Architectural vision rewarded
As befitting heritage month, the recent Corobrik-sa Institute of Architect’s Awards took place, writes Anna-marie Smith
DURING the month of September, Cape Town played host to the Architecture ZA 2012 Biennial Festival, culminating in the 20112012 Corobrik-SAIA-SA Institute of Architect’s Awards of Excellence and Merit.
The festival theme of “Rescripting Architecture” was aimed at practising architects, as well as students who attended the Annual Student Congress. Event topics ranged from adding value towards building real communities, to the improvement of the poor and disadvantaged, as well as that of creating more sustainable urban environments.
In addressing the audience, outgoing SAIA president Fanuel Motsepe said: “Good architects have the sensibility to design spaces that advance lifestyles, while being sensitive to the environment and mindful of promoting healthy social values.” In his view, architecture in SA is cementing its confidence as a global role player. Motsepe said that local architecture had clearly matured, confidently and convincingly, out of the years of isolation.
The SAIA Award for Excellence was originally introduced in 1990, and is conferred every second year in recognition of exceptional contributions to the field of architecture.
After being revised in 1999, it now also includes the Awards of Merit, that run concurrently.
Works of architecture are presented by the various regional institutes affiliated to SAIA, while the Corobrik-SAIA Awards of Merit are bestowed to encourage and recognise good design or a significant contribution in the field of architecture.
Projects that have received an Award of Merit are eligible for the Award for Excellence.
Out of the 55 projects put forward, the eight winners of the Awards of Excellence were awarded for projects in the residential, commercial and education institutional fields.
Two of the eight awards went to residential project designs, namely Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA) for a new house built in Hermanus, and Mellet & Human Architects who received an award of excellence for a new residence built in Groenkloof, Pretoria.
SAOTA received the excellence award for the joint design by Stefan Antoni and Richard Townsend for the design of a family beach house built on a vacant site at Voelklip in Hermanus.
Peter Kidger, one of the judges of this project, said the brilliant space planning of the interior allows exterior views from anywhere in the house.
The judges said: “This holiday home is an architectural marvel in the design ingenuity applied — it befits the idiom ‘god is in the detail’ by the assemblage sensitivity and crisp clarity of construction that is carried throughout the entire structure.” Apart from the sheer quality of how the different spaces are interrelated, one of the most successful aspects of this building is its relationship to the outdoors, they said.
SAIA was originally established in 1927 as a national body, and since 1996 has been represented countrywide at 11 affiliated Regional Institutes, all of whom are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and competence. Enrolment is voluntary, and members are required to uphold and subscribe to these objectives, and within the built environment, strive to improve the standards of health and safety for the protec- tion and welfare of all members of society and to enhance with their professional skills, the natural environment to the benefit of all.
Institute members, registered as professional architects, are educated and trained to provide leadership, critical judgment, specialist knowledge, skills and aptitude, for the design and development of the built environment.
The awards evening also saw the welcoming of incoming SAIA president Sindile Ngonyama, who is based at the regional office of East London, who expressed his gratitude for being honoured in this role of upholding standards in SA’s world of architecture.
In his address he emphasised the institute’s role in promoting and maintaining the architectural environment, and in preserving the country’s cultural heritage for future generations.
The incoming SAIA vice-president is Nina Saunders, from the KwaZulu-Natal regional office.