Architecture was celebrated at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where the work of thesis students was recognised and the winning students announced. The Architectural Student of the Year programme now in its 27th year involves all 8 Universities and University ofTechnologies thesis students, with the winner from each institution going forward to represent their University at the National Award event.

At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University award ceremony Christie van Niekerk of Corobrik presented prizes to the winning students.

“These annual awards aim to promote and reward design excellence amongst students whilst encouraging a broadening in understanding of the environmental issues and their resolution. Through discourse around thesis projects design paradigms are inevitably challenged and new design ideas evolve giving depth to architectural resolution while  building technical skills sets required by architects of the future.”

Mientjie van Niekerk was the regional winner of R8000, Simon Steward and Simon de Vries were awarded second prize, While Yusha Ebrahim and Theodor de Goede shared third prize. A special prize for the best use of clay masonry was also presented to Mientjie van Niekerk.

“The talented students who have received prizes today have demonstrated that they have taken on board their far-reaching responsibilities and have excelled themselves in their design projects,” van Niekerk said.

Mientjie van Niekerk’s thesis is entitled “A platform for trade and interaction.”  The platform comprises an essential oil distillation plant, an informal market and a cattle trading area for the Ovahimba people of Opuwo, Namibia.

The lively town of Opuwo is located in the North Western part of Namibia and is the capital of the Ovahimba people. This cultural group is made up of traditional nomadic pastoralists who move in search of good grazing land and water to take care of their sacred cattle herds.

Discovering an abundance of underground water and fountains at Opuwo influenced their nomadic lifestyle and more permanent settlements have been created.

Opuwo is a meeting place where the Ovahimba nomads, tourists and local people come together to trade and interact  forming a rich node of energy in the very harsh climatic environment of the Kaokoveld. The dynamism of Opuwo is produced by tourists travelling to the Kunene River, surrounding Ovahimba settlement groups coming to Opuwo for the necessary resources and facilities, Ovahimba men travelling hundreds of kilometres for cattle trading and traditional Himba harvesters coming to sell their Commiphora Wildii resin and Mopane seed gatherings.

The design proposal was fuelled by these energy sources in order to create a new town centre with an essential oil processing plant as the catalyst project.

In her award for best use of clay brick Mientjie van Niekerk says incorporated thick mass walls of clay bricks were used to create a protective skin in the same way the red earth mixture protects the Ovhaimba people from the harsh climatic conditions in Opuwo. The entire design proposal was dressed in ochre colour bricks which bind the architecture to the immediate context and created a cool and comfortable internal working environment.

The national winner, to be chosen from the eight regional winners, will be announced and presented with a cheque for R50 000 at the 27th National Student Architect awards function in Johannesburg in on the 9th April 2014. 

Caption:  Mientje van Niekerk has won the Corobrik Architectural Student regional Awards for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.  She also won a special award for the best use of clay brick in her thesis.   She is pictured with her awards and her thesis model.  Mientje will participate in the National Awards in Johannesburg on 9 April 2014.

Additional images are available if required.  Please contact Shirley on 083 303 1663 or shirley@swcommunications.co.za

Ends

For additional information contact:
Corobrik â€" Indren Munsamy 083 447 0783
Mientje van Niekerk on 026 481 219783 or mientjievanniekerk@gmail.com
Mienjtje is currently working in Namibia.