35th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards Regional Winner: Nelson Mandela University

4 April 2022

A thesis entitled ‘The Design of a Performance Space for the Zip Zap Circus in the Johannesburg City Centre’ has seen Daniel Fouché from Nelson Mandela University (NMU) declared the regional winner in the 2022 Corobrik Student Architecture Awards. Daniel receives a R10 000 prize and the opportunity to compete in the national awards. “To compete against extremely talented students will, no doubt, push me to be a better version of myself. Even more importantly, exposure to such diverse creativity is few and far between, and I look forward to being further inspired by the individual work.”

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Preview	Daniel Fouché, NMU_Zip Zap Circus, Cafe	1.41 MB	Download
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Preview	Daniel Fouché, NMU_Zip Zap Circus_1	1.9 MB	Download
Preview	Busang Makhele, Best Use of Clay Masonry winner, NMU	20.72 MB	Download

Emphasising the importance of the awards, Daniel says: “The meaning behind a company so well established and held in such high regard hosting and sponsoring these awards affords the opportunity for conceptual ideas to be acknowledged. It reinspires and validates individuals to continue their pursuit with even more support and passion. This bridge brings unique vernacular materials and processes to a theoretical idea which now stands more of a chance in the real-world because it is seen and celebrated.”

Highlighting talent, creativity, innovation, and inspiration, the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards is all about jump-starting careers, building the industry, and designing tomorrow. Regional winners are selected from eight major universities, based on the students’ final theses. These regional winners then go through to the national round, where the top title is awarded, plus a R70 000 grand prize.

Daniel explains that the outcome of the performance space is a world-class act that promotes organisations like Zip Zap which create social cohesion, opportunities and unlocks skills transfer to South African youth from otherwise disadvantaged situations. “By proving a unique cultural experience through moments of an event, people are given the opportunity to escape their reality and momentarily believe in a little bit of magic.”

In addition, Busang Makhele clinched a R6 000 prize for Best Use of Clay Masonry for his thesis entitled ‘Restructuring and Reframing Public and Community Space in Townships: The Design of a Community Sports Centre in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg’. “Brick is a standard material, tried and tested, but there is beauty in simplicity,” says Busang. “It is always amazing to see what you can do with brick in architecture. I mean, what can you not do with brick?”

The brick of choice was Corobrik’s Moroccan Red Travertine, selected due to its similarity to the brick used in the existing building on-site. It has a beautiful subtle red and brown hue accentuating a natural feel that allows the new design to respond and give homage to the existing infrastructure.

“I would like to thank Corobrik for giving so many of us a platform to be heard through our creative work. I do not take this fortunate privilege lightly, because there is a certain weight in saying you have received an award for your architectural work from Corobrik,” says Busang.

This year the national awards will again be a hybrid event held in May, following a similar format as in 2021. The 2019 awards ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19, with Corobrik instead announcing the 2019 and 2020 winners at a combined event last year. “We are very excited to celebrate the 35^th edition of the awards. It has been an incredibly exciting and richly fulfilling journey,” highlights Corobrik Marketing Support Manager Thilo Sidambaram, who herself has been involved with the awards for two decades.

“Our relationship with the awards goes back some 35 years, and it is one that has proved very enlightening for Corobrik. It has added a lot of depth and enriched the architectural profession by allowing young up-and-coming architects to express themselves and show the kinds of directions they believe architecture should be going in,” comments Corobrik CEO Nick Booth. Since 1986, the awards have placed 34 winners on the architectural map, both in leading practices as well as their own firms.

35^th Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Awards: Tshwane University of Technology

Winner Daniel Fouché R10 000

1^st Runner-Up Alma Holm R8 000

2^nd Runner-Up Keila Swanepoel R6 000

Best Use of Clay Masonry Busang Makhele R6 000

Visit studentawards.corobrik.co.za for more information about the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards.

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Ends

Notes to the editor

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About Corobrik
From small beginnings in 1902, Corobrik has evolved into South Africa’s leading clay brick and paving manufacturer. Corobrik’s product quality and performance attributes remain key to the company’s success.

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