Student architects' competition for Silos design

Property investment and management company, Citiq has launched a competition aimed at registered architectural students, featuring creative concepts for the conversion of the large Newtown Silos into student accommodation. The aim is to give architectural students an opportunity to design a space that will not only redefine student life, but also student lifestyle.

The designs for the repurposing of the large Newtown Silos follow two other recent silo projects in South Africa. The silos at the Biscuit Mill in Cape Town were converted to space for the Cape Town Creative Academy with a restaurant on the rooftop. Meanwhile Citiq is also responsible for the conversion of the smaller Newtown Silos to student accommodation, with construction planned to be completed in January 2014.

"Our intention behind the competition is to stimulate debate and interest in the enormous potential represented by the large Newtown Silos as student apartments. Given that this space is intended exclusively for students, we want architectural students to feel part of the transformation of Newtown and interpret, through their designs, a fun and trendy space that epitomises varsity life. We are looking for the most innovative concepts and artistic interpretations of these concrete pipes," says CEO Paul Lapham.

The architectural departments at the University of Johannesburg and the University of the Witwatersrand as well as the Gauteng Institute for Architects have added their support and will form part of the judges' panel along with Paul Lapham and Arthur Blake who is the inspiration behind the Mill Junction silo development.

Judging will take place on 14 February 2014 and the finalists' works will be on display at the Ithuba Arts Gallery at the Ithuba Arts Gallery, Anchor House, 100 Juta Street, Braamfontein, from 17-21 February. The overall winner will be awarded R35,000 and second and third places will receive R17,500 and R7,500, respectively. Entries will close on 24 January 2014.

For more, visit the Facebook page: Grand Silos at Newtown.