11 January 2010

KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture Awards

To many members, the biennial awards programme of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) is the most important. 

The KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture (KZ-NIA) announced its regional award winners on 5^th October 2009, World Architecture Day.

The four winners of the KZ-NIA Award for Architecture are: Seven Fountains Primary School, Shayamoya, Kokstad, designed by East Coast Architects; House at Simbithi Eco-Estate, designed by Jay & Nel Architects; Ukhuni Lodge, Phinda, designed by Joy Brasler Architects; and Timeball Square, Timeball Boulevard, Point, Durban, designed by CNN Architects.

The structure of the adjudication panel is prescribed by the SAIA and the KZ-NIA regional committee selected its panel members accordingly. One academic, an architect from the University of the Free State, four practising architects and a layperson made up the panel of seven, involving representatives of various aspects of the profession.

The team travelled across the province to visit all 16 projects that were submitted. Evaluation was based on sustainability, urban regeneration, environmental issues and high standards of design. The jury agreed on four awards.

Ivor Daniel, chairman of the Awards Committee, said, “Each award is interestingly different and fulfilled the judging criteria. Two are for residential architecture, one for a school and one for a folly.”

Each of the winners will be submitted to the National Corobrik Awards in 2009/10 when the SAIA Awards of Merit and Awards of Excellence will be announced.