UKZN Contributes to Book on Architecture in a Democratic South Africa

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UKZN Architecture lecturers, Mrs Bridget Horner and Mr Juan Solis-Arias, together with 12 alumni, have contributed to a book titled: 10+ years 100 Projects – Architecture in a Democratic South Africa.

Published by Bell-Roberts and edited and convened by retired University of Pretoria’s Professor Ora Joubert, the book documents the most meritorious final-year design dissertations from the eight South African universities offering architectural tuition at a postgraduate level.

The book was showcased to UKZN Architecture students during Joubert’s visit to the University.

The UKZN contribution is accompanied by an introduction by Horner and Solis - Arias contextualising the work of past students. Each student’s work is briefly described and critiqued alongside a series of exploratory design drawings.

The 480-page book includes submissions of the national winners of the Corobrik Student of the Year Award from 2002 to 2017 which UKZN student Mr Jean-Pierre Desvaux De Marigny won last year. His winning design, titled: Design for [bio] Diversity- which is featured in the book- explored the potential of architecture for ecological conservation, proposing an environmental awareness and water research facility in the context of Springfield Industrial Park/ uMgeni River catchment area in Durban.

Other UKZN students whose work was selected for the collection were Mr Mark Bellingham, Towards and Appropriate Regional Architecture; Mr Cameron Finne, Skills Development Centre in the Durban CBD; Mr Dennis-Lee Stols, Cardboard Recycling Unit in Durban; Mr Raz Mseleku, Art and Aid Assistance Centre; Ms Samantha Rouche, a Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Centre; Mr Darius Coertse, Building Clinic in Cato Manor; Mr Aleksander Troskolanski, a Symposium for Participatory Democracy in the Warwick Junction; Ms Brigitte Robyn Stevens, Museum of Life; Mr Nischolan Pillay, a Memory Market in Blue Lagoon; and Ms Najeeba Hassim, Environmental Research Facility.

The book is intended to serve as both a source of inspiration and as a reference work for Architecture students and professionals. ‘In its experimental and commercially unfettered form, the collection of projects is undoubtedly the most authentic barometer to gauge how radically our design priorities have shifted in recent years and where our current architectural output is situated. It moreover provides an extraordinary range of highly relevant and exceptionally innovative architectural interpretations which would also find appeal to everyone associated with the building industry,’ said Joubert.

Words and photograph: Melissa Mungroo