscape and social geographies. This gold discovered in 1886 and the gold-rush that followed, led to Johannesburg’s establishment and a Dangerous Liaison between land and people, great wealth and exploitation, and the migration of people to and from this City of Gold. A mohair tapestry or cloak to wrap the body, traces topography, apartheid settlement patterns of green, wealthy, privileged areas and parched, tree-less poor townships, divided by mining waste. Yellow pompoms mark gold mines, blue thread the watercourses and hanging weft threads a messy underbelly. A golden beaded neckpiece, jewelry to adorn a body, depicts the night sky above the Dome - metaphorically, extracted gold is claimed as African artefact not a commodity for export. Lit from above, shadows mark the geology underground. The experience is immersive, 3-d and spatial
Project Innovation / Specification:
Conceived as an alternative way of recording history through the intuitive making of an object, Threads draws on traditional African storytelling, using visual ‘words’ in place of spoken ones, craft instead of voice. The storytelling is collaborative, a collective work that uses a language of colour, pattern, texture & the play of light and shadow to animate the story. The tactile act of making by hand allows embodied memory to speak—what thread thickness to choose, how taut or loose to weave, how to work geometric beading into organic forms. Designers and makers draw on their personal histories and use age-old craft to recount. Drawings printed full scale guide the work, but skill, intuition and embodied knowledge determine the final edges and shapes. Through an iterative process, moving between digital and hand making, a contemporary language of craft emerges. Traditionally, tapestry is made on a rectilinear loom with vertical warp and horizontal weft threads. Presenting both challenges and learnings, a radial loom was designed to echo the meteorite’s explosion-a first for all of us. Threads offers new ways of seeing, opening space for a future that nurtures the human spirit
Conceived as an alternative way of recording history through the intuitive making of an object, Threads draws on traditional African storytelling, using visual ‘words’ in place of spoken ones, craft instead of voice. The storytelling is collaborative, a collective work that uses a language of colour, pattern, texture & the play of light and shadow to animate the story. The tactile act of making by hand allows embodied memory to speak—what thread thickness to choose, how taut or loose to weave, how to work geometric beading into organic forms. Designers and makers draw on their personal histories and use age-old craft to recount. Drawings printed full scale guide the work, but skill, intuition and embodied knowledge determine the final edges and shapes. Through an iterative process, moving between digital and hand making, a contemporary language of craft emerges. Traditionally, tapestry is made on a rectilinear loom with vertical warp and horizontal weft threads. Presenting both challenges and learnings, a radial loom was designed to echo the meteorite’s explosion-a first for all of us. Threads offers new ways of seeing, opening space for a future that nurtures the human spirit
Project Sustainability Approach:
Through this project, the digital industry engages with ancient craft to create a new contemporary language contributing to the sustainability of the craft industry. It ensures that African traditions and skills do not disappear but rather places them centre stage, tying present, past and future together on a world stage. Makers and manufacturers were carefully selected to support and empower small, local, predominantly female businesses thereby contributing to greater economic sustainability of local communities. Materials chosen are both natural and sustainably sourced. South Africa is a global leader in sustainable and ethical mohair production, producing approximately 51% of the world’s mohair. The mohair used comes from goats that are sustainably reared, sheared, their wool spun, dyed, and woven, all on the same local Karoo farm. The dyes are natural and locally sourced. The beadwork is made from glass beads, a sustainable, sparkling and more perfectly shaped alternative to cheaper plastic ones.
Through this project, the digital industry engages with ancient craft to create a new contemporary language contributing to the sustainability of the craft industry. It ensures that African traditions and skills do not disappear but rather places them centre stage, tying present, past and future together on a world stage. Makers and manufacturers were carefully selected to support and empower small, local, predominantly female businesses thereby contributing to greater economic sustainability of local communities. Materials chosen are both natural and sustainably sourced. South Africa is a global leader in sustainable and ethical mohair production, producing approximately 51% of the world’s mohair. The mohair used comes from goats that are sustainably reared, sheared, their wool spun, dyed, and woven, all on the same local Karoo farm. The dyes are natural and locally sourced. The beadwork is made from glass beads, a sustainable, sparkling and more perfectly shaped alternative to cheaper plastic ones.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Project:
The making and exhibiting of this piece, internationally and locally, created an awareness of this extraordinary World Heritage Site that even many locals are unaware of. It brought an understanding of the connection between a planetary event billions of years ago with the current and historic local social geographies. Threads formed part of numerous regional and local exhibitions and workshops, including one titled Narratives of Migration & Reclamation by 5 women architects that created a platform and safe space for discussion on the effects of migration on woman; speaking about architecture, belonging, care and repair in the context of Johannesburg and South Africa. This project supports a local craft economy, creating value and awareness about it.
The making and exhibiting of this piece, internationally and locally, created an awareness of this extraordinary World Heritage Site that even many locals are unaware of. It brought an understanding of the connection between a planetary event billions of years ago with the current and historic local social geographies. Threads formed part of numerous regional and local exhibitions and workshops, including one titled Narratives of Migration & Reclamation by 5 women architects that created a platform and safe space for discussion on the effects of migration on woman; speaking about architecture, belonging, care and repair in the context of Johannesburg and South Africa. This project supports a local craft economy, creating value and awareness about it.
Profile Description:
Established by Kate Otten a year after graduating, Kate Otten Architects has developed into one of South Africa’s well recognized research-based design practices. The work is varied, including private projects, important public buildings and places of memory. With a focus on weaving together local materials, skills, politics, light, and landscape, creating places that nurture the human spirit, the work has strong resonance of place. KOA actively engages with transformative practice, mentoring young practitioners, as examiners, critics and presenting the work locally and internationally.
