Timber iQ October - November 2018 // Issue: 40 | Page 9

NEWS
Iconic South African architect Peter Rich graces the Mapungubwe
Interpretation Centre, designed by Peter Rich Architects.
The exhibition is curated by curator and author Garreth van
Niekerk. The mobile structure was designed by Peter Rich
Architects, with exhibition graphics and design by Vincent
Truter of Orlando. The structure’s construction and
installation was completed over a month-long period in
Venice and Johannesburg by Fox and Firefly.
“It is a temple of light,” says Rich. “We are paying tribute
to the context of this building and Venice, and the
generosity of drawing as an act of intuition. When you draw
you can go to places you’ve never been.”
“Peter Rich seems to think and see with his hand. His
fluent vibrant drawings show a keen observation of the
world around him, picking up on the tiniest detail in the
wall, on the ground, in the contour of the land, in the loose
forms of the vernacular buildings, the enclosures, the
habitation clusters of South Africa,” note the curators.
Born in 1945 in Johannesburg, Rich’s pioneering
research into African culture and space making has been
applied throughout his career to find an appropriate
contemporary African architectural language. Rich’s quest
is to communicate the genius of Africa through cultural
tourism initiatives to a broader audience. Recent work
strives to apply the principles of African space making to
build neighbourhoods and communities to accommodate
first generation urban Africans.
The design of the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in
Limpopo was chosen as the World Building of the Year at
the 2009 World Architectural Festival in Barcelona, Spain,
which has brought Peter Rich Architects international
acclaim. “The Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre is one
excellent example of Peter Rich’s work with Corobrik’s
earthy, rich-toned face brick,” says Corobrik CEO Dirk
Meyer. “Throughout his career, spanning more than three
decades, Peter has brought his sketches to life, enhancing
landscapes with truly authentic African style and creative
flair. We hope our sponsorship can further expose the world
to the unique African talent of Peter Rich.”