Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa March/April 2014 | Page 8

NEWSWORTHY
SUSTAINABLE HOMES
BY DESIGN

Home improvement solutions for the
low income market that are innovative,
affordable and use green technology,
could soon be available locally. This
follows the call for entries to the Better
Living Challenge (BLC) competition.
The BLC is part of the Western Cape
government’s 110% Green initiative,
which encourages organisations to
commit to the Green Economy. Three
winners will each receive support
worth R500,000. Students will compete for a R40,000 cash prize.
The rollout will be project managed
by the Cape Craft & Design Institute
(CCDI), an organisation established
in 2001 to promote and grow the
economic sustainability of the Western Cape craft and design sector.
CCDI Executive Director, Erica Elk,
said, “Many South Africans live in
dire conditions. We need to find solutions for home improvements that
are affordable, result in better living
conditions and quality of life, and
provide people with the choices and
resources to help themselves at their
own pace.”
The competition will be rolled out in
3 phases. Entries can be submitted
from 1 March - 31 May, During this
period, the CCDI will host 3 co-design
workshops. Selection of the finalists
will take place from June-August,
followed by a showcase (Sep-Nov)
displaying the best home improvement
solutions. This interactive space will
enable user testing, feedback and
judging. The public will be invited to
vote for their favourite solutions.
There are 3 entry categories:
Structural Home: Innovative products
and materials to construct safe, sustainable homes.
Comfortable Home: Products used to
create enjoyable interiors.
Connected Home: Products and services
that connect a home to its surroundings
and beyond, digitally or physically.
www.betterlivingchallenge.co.za
NEW REST, DUNOON, CAPE TOWN
PHOTO BY DAVID HARRISON

8

ROBERT GARDNER MEEK (19.08.1951 - 01.01.2014)
FOUNDER MEMBER OF GAPP ARCHITECTS & URBAN DESIGNERS
Taken from obituary by Andrew Flint, Partner, GAPP
It is with profound shock and sadness that we record the sudden untimely death of
Rob, who died from a gunshot wound as a result of an attempted armed robbery on
the cusp of New Year whilst he was on holiday with his family on the Wild Coast near
Port St John's.
Rob began his studies at the Nelson Mandela University and obtained his architectural
degree at UCT, going on to study Urban Design at Oxford Brookes University. Rob was
a founder member of GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, and, before that, a partner
of Prinsloo Parker Flint Elliott and van den Heever. Some of us have known Rob since
university days and have worked in practice together for over 30 years, 20 of which have
been with GAPP. He brought a special touch to the practice of urban design with his
unique understanding of everything maritime, which was firmly anchored in his deep
love of sailing. Rob was also a practical and talented architect and his portfolio of
projects demonstrates that he was able to combine the best of all his talents in the
various waterfront developments with which he has been involved over the years.
In the early years of the V&A Waterfront, GAPP were the Urban Designers, and Rob
led the pioneering project for the conversion of Quay 4 and the new facilities for the
NSRI. Dave Jack, the first CEO at the V&A Waterfront, has acknowledged this as one of
the original benchmark design projects that set the world class standard for ѡ