Architects of change

Dr Ambrose Adebayo and Brian Bruce with two of the winners, Robert Armstrong and Imke Stals

The 2004 Des Baker Student Architectural Awards focused on housing for vulnerable groups in society

‘A New Architecture is Possible’. This was the theme that emerged from the 2004 National Student Architectural Congress held at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban this year. More than 700 students gathered for the week, which culminated in the 22nd annual Des Baker Student Architectural Awards evening.

The Des Baker Student Architectural Awards were initiated 22 years ago in recognition of the special qualities of Des Baker, a former Murray & Roberts CE and one of the few engineers awarded honorary membership in the architectural profession. Des Baker was an architect of change who worked very hard to bring the contracting and professional sectors together.

Murray & Roberts CE Brian Bruce comments: “The Des Baker Award is designed to stimulate an interest in constructability and buildability. It is important to set free and innovate in design concept, but at the same time you have to be able to build it.”

The theme for the Awards this year was ‘Housing for Vulnerable People’ and each of the universities and technikons that participated submitted three entries for the competition.

The entries developed conceptual proposals for the innovative and efficient accommodation of vulnerable groups in society, including the aged, physically or mentally handicapped, street children and people infected with HIV/Aids.

They showed how a new architecture, geared towards the needs of all of society, is possible.

Murray & Roberts donated R145 000 to the competition and event, with four prizes to the value of R35 000 being awarded to the four best architectural projects related to the theme.

The entrants this year produced projects of a very high standard.  Robert Armstrong from Tswane University of Technology, Lucie de Moyencourt and Stephanie Potgieter, both of the University of Cape Town, were each awarded R10 000. Imke Stals of Tswane University of Technology, who did not meet the specification but delivered an excellent project, received R5 000.

Representing the panel of local and international judges were: Rajeer Kathpalia, a partner in Vastu-Shilpa Consultants in Ahmedabad, India, Heather Dodd from Savage & Dodd Architects in Johannesburg and Kevin McGarry from Architects Collaborative in Durban.