University of the Witwatersrand student and Midrand resident Jason Ngibuini will represent his school at the 32nd Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Award on 7 May.
Ngibuini will be one of eight young architects from major universities around the country who will compete in the national finals of the competition.
At the end of 2018, Jason Ngibuini won the regional architectural competition and will represent The University of Witwatersrand at the national finals on 7 May this year.
He will present his thesis entitled Shere Ya Chai: Transmutation of Kikuyu vernacular as an immersive tea tasting retreat. He said, “In Kenya, tea plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, accounting for 22 per cent of its total exports. Being the third largest producer of black tea in the world, Kenya’s tea industry is struggling due to the shortfall of exports lagging high levels of production.”
Ngibuini added that the thesis aims to expand on the Kenyan government plan to increase local consumption from 6.6 per cent to 15 per cent within the next five years by proposing a tea tasting retreat in Limuru in central Kenya. “The tea tasting retreat would allow visitors to gain an understanding of tea cultivation, tea production as well as the health benefits.”
Being born and raised in South Africa, the project has given Ngibuini assistance to rediscover his Kenyan roots and Kikuyu traditions and customs that come down from his family.
“With discussions around post-colonial architecture in Kenya, a focus is put on the transmutation of Kikuyu vernacular architecture to ensure the cultural continuity of skills and expertise that are bound within traditional knowledge. The reinterpretation of these skills or expertise will enhance the visitor’s experience and challenge the role of post-colonial theory in the search for Kenyan identity in contemporary architecture.”
Details: Corobrik 011 871 8600.
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Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/229044/houghton-heritage-uncovered/