Established by Kate Otten a year after graduating, Kate Otten Architects has developed into one of South Africa’s well recognized research-based design practices. The work is varied, including private projects, important public buildings and places of memory. With a focus on weaving together local materials, skills, politics, light, and landscape, creating places that nurture the human spirit, the work has strong resonance of place. KOA actively engages with transformative practice, mentoring young practitioners, as examiners, critics and presenting the work locally and internationally.
Environmental Practices:
Social, economic and cultural sustainability underpins our practice. The specifics of the brief, site, context, makers and end users’ needs are carefully researched before design commences. Local materials, skills, construction methods and opportunities that support local economies and artisanal craft are favoured. Natural light and ventilation, sun shading, the use of solar energy, collecting and recycling of water are inherently part of our design, but how buildings might transform people’s experience of space, whether inside or out, as uplifting places for living is core to our design ethos
Social, economic and cultural sustainability underpins our practice. The specifics of the brief, site, context, makers and end users’ needs are carefully researched before design commences. Local materials, skills, construction methods and opportunities that support local economies and artisanal craft are favoured. Natural light and ventilation, sun shading, the use of solar energy, collecting and recycling of water are inherently part of our design, but how buildings might transform people’s experience of space, whether inside or out, as uplifting places for living is core to our design ethos
Previous Awards Won:
2025 Scape Awards of Excellence, Educational build of the year, finalist, Wits University Digital Dome 2024 Herbert Prince Colosseum Memorial Award, Wits University Digital Dome, Scape Awards of Excellence, Collaboration of the year, Threads SAIA Award of Excellence, Threads SAIA Merit Award, Gatehouse, Wits University 2023 GIFA Award of Excellence, Threads GIFA People’s Choice, Threads GIFA Merit Award, Bio-Phy Precinct, Wits University GIFA Commendation, Origins Centre Third Bay, Wits University 2022 Herbert Prince Colosseum Memorial Award, Wits University Great Hall 2021 UIA Medal of Excellence, Wits Rural Facility 2019 UIA International Award, Wits Rural Facility GIFA Award, Law on Keyes 2018 WAF, Honourable Mention, Law on Keyes SAIA Award, House Schutte 2017 GIFA Award, House Schutte GIFA Commendation, House Blount 2016 GIFA Commendation, Wits Rural Facility 2015 SAIA Limpopo Regional Award, Wits Rural Facility GIFA Commendation, Little Red House Architecture for Social Gain, Motshegofadiwa Primary School 2013 GIFA Commendation, House Omisore GIFA Regional Finalist, Olifantsfontein Library 2012 Afrisam SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture, LuLu Kati Kati 2010 Plascon Prism Awards, Parkhurst Shops Architecture&Cityscape Award, Lulu Kati Kati SAIA Merit Award, Parkhurst Shops 2009 GIFA Regional Commendation, Gabriel’s Garden GIFA Merit Award, Parkhurst Shops Architecture& Cityscape Award, Parkhurst Shops 2008 Architecture+Cityscape Award, Gabriel’s Garden Pavilion 2006 GEDA Passing the Torch Campaign Winner 2005 SAIA Regional Commendation, Woman's Jail SAIA Project Award, Parktown North Offices 2004 Cityscape Architectural Review Award, Art Therapy Centre 2003 Architecture&Cityscape Award, International House Students Residence 2002 Business Women of the Year, Regional Finalist 1999 SAIA Award, Reptile Centre for the Joburg Zoo 1998 SAIA Merit Award House Staude
2025 Scape Awards of Excellence, Educational build of the year, finalist, Wits University Digital Dome 2024 Herbert Prince Colosseum Memorial Award, Wits University Digital Dome, Scape Awards of Excellence, Collaboration of the year, Threads SAIA Award of Excellence, Threads SAIA Merit Award, Gatehouse, Wits University 2023 GIFA Award of Excellence, Threads GIFA People’s Choice, Threads GIFA Merit Award, Bio-Phy Precinct, Wits University GIFA Commendation, Origins Centre Third Bay, Wits University 2022 Herbert Prince Colosseum Memorial Award, Wits University Great Hall 2021 UIA Medal of Excellence, Wits Rural Facility 2019 UIA International Award, Wits Rural Facility GIFA Award, Law on Keyes 2018 WAF, Honourable Mention, Law on Keyes SAIA Award, House Schutte 2017 GIFA Award, House Schutte GIFA Commendation, House Blount 2016 GIFA Commendation, Wits Rural Facility 2015 SAIA Limpopo Regional Award, Wits Rural Facility GIFA Commendation, Little Red House Architecture for Social Gain, Motshegofadiwa Primary School 2013 GIFA Commendation, House Omisore GIFA Regional Finalist, Olifantsfontein Library 2012 Afrisam SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture, LuLu Kati Kati 2010 Plascon Prism Awards, Parkhurst Shops Architecture&Cityscape Award, Lulu Kati Kati SAIA Merit Award, Parkhurst Shops 2009 GIFA Regional Commendation, Gabriel’s Garden GIFA Merit Award, Parkhurst Shops Architecture& Cityscape Award, Parkhurst Shops 2008 Architecture+Cityscape Award, Gabriel’s Garden Pavilion 2006 GEDA Passing the Torch Campaign Winner 2005 SAIA Regional Commendation, Woman's Jail SAIA Project Award, Parktown North Offices 2004 Cityscape Architectural Review Award, Art Therapy Centre 2003 Architecture&Cityscape Award, International House Students Residence 2002 Business Women of the Year, Regional Finalist 1999 SAIA Award, Reptile Centre for the Joburg Zoo 1998 SAIA Merit Award House Staude
