Looking back at the 2023 CIB City Centre Sustainable Housing Design competition

As we approach the final of the CIB City Centre Sustainable Housing Design Competition 2024, it’s a good opportunity to look back at the inaugural competition in 2023, and the high standard of submissions.

The 2023 CIB City Centre Sustainable Housing Design Competition took place in South Africa from August to October 2023. Sponsored by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) in South Africa and leading architectural practice Boogertman and Partners (B+P), the competition attracted submissions from eight of the ten Architectural Learning Sites invited to participate.

To better support students, online workshops were presented by various CIB members, partners, and architectural professionals. Four weekly workshops took place in August and more than 200 students, lecturers and industry representatives participated. 

Judging

The judging was hosted by the University of Pretoria Department of Architecture on the 26th of October. Judges included Prof Jeremy Gibberd from the CIB as head judge, Mr Isaac Hartley from the NHBRC, Ms Heleen Grimsehl from B+P, Dr Jennifer Mirembe from the South African National Department of Human Settlements (DHS), and Dr Mark Napier from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Prizes

The prizes were announced on the evening of Friday the 27th of October, and the event attracted an audience of approximately 100 people from five of the participating Architectural Learning Sites. Further stakeholders attending the prize-giving included representatives from the NHBRC, B+P, the CIB, the Institute of Human Settlement Practitioners South Africa, the City of Tshwane, and the Pretoria Institute for Architects (PIA).

For the inauguration CIB City Centre Sustainable Housing Design competition, all involved agreed that the 2023 competition was a resounding success with value created for the participating Architectural Learning Sites and sponsors alike. In addition, solutions to meet the need for Sustainable Housing in South Africa were presented and celebrated.

Success was attributed to the high quality of work submitted by the students. With winners and honourable mentions spread across five of the eight architectural learning sites that took part. Below are the competition winners and some notable comments from judges.

First Prize:
Submission 268 from Nelson Mandela University, School of Architecture

Group members: Amahle Ngcakane, Hlonela Gulwa, and Lihle Gule.

Second Prize:
Submission 275 from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Architectural Technology and Interior Design

Group members: Mashudu Brian Mbedzi, Liam Magalie, Janaine Raul, and Rector Mathebula

Third Prize:
Submission 223 from the University of Johannesburg, Architecture

Group members: Matthew Visser, Gerald Guerra, and Shyam Mnagar.

Environmental Sustainability Prize:
Submission 104 from the University of Cape Town, School of Architecture Planning and Geomatics

Group members: Grethe Geringer, Jade Camacho, and Leigh Jansen.

Economic Sustainability Prize:
Submission 162 from Tshwane University of Technology Department of Architecture and Industrial Design

Group members: Sandile Matsaba and Keanu Klaasen.

Social Sustainability Prize:
Submission 254 from Nelson Mandela University, School of Architecture

Group members: Kellan Jones, Ricardo Diedericks, Tiane Oelofse, and Theuns Janse van Rensburg.

Innovative Building Technologies and Indigenous Materials Sponsors Prize: Submission 251 from Nelson Mandela University, School of Architecture

Group members: Carl Schutzler, Zac Setzkorn, and Tsepo Khalienyane.

Honourable Mention 1:
Submission 255 from Nelson Mandela University, School of Architecture

Group members: Priscilla Banda, Josie Handman, and Kayla Iveson

Honourable Mention 2:
Submission 250 from Nelson Mandela University, School of Architecture

Group members: Adam Bowers, Coenraad Pretorius, and Justin Bartlett

Honourable Mention 3:
Submission 151 from Tshwane University of Technology Department of Architecture and Industrial Design

Group members: Bontle Donatus and Entle Makinta

Honourable Mention 4:
Submission 105 from the University of Cape Town, School of Architecture Planning and Geomatics

Group members: Neighcar Kgomokaboya and David Dlamini

Honourable Mention 5:
Submission 153 from Tshwane University of Technology Department of Architecture and Industrial Design

Group members: Ntjidzi Grace Hikwa and Relebogile Mphahlele

For further information, the 2023 competition webpage can be found here. We are waiting with anticipation for the 2024 competition submissions due on the 20th of May 2024. Updates on the 2024 competition can be found here.

For queries regarding the CIB CCSDHC competition and sponsorship opportunities please get in touch with Francine van Tonder, the competition coordinator at [email protected]

2 Comments

  1. Fantastic achievement.
    How is it possible to apply?
    Curtin University Architecture would be very interested.

    • Eira Rowe

      Thank you for your kind words. The competition is currently only open to South African institutions, however we recommend you contact the competition coordinator directly to express your interest in future competitions – [email protected]

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