Norbet Koch of the University of the Pretoria is the 2012 regional winner of Corobrik’s 26th Architectural Student of the Year Award, and his project ‘Memories and Wasteland.’

Entrants into this initiative have demonstrated that during their working career these architects will take cognizance of environmental imperatives.

Speaking at the prize giving on February 12, Allin Dangers Director of Sales, Inland Region said that Corobrik had seen significant changes in architectural thinking over the years of their sponsorship. He said, “I have watched the growth of awareness in sustainability in design over recent years.  More and more concerned citizens want to ensure the longevity of our planet.”

Norbet Koch together with second placed Rudi Botha with his project entitled ‘The life of our static buildings’ and third placed Lewis Wolf with his project ‘Pistons, Pin-ups and Fisticuffs’ have illustrated that the days when the aesthetics of architecture could be divorced from key sustainability issues were gone.

Dangers said, “Architects take cognizance of sustainability issues when designing a functional and aesthetically pleasing and the Corobrik Architectural Student awards.”

Norbet Koch said that an abandoned flour mill built in 1908 was the inspiration for his thesis.  Situated in Pretoria West Koch proposes the building which was transformed through time, be revitalized.  “It is rich in textures and details which will form the function and process and create new life for creativity.”

He proposes that a natural perfumery be set up to run alongside a glassblowing workshop which recycles glass to produce vessels for the perfume as well as art to be exhibited in the public portion of the building. 
Taking cognizance of its history, the entire building and its spaces function as a memorial space that can be used by the public as well as the artists and artisans for everyday for stimuli of personal and collective memories on a daily basis.

Koch wants to address the downfall of the artisan brought about by mechanised forms of production.  He believes that by remembering the past, this renewed space will focus on inspiration and imagination of artists. 

First runner up Rudie Botha proposes reintroducing the Union Buildings to the public as well as international tourists by recording the memory of the buildings.  The buildings were completed in 1913 and his research project attempts to commemorate the centenary of this landmark. The buildings’ current state does not allow for public participation and this seems unfortunate for both the public and the buildings.

He says the life of the buildings has been interpreted into five distinguishing symbolic-eras: Birth, Union, Oppression, Democracy and Power. The new intervention attempts to make these layered eras open to the public.

The existing plastered clay brick facade is conserved to form part of a double skin façade system, assisting with passive ventilation, increase natural light into the building and to act as sound barrier.  Lewis Wolf’s entry is a graphic narrative study into architectural design.  His entry, a motorcycle workshop and showroom; a boxing academy and short term accommodation is arrived at after investigation of the architectural space.

Norbet Koch took home a R7 000 first prize whilst Rudi Botha received R5000 and Lewis Wolf R3 000 for their respective second and third places. In addition, Tudor Tenea walked off with a special award of R3 000 prize for ‘best use of clay masonry’ in his thesis " The fabric of time: textile dyeing at the Tswaing Crater”

He says, “Bricks were used as the base material for the construction of a salt & soda factory at the Tswaing crater in 1922. By 1958 the mining process had depleted the crater of its resources and the factory was left to ruin. The few remaining brick and concrete elements of the factory serve as visual remnants of a long forgotten era. Bricks were employed in the design to bridge the gap between past and present. New masonry insertions into the existing context rose up from the earth speaking of the solid, heavy nature of the remaining built elements. Brick was used with timber to juxtapose the heavy character with a lighter one. The brick was plastered and bag rendered so that the layering of materials can still be read on the building surface.”

Each institutional first prize winner goes forward to compete for the coveted national Architectural Student of the Year Award to be held on April 18, 2013, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The winner of the National Award will receive a prize of R50 000 to add to his/her institutional winnings.

Dirk Meyer, managing director of Corobrik pointed out that clay brick, as a product, met key sustainability requirements. He says, “the durability,  re-useability and re-cyclability of clay brick is an important factor in selecting this medium for construction.  Clay bricks have thermal properties which mean more energy efficient finished buildings.”

“Another advantage is the maintenance free properties of a clay face brick construction ensuring no future carbon debt during the building’s lifetime.”

Corobrik is committed to manufacturing clay bricks that offer a low environmental impact.  Modern manufacturing technologies and the use of natural gas for firing ensures the company’s carbon footprint is kept to a minimum.

“It is our aim to continue to invest in its manufacturing facilities and would as part of the companies ‘greening’ process be converting facilities to natural gas wherever it was available,” concluded Meyer.

Ends
Caption:

Pretoria winner captions
Allin Dangers congratulates University of Pretoria winner Norbet Koch.  Norbet won the regional finals of the Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year competition with his entry entitled ‘Memories and Wasteland.’  Eight finalists will compete for the national award on 18 April at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Norbet Koch shows Allin Dangers model
Norbet Koch, this year’s winner of the Pretoria University regional leg of the Corobrik Architectural Student of the year.  He shows Allin Dangers of Corobrik the key elements of his thesis entitled ‘Memories and Wasteland.’ 

Norbet Koch & model
The revitalization of an abandoned flour mill built in 1908 was the inspiration for Norbet Koch’s winning thesis.  Norbet will represent the university at the national finals in Johannesburg on the 18 April 2013.

Distributed on behalf of Corobrik (Pty) Ltd,
For additional information contact:
Allin Dangers of Corobrik on 011 871 8600
Norbet Koch on 071 325 8602