Brigitte wins Corobrik student awards
Her thesis is entitled, ‘Exploring the significance of the cosmos to death through the space making principles of the Shembe'.
INNOVATIVE design, sustainability and socio-economic value mark the 28th Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year awards.
Allin Dangers, Corobrik director of sales for KZN and the Eastern Cape recently presented prizes to architectural students of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. This year’s regional winner of R8 000 is Westville resident Brigitte Stevens.
Brigitte’s thesis is entitled, ‘Exploring the significance of the cosmos to death through the space making principles of the Shembe’. This thesis is a proposed cemetery complex to celebrate life in the city of Durban.
She proposes adapting an existing parking garage – Nicol Square Parkade in the centre of Durban – according to the Shembe principle of reclaiming lost space.
She said: “In our society, colonisation interrupted what might have been a ‘great African connection’ between architecture and larger forces of influence.
“There are no symbols of this relationship, and if one were to introduce a symbol into the centre of the city, not only would we start visibly seeing the relationship between African spirituality and our society, but we would be redefining the identity of the city as an African city.”
The main design ideas are derived through learning from past people: how they settled, travelled and appreciated the natural land.
