‘The Future African City’ is the theme of the fifth annual Cement & Concrete Institute (C&CI) Sustainable Design Competition. The competition is open to students in their final year of an undergraduate architectural qualification at an accredited tertiary institution.
Daniel van der Merwe, architect at the C&CI, says the competition aims to promote the innovative use of concrete in building sustainable environments.
“C&CI wants to stimulate fresh thinking that produces original and inventive design proposals, and to raise awareness of the critical built environment issues. Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world, yet much of what it offers as a sustainable material is often overlooked. The proposals to come for this competition should aim to extend sustainability in the built environment, particularly the South African city,” he says.
“Typical questions the students should tackle in their submissions include the difficult task of bringing sustainability to urban transport systems, options for recycling, the harnessing and expansion of technology systems, and how cities can function as complete ecosystems,” van der Merwe adds.
The closing date for the submission of names of students entering the competition is 29 November this year. Nominated entries must reach the Midrand office of C&CI by 29 February 2012. The three selected winners and their respective study institutions will each receive cash awards from the C&CI.
