Finalists of Architectural Student of the Year competition

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Representing the University of the Free State is Marius du Plessis for his thesis 'A Journey from the Centre of the Earth', which is a national geothermal research and educational centre, in Village Main, Johannesburg.

University of Cape Town student Simon Henstra's strategy is that existing buildings be extended upwards and outwards, and by transferring the development rights of the neighbouring erven, unlock and utilise the existing unused airspace. His thesis, entitled 'Inner-city palimpsest: building the city above the city', proposes a building of 42 residential units and 650m² of office space be constructed above existing buildings in Long Street.

Photographic museum

Alexandra Wilmot will represent the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Her thesis is entitled 'Eco-nnection' in which she integrates the systems of a disconnected urban environment through the design of a photographic museum for Port Elizabeth. Wilmot believes the increasing concern for sustainability in architecture has often failed to adequately address the social aspect of the issue.

Tshwane University of Technology student Graeme Noeth's passion for astronomy fueled his thesis which is the design of an international school of astronomy and astro-tourism centre to be sited at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland in the Northern Cape.
Representing the University of Johannesburg is Harold Johnson with his thesis, 'The Dark City: Critical Interventions in Urban Despair' which is a journey through the epidemic known as 'bad buildings' in inner-city Johannesburg.

Cemetery complex

Brigitte Stevens from the University of KwaZulu-Natal explores the significance of the cosmos to death through space making principles of the Shembe in her thesis. She proposes a cemetery complex to celebrate life in Durban. The project uses a Shembe principle of reclaiming lost space through the adaptive reuse of the existing Nicol Square parkade.

The University of Pretoria is represented by Walter Raubenheimer with his thesis, 'Redefining industry: Architecture as a constructive extraction'. The effect of the decommissioning of the Cullinan diamond mine and the resultant mining ruin within the scarred landscape was investigated.

University of Witwatersrand student Sarah de Villiers' thesis, 'Idea Bank', proposes a spatial platform whereby business ideas can be bought and sold at this new type of financial institution, sited adjacent to Alexandra.