Botha ’ s Halte Primary School Additions to the Vredenburg Provincial Hospital
Arklow Villa III Future Africa Campus
AFRISAM-SAIA SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AWARDS
Awarded and commended projects of the sixth AfriSam-SAIA Sustainable Design Award were recently announced , recognising some of Africa ’ s leading lights in the sustainable African architectural and design innovation space .
Notably , the award advocates for design projects that are responsive to the social complexities , growth requirements and the needs of marginalised communities in South Africa and throughout the Africa diaspora . Entries for the 2019 / 2020 award were submitted in four categories :
• Category A : Sustainable New Building or the Conservation and Restoration of an Existing One ;
• Category B : Practice-based Action and Research Work in the Field of Sustainability and the Built Environment ;
• Category C : Sustainable Product or Technology ; and
• Category D : Sustainable Social Programmes .
Each category was judged according to five criteria , namely harmonisation , people upliftment , new ways of thinking , placemaking performance and leadership .
While 13 projects were awarded , nine others were commended by the judges . Amongst these were off-the-grid accommodation
projects , education facilities , social impact projects , inventive technologies and techniques , healthcare facilities , new inventions and innovations , community housing projects , research centres , a heritage home and a research paper .
Speaking at the event , Director of DesignSpaceAfrica and immediate past President of SAIA , Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa , says the adjudicators viewed some exceptional projects of various scale and complexity . “ It was evident that architecture of a high standard is being produced in the country , architecture that is commendable and internationally competitive – noting that sustainability is being given increasingly more attention by architects and their clients .
“ I look forward to a future when African architecture and design is defined by a sustainable innovation , local relevance and using methods of building that are both economically and environmentally conscious and which respond to the needs of our world .”
Eben Keun , General Manager for AfriSam-SAIA Sustainable Design Award since inception in 2009 , says the growth of the award over the years bears testimony to the positive impact sustainable design can have on the planet and its most in-need communities . “ The projects that were recognised this year are an exciting indication
House of the Big Arch
Thanda Early Childhood Development Centre
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