SA Affordable Housing January / February 2018 // Issue: 68 | Page 6

NEWS
Corobrik-SAIA reveal merit
award architects
The 2017 Corobrik-South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) Awards
of Merit were launched at an event last year.
By Ntsako Khosa | All images Ntsako Khosa
Visitors at Menlyn Mall viewing the competition entrants for the
Corobrik-SAIA Awards of Merit.
T
he contending Corobrik-SAIA architects were
showcased at the Ackerman’s forecourt in Menlyn
Mall in Pretoria from 20 to 26 November 2017, with
the main aim to introduce architecture to the public by
launching the awards at the mall.
“A lot of architectural communication only reaches
architects. We want to show the public the value of
architecture,” says marketing manager at SAIA, Debbie Kirk.
Sixty-one entrants were chosen with the awards
ceremony to be held in Pretoria in May 2018. The finalists
feature a variety of buildings ranging from private and
community residences, universities, public facilities,
corporate offices, lodging facilities and more. The
forecourt featured project images and a brief description
of the building.
The biennial awards showcase high-end contributions to
the architectural field and they are open to all SAIA
members nationwide with regional awards presented in
the first year of the awards’ cycle and national awards in
the second year.
Corobrik’s commercial director, Musa Shangase, says,
“There is so much depth and character to each building and
this is truly evident in this year’s submissions.” Selection
of projects was made through a panel of judges that
comprises three architects, one eminent layperson, a
representative from Corobrik, SAIA’s president and an
academic architect.
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018
AF