The finalists in the 36th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards, selected from eight universities, have been announced. Each will receive a R10 000 prize and the opportunity to compete for the top title, including a R70 000 grand prize, at a live event on Tuesday, 16 May. The finalists were selected based on their architectural master’s theses from the class of 2022.
“Our relationship with the awards goes back some 36 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,” says Corobrik CEO Nick Booth.
Meet the 36th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards Finalists
Ané Meyer
University of the Free State
“I have always been passionate about creativity and problem-solving, and I knew that I would pursue a career in the design field. Studying architecture opens up endless possibilities in terms of understanding the essence of design in any field. I chose to study architecture not to design purely functional and aesthetic buildings but to gain a deeper understanding of how design can create innovative solutions that impact communities and the environment.”
Cindy Langa
University of Johannesburg
“My journey into architecture began in Grade 9 when we were asked to design accommodation for international visitors during the 2010 World Cup. This is what sparked my curiosity about the industry. What has sustained me though, is my interest in public spaces; The who, why, when and how public spaces have changed over time – especially given the history of South Africa – continues to intrigue me.”
Francois Luc Groenewald
Tshwane University of Technology
“We are all inherently surrounded by architecture to some degree and some decide to study the nature and theory behind the architecture that surrounds them, whereas others choose to experience the effects of it. For me, I’ve always had a curious attitude toward the assemblage of objects, and architecture, as objects, embody the true spirit of object compositions.”
Katherine van Wyngaarden
University of Cape Town
“I have always been intrigued with space and the built form, and peoples experience with it. Of how architecture can create a sense of belonging, encourage interaction and provoke emotion. I was drawn to this idea that there is this relationship with creative exploration and its physical application, with an end product that people interact with and assimilate into their everyday experience.”
Kreolin Lyle Naicker
University of KwaZulu-Natal
“I have always been a creative person and enjoyed drawing from a very young age and I found interest in technical drawing during high school. The combination of the two lead me towards studying Architecture.”
Luzuko Funda
Nelson Mandela University
“In architecture, I have discovered a platform that allows me to express my art and creativity. Coming from a technical background helped me to understand the nature of construction and architecture taught me a way of communicating that through art in a way that others can visualize by means of a physical model or building. Architecture has allowed me to find my own creative path and leave a mark wherever I go.”
Melicia van Loggerenberg
University of Pretoria
“From a young age I have been encouraged to be proactive in improving my environment, be it through influencing people or space. The architectural profession provided the platform where this can be achieved on unimaginable scales. As architects, our daily works and engagements need to continuously challenge the way we think about our social, political and environmental influence. Knowing that our decisions will practice a level of control over societies far beyond our short existence demands a careful deliberateness in any project.”
Mia Pulles
University of the Witwatersrand
“I grew up with an artist as a mother and an environmentalist as a father, shaping me to become an artist with a keen interest in the natural world. Architecture to me, was and is the most physical and creative outlet for change. Not only does architecture sculpturally define the space we occupy on this beautiful planet, but it provides people with real, tactile opportunities to adapt, grow and live.”
To view the winning regional projects and to watch the awards live on the 16th of May, go to www.studentawards.corobrik.co.za.
