Sustainability at Corobrik is not just about supplying the finest clay bricks and pavers with the most enduring qualities, but is a concept well integrated into the company's business culture.

It is all about pursuing a holistic approach that embraces the three pillars of sustainability, namely economic, social and environmental.

Solutions must be a best fit in all three dimensions with long term payback for all stakeholders, and that includes the public at large. 

"Most importantly, whatever we should do, should support and add value to the Corobrik brand in a society that is becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of addressing and defeating the progress of climate change," said Chris Dickinson, Sales Director of Corobrik.

"In pursuit of our sustainability agenda, Corobrik has for a long time regarded the role of architectural community as key to the future environmental integrity of our built environment, and it is therefore appropriate that we should continue to extend our commitment to the development of architects in South Africa through our support of the Architectural Student of the Year programme now in it's 24th year."

"The focus of architecture today is all about design and specification that "treads lightly" on our earth both visually and in terms of impact on the environment, capturing the imagination and evoking feelings of inclusiveness and acceptance by the broader South African community.

Encouraging all students to realize their potential, to think through all aspects of sustainability when creating their architecture and to produce the exceptional, underpins our commitment to the programme.
This sponsorship of course is also there to provide a platform for wider debate on South African architecture that captures the spirit of our emerging nation."

At the regional finals in Bloemfontein on 5 November Pierre De Lange was placed first for his thesis entitled 'Echoes in Architecture: the mediatheque as a new library concept for the Johannesburg City Centre.'

De Langa says, "Echoes in Architecture is an investigation into a how the intervention of a new building can reconciliate a neglected historical structure. Specifically, the old Rissik Street Post Office in the Johannesburg City Centre which was devastated by a fire in November 2009. The project aimed to marry contemporary and historic architecture to achieve equilibrium between preserving cultural heritage and providing a memorable urban space. The result was a subtle geometric insertion so that the new appears to be hugged by the existing ruin.

This created a building with two fronts; the face of memory (old) and hope (new)."

Each regional winner receives a prize of R6 000 and is entered into the national finals, where they will compete for top honours in March 2011

The runner-up, Reghardt Bekker was awarded R4 000 for his project, entitled (project and details to follow). In third place was Arend De Waal, who received R3 000 for his entry.
A bonus prize of R3 000 was awarded to Philip Bartman for the use of clay brick in his thesis and for this he is awarded  R3 000.



For more information contact: Gary Westwood of Corobrik on 051 432 4791 or 083 284 9449