Prestigious Corobrik prize in the bag for architecture student
Everything from Middelburg’s mine heaps, its black and sooty coal dust to its rich and vibrant history, was channelled into the innovative design that bagged a local student of architecture the prestigious Corobrik Clay Award.
Kayla Potgieter recently completed her Masters Degree in Architecture at the University of Pretoria, where she achieved a distinction for both her thesis and design for her final year.
Kayla is a born and bred Middelburger and a former student of Hoërskool Middelburg.
The young architect was selected for the Corobrik Clay Brick Award on November 29 after contending against architecture students across the country.
According to Kayla, she was nominated for the award based on her design of a building as well as the design of a brick prototype that contains coal dust.
Kayla sought inspiration for her thesis and design right here at home in Middelburg, finally finding it at the historical railway station building.
“I found the architecture of the old NZASM building at the Middelburg Train Station very interesting and decided to base my design on it,” Kayla told the Middelburg Observer.
Kayla took inspiration from the temporary and moveable components on the NZASM structure, as well as the crafted components, such as the sandstone that was carved out by hand, to include in her own design.
The idea and aim of her building design was to enhance the station’s current layout.
“One part of my design is to accommodate stalls and a workspace for arts and craft stalls. I implemented temporary and moveable components into this section, including louvres to enhance thermal performances. The design is based on the original workshop area at the station. The second part of my design includes a distillery within the NZASM building itself. I did plenty of research on cultivating grain on mine heaps, which will not only rehabilitate mined soil but can be used to brew and distil alcohol.”
Lastly, Kayla also designed her own brick prototype, which contains a certain percentage of coal dust.
These bricks ultimately were also found to improve thermal performance.
“Winning the Corobrik prize means so much to me. It’s quite a prestigious award, which will give me a head start in finding employment,” Kayla told the paper.
Kayla has completed her studies and is in the process of applying for positions at architectural firms.
