Winners of Corobrik's Architectural Student of the Year Awards announced

Gillian van der Klashorst and Ockert van Heerden

Van der Klashorst won the first prize of R8,000, second prize of R6,500 went to Buckley Rodger and third prize of R4,500 was presented to Ursula Kotzè. An additional prize of R5,000 for the best use of clay masonry was awarded to Marlette Burger.

Ockert van Heerden, sales director at Corobrik, presented the prizes to the winners.

The competition involves the country's eight major universities where the best architectural students are identified based on their final thesis and presented with awards at regional events. The winners of each of the regional competitions then go on to compete for the national title at the 29th Corobrik Student Architect of the Year Awards in Johannesburg in May 2016

Urban observatory

Van der Klashorst's thesis is entitled Urban Observatory - Re-introducing Observation and Measurement to reveal the invisible city.

The Johannesburg Observatory site, situated on the highest point of the Witwatersrand, exhibits a history of the application of different types of viewing. Currently it is unused as the night sky has been obscured by the city's artificial radiance and pollution. The site is analysed with the aim of re-interpreting its inherent character and a weather station and astronomical observatory is proposed paying tribute to the historic value.

Rodger's URBAN [infra]STRUCTURE uses a property in Brown Street to collect water which is treated. In the process power is generated. The project also handles recycling with Rodgers anticipating that several similar projects of varying scales be placed around Pretoria.

Elderly and children

Kotze's design proposal is an Early Childhood Development Centre with a public interface and horticulture production to caters for the informal settlement of Phomolong in Mamelodi, Pretoria. She focuses on the elderly and children which do not take part in the daily exodus of the working class.

Burger proposes converting an existing building on the corner of Helen Joseph and Sisulu Streets to be used by the public of Pretoria. The rehabilitated structure will offer a public square, amphitheatre, restaurants, public showers and ablutions and will give small businesses an opportunity to operate.

Van Heerden said that all of the winners had shown a close affinity with their subjects and that their designs both enhanced and integrated with the communities in which they were sited.