Following a record number of entries, the final qualifying entries for the 2015/2016 AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation have been announced.
After an intensive inspection process at each location (in-loco), twenty two projects out of 47 entries have been identified by the adjudication panel. Entries closed on 24 March this year to a record number of submissions.
The qualifying projects span all four categories of the Award – Sustainable Architecture and Research in Sustainability, as well as the two new categories, Sustainable Products and Technology and Sustainable Social Programmes. These reflect a growing national engagement with design, innovation and sustainability, with representation from many different regions of South and southern Africa.
“The award assessed by the project responds to the criteria of Harmonization, People Upliftment, Evolutionary Paradigm and Place Making Performance,” comments Richard Stretton, member of the adjudication team.
“Successful projects not only respond to these criteria but also use the criteria as design generating tools. Unsuccessful projects make tokenistic gestures to sustainability without demonstrating the understanding that the criteria of sustainability are as important as user function and aesthetic beauty. The building must have a clear function and be in use.”
Stretton, a previous winner and eminent architect and furniture designer, conducted the site visits with other members of the six-person adjudicating team – Kevin Bingham (Vice President of SAIA), Daniel Irurah (sustainable architecture academic), Llewellyn van Wyk (Principal Researcher at Building Science and Technology), Sebasti Badenhorst (AfriSam representative) and Eric Noir (Africa region director of the International Union of Architects’ work programme, Architecture for a Sustainable Future).
“The qualifying entries really show a track record of being designed for the humans and communities who will inhabit and use them,” added AfriSam’s Sebasti Badenhorst.
“It has also been particularly gratifying to observe the drive to target net-zero energy and water use and to limit sanitation outflow, emissions and to protect biodiversity.”
“Awarded projects combine all the criteria through the design process into a harmonized solution, that clearly demonstrates how the principals of sustainability are represented in the design,” concludes Stretton. “This solution goes beyond the basic function and aesthetic resolution of the architecture to provide greater service to people and the environment.”
The bi-annual AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation is South Africa’s leading award dedicated to acknowledging best practice and innovation in sustainable architecture. Its aim is to promote and increase learning and understanding of sustainability within the context of the human built environment.
Below find the list of final qualifying entries:
CATEGORY A: SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
1. AFRICAN SCHOOL FOR EXCELLENCE – Local Studio
2. BARN HOUSE – Strey Architects
3. BMW HEAD OFFICE BUILDING – Boogertman+Partners Architects
4. DEA BUILDING – Boogertman+Partners Architects
5. GORGEOUS GREEN HOUSE – Sagnelli Associate Architects
6. GOVERNMENT HOUSE PIETERMARITZBURG – Robert JW Brusse Architect
7. ICAT ECO FACTORY – Earthworld Architects
8. LIV VILLAGE – Designworkshop
9. MABONENG PRECINCT – Daffonchio & Associate Architects
10. NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR NMMU – The Workplace Architects with GAPP
11. OUDEBOSCH CAMP KOGELBERG – Architecture Coop
12. OUTREACH FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CENTRE – Local Studio
13. WITS RURAL FACILITY – Kate Otten Architects
14. WWF SA BRAAMFONTEIN – Alive Architecture
CATEGORY B: RESEARCH IN SUSTAINABILITY
15. DESIGNING HOPE FOR PATHWAYS TO REGENERATIVE SUSTAINABILITY –
Dominique Hes & Chrisna Du Plessis
CATEGORY C: SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT / TECHNOLOGY
16. OTTO COTTAGE – Paul Marais
17. POD IDLADLA – Collaborate
18. SOLAR TURTLE – Ugesi Gold
19. VODAFONE SITE SOLUTION INNOVATION CENTRE – Grosskopff Lombard Huyberechts & Associates
CATEGORY D: SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL PROGRAMME
20. BRIDGING MZAMBA – buildCollectiveNPO with Carinthia University of Applied Science
21. MALAWI SCHOOL – Architecture for a Change
22. ULTIMUM REFUGIUM – Ntsika Architects
The prestigious bi-annual AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture was first introduced in 2009 and recognises outstanding achievement in sustainable architecture as well as creating public awareness and debate on architectural issues. The final awards event will take place in October this year.
