November 19th : Entries are now open for the 2015/2016 AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation. The bi-annual awards recognise contributions that bring sustainable innovation to human living environments through an integrated approach to communities, planning, design, architecture, building practice, natural systems and technology.
This year, two new award categories have been added, significantly expanding South Africa’s most important built environment sustainability awards. The two mainstay categories of Sustainable Architecture and Research in Sustainability are now joined by Sustainable Products and Technology and Sustainable Social Programmes. This means that a full scope of visionaries working in the field of sustainable architecture, construction and innovation will now be recognised by the prestigious award presented bi-annually by AfriSam and the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA).
“The role of architects and their project partners in ensuring South Africa plays its part in the global journey to sustainability is really emphasised by these awards. It is also a recognition of the fact that we are now in a new era that recognises that sustainable design has to be an integral part of the building industry from the very start of a project, “comments AfriSam’s CEO Stephan Olivier.
“The emphasis is no longer on just the architecture and building practice,” adds Kevin Bingham, Vice President of SAIA. “It is now on the ongoing collaboration and innovation of these two key stakeholders working with communities, natural systems, technology and planning across all levels. This is the only way to bring sustainable innovation to the inhabitable environments.” The broadening of the scope of the 2015/2016 AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation to four categories is step with important advances both in South Africa and globally.
Both SAIA and AfriSam support this global shift: SAIA through encouraging its members to incorporate sustainability in building design at an early stage and AfriSam by its commitment to sustaining the environment through responsible manufacturing processes.
Press release
Sam Manclark
Director | A Better World Network
082 556 5188
@sammanclark
