The GAUTENG INSTITUTE FOR ARCHITECTURE (GIfA) is gearing up for its biennial Awards for Architecture, which will be held on 31 October 2013 at the Turbine Hall in Newtown. A total of 39 submissions were received for shortlisting from Gauteng’s foremost architectural practitioners, allowing for an extremely diverse selection of new buildings ranging from small scale interventions in Johannesburg’s informal settlements to upmarket residential and new high profile public buildings.
Daniel van der Merwe, President of GIfA when asked about the judging process for shortlisting:
“The criteria for an Award which the judging panel are looking for are foremost that of buildings which ‘pushes the boundaries’ in terms of originality; which contributes to the public realm and which are legible, easy to navigate, and offer rich spatial experiences. Also, equally important are the qualities which make buildings that are humane and make our city a better place or build a better society. Current concerns dictate that buildings should use resources efficiently over and above their success in responding to a Client’s brief and the way in which they sit comfortably within their environments. In short- I would say that an award winning building must be a building which I would be proud to have designed!”
GIfA has announced its list of 19 finalists’ shortlisted for the Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the awards ceremony
The 19 nominees:
1 Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens Rammed – Earth Pavilion Home design
2 Gass Architecture Studio Westcliff Pavilion Home art gallery design
3 BD Studio Skinner Art Gallery Art gallery design
4 Kate Otten Architects House Omisore Home Design
5 Kate Otten Architects New Olifantsfontein Library Library Design
6 26’10 South Architects and Urban Designers Brixton Studio – Home Home Design
7 Mira Fassler Kamstra Alterations and additions to House Madlener Alterations and additions to an existing house
8 Cohen and Garson WAM (Wits Art Museum) Arts Museum
9 Savage and Dodd Architects The Wits University Science Stadium Science Stadium
10 Michael Scholes and Associate Architects The Wits University New School of Construction Economics and Management department Economics and Management department building
11 Studiojoy + King Edward VII School library and museum Library and Museum
12 Office 24-7 House Kleine Schuur House Design
13 Henry Paine and Partners Shandukani Corporate Building
14 Julian Kats Architects Oak Tree Corner Corporate Building
15 Paragon Architects Alexander Forbes Corporate Building
16 Architects of Justice Seed library Corporate Office Library
17 Afritects The Soweto Theatre Theatre Design
18 26’10 South Architects and Urban Designers Taxi Rank No.2 in Diepsloot Taxi Rank Design
19 Arc Du Ple Architects Geref Kerk Benoni Refurbishment of Existing Church
About GIfA
GIfA is a voluntary association established in 1996 and incorporates the Gauteng region of the previous Transvaal Institute for Architects (founded in 1909). The Institute is a member of SACAP (SA Council for the Architectural profession and is a regional affiliation of SAIA (SA Institute for Architects). For further information about GIfA please visit: www.gifa.org.za
