Institute announces architecture award winners

IT was a night of double celebrations as the South African Institute for Architects – KwaZulu-Natal Region (SAIA KZN) announced its 2019 Awards for Architecture and inducted its 2019/2020 president at a Corobrik-sponsored ceremony recently.

Taking the reins of the SAIA KZN will be renowned South African architect, Patrick Smith. He has worked on a number of residential and commercial projects including the interior design for the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Addressing the members of the architecture community, civic dignitaries and other honoured guests at the inauguration, Smith said he regarded the presidency as a massive privilege and looked forward to the work ahead.

“The Institution has been around for well over a 100 years and, as such, carries a huge sense of tradition and accomplishment,” said Smith. “With this comes a heavy weight of responsibility that I do not take lightly. While a certain amount of politics is inevitable in a position like this, I do not regard myself as a politician, but rather as someone who is happy digging alongside colleagues in the trenches,” he said.

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Smith described SAIA KZN as a ‘voice for the architect’ within the province. “We have seen the demise of several large construction firms in the last few years as the building industry has slumped. Lack of investor confidence has affected our profession directly and it is at times like this when institutions such as ours have to support our members.”

In a fitting tribute, this year’s keynote speaker was professor Ora Joubert, former teacher of the newly-inducted KZNIA president.

The audience was kept enthralled by Joubert’s talk which covered extracts from her recently published book entitled 10+ years 100 projects – architecture in a democratic South Africa.

SAIA KZN welcomed 15 entries for this year’s awards with adjudication performed by an esteemed panel. All the 2019 award-winners will go forward to the Corobrik SAIA Awards of Merit and Excellence hosted in 2020.

Musa Shangase, Corobrik’s Commercial Director, congratulated both Smith on his appointment as well as the award winners at this year’s event.

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