Wits student wins the 2015 Corobrik Architectural Awards
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits student is thought to become a leader in the architectural field.
Vedhant Maharaj from Wits University became the 29th architectural student to take first prize at the Corobrik Architectural Awards on 11 May.
For nearly three decades, this prestigious award has been presented to a talented young graduate who is on the brink of making a name for themselves in the extremely competitive architectural profession.
Maharaj’s winning dissertation, entitled Yantra, Infrastructure of the Sacred and Profane, exhibited critical elements that had been picked out by the judges, such as innovation and technical excellence expressed with a keen understanding of the combined social, economic and environmental context that is changing the approach to the built environment today.
“Innovation differentiates design resolutions and helps define architecture. Innovation in sync with context, provides the delight factor permitting architectural design to compete comfortably on the world stage. Technical skill, the ability to create memorable form that draws one in while treading softly on our planet put the finishing touches to sustainable architecture,” said Corobrik managing director, Dirk Meyer.
Meyer admitted that it had been a challenge to separate a winner from the eight regional finalists from the country’s major universities this year. These finalists won their respective regional awards during 2015 and went forward to compete for the national award.
Meyer said that all eight entries showed how innovation could blend with sustainability, social awareness and technical excellence. However, Maharaj’s offering illustrated how creativity could make an exceptional and meaningful contribution to South Africa’s diverse and multi-cultural landscape.
Responding to the announcement that Maharaj had been presented with this year’s Corobrik Architectural Award, Dr. Mpho Matsipa, Maharaj’s co-supervisor said that Yantra explored water infrastructure which provided water that was safe for human consumption while respecting the rich architectural heritage of Varanasi in India.
Dr Matsipa said, “I believe that Vedhant demonstrates a lot of passion for thinking about the spatial, technological and ambient possibilities of infrastructure as culturally-informed architecture. I would advise him to continue working and thinking across different scales and locations. I believe that he could become a leader in the field, specifically in terms of thinking about water architecture from the Global South.”
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