Westbury Clinic scoops top international award

WESTBURY – Nadia Tromp of Ntsika Architecture took home the award for her design of Westbury Clinic.

The newly-opened Westbury Clinic aids the community and its surrounds. Photo: Neo Phashe

The City of Johannesburg has scooped a top international award at the World Architecture Festival in Germany for its work and design of the Westbury Clinic.

The R33-million clinic was rebuilt and officially opened by Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba in December last year, and caters to the needs of over 550 000 residents.

The clinic has 18 consulting rooms which are used by nurses and social workers, as well as an isolation room, a youth chill room and a health promotion room.

Nadia Tromp of Ntsika Architecture, who scooped the award for her design of the clinic, said she was grateful that her work was being recognised both at home and internationally.

”I am honoured to have been given such an opportunity to design the Westbury Clinic. The community is part of this award and I will always remain indebted to all involved in the Westbury Clinic project.”

She said the award also sends a message to women across the country that they should believe in their dreams and work hard to realise them.

Judges at the festival said the building offered a new public space in a neighbourhood ‘that has been marred by gang violence and substance abuse over the years since apartheid, providing a much-needed amenity to service 550 000 patients from a marginalised community’.

The judges added that the building reaches beyond its clinical programme and becomes a new communal centre for Westbury.

MMC of Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse, congratulated Tromp for her design of the clinic and the Joburg Development Agency for managing the project. ”It’s important that we celebrate this award as it not only confirms the talent we have in the country but adds to the quality infrastructure that we are rolling out across the city,” said Phalatse.

MMC for Development Planning, Funzela Ngobeni, said there is no doubt that the administration has a difficult task ahead in transforming Johannesburg.

“It is developments like the Westbury Clinic that allow us to go beyond the call of duty – to immerse ourselves in giving those in need a better life.

“Slowly but surely Johannesburg is taking shape. We will work tirelessly to implement the plans we have for the City, however, the plans are far larger than the Department of Development Planning.”