Functional Water Treatment Facilities
SALT Architects Design the Cape Flats Aquifer Recharge Plant
Kalin Ned — October 2, 2025
SALT Architects have been recognized for the clever design philosophy of the Cape Flats Aquifer Recharge Plant, a functional water treatment facility in Cape Town, Africa.
The Cape Flats Aquifer Recharge Plant is an industrial installation that purifies wastewater and injects it into an underground aquifer to bolster the city's water supply. SALT Architects' design is directly informed by the purification process, with the building's form and layout organized around the gravity-fed movement of water through various treatment stages. Many of the design elements — such as the brick screens — serve the dual purpose of providing environmental control and creating a distinctive aesthetic that subtly references the functional water treatment facility's function. The project integrates administrative spaces within the industrial structure, as well, aiming to provide a dignified environment for the staff who operate the facility.
