-
24 hours in Durban : Nedbank Building -
24 hours in Durban : Nedbank Building -
24 hours in Durban : Central Post Office -
24 hours in Durban : Huletts Head Office -
24 hours in Durban : Huletts Head Office -
24 hours in Durban : Professor Walter Peters is a Senior Professor of Architecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is also editor of the KZ-NIA Journal. -
24 hours in Durban : Haven Court and Westpoint -
24 hours in Durban : KZNSA Building
WORDS Georgia Chennells PHOTOS David Ross PRODUCTION Klara van Wyngaarden
Next year is going to be huge for South African design and architecture: Cape Town will be showing off its World Design Capital 2014, Pretoria challenging preconceptions with Cool Capital and Durban hosting the world congress of the International Union of Architects. The what? Georgia Chennells brings us the lowdown on the 6 000 architects due to descend on Durbs next year.
About the UIA congress
The International Union of Architects (UIA) has been organising a world congress every three years since the event was started in Lausanne in 1948. The UIA is a non-governmental organisation accredited by the United Nations, and it represents professional associations of architects in 124 countries. Further to conference speakers and workshops, this meeting of global networks is also a time where the UIA task teams meet to make to commission studies, make awards, assess workings and plan further.
The congress itself is expected to bring over 6 000 architecturally-affiliated delegates to Durban from around the world. Beyond the physical visitor numbers the international exposure that this congress brings through UIA and further media channels is significant, considering over 1.3-million architects worldwide are plugged in to the UIA.
UIA Durban 2014 is thus a unique opportunity for South Africa to showcase the development of its built environment in the 20 years since democracy. Karen Eicker, who is at the helm of the event’s planning as commissary general, is excited about the opportunities that this brings, not only for showcasing South Africa but for implementing change locally as well.
“We see this Congress as a platform for initiatives that engage the city and its communities on many levels, thus opening up a much broader public awareness of the intrinsic value of design in the built environment,” she says.
“As a visitor to the city, I am always impressed by Durban’s energy, enthusiasm and strong sense of community. Working here is an absolute pleasure – people need very little encouragement to make things happen and create solutions out of nothing. It’s inspiring, and I think this is what makes Durban the perfect host for ‘Architecture Otherwhere’.”
Architecture Otherwhere
“Architecture Otherwhere” is the congress theme with the intention to acknowledge the built environment as a major force that can be harnessed towards a better life for all. The theme will celebrate diversity by exploring other communities, other regions, other disciplines, other ways of engagement with the city, other viable design approaches and other ways of thinking about, practising and teaching architecture.
There are three sub-themes of the conference: ecology, resilience and values, which will each be explored, delving into South African problems and solutions, but with global significance.
Desmond Tutu as patron
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has recently been announced as the congress patron. The celebrated Nobel Prize-winning social activist and icon for peace, tolerance and diversity is a fitting partner to the event.
Says Karen: “Archbishop Tutu is one of the greatest living moral icons of our time, and it is anticipated that his presence will lend significant weight to congress PR and communications efforts over the coming 18 months.”
International Student Competition
The UIA’s International Student Competition invites architecture students of all levels to submit their solutions for short, medium and long-term interventions based on a site in Durban. The site has been announced as Warwick Junction, a unique area in Durban well known for its multiculturalism and successful co-existence of groups of people using the historic space. This competition is conceived as a legacy project that will foster a long-term relationship between the profession, government and communities.
This is certainly an exciting opportunity for South Africa on so many levels. Watch this space for more, or keep an eye on the UIA Durban 2014 website at www.uia2014durban.org
