• • 04 April 2017
  • 
  •  Edwin Seda
• Selected Works , Awards , archiDATUM News , News , Events ,

The Africa Architecture Awards 2017 is soon approaching. The awards seek to celebrate design excellence and promote an increased awareness of the role and importance of architecture across Africa. Based on values rather than categories, the awards seek to honor established architects and encourage emerging and future voices.

A ‘Critical Dialogue’ award promotes excellence in architectural writing, film and criticism and encourages new forms of discussion and dialogue through the innovative use of digital media. A special ‘Lifetime Achiever’s Award’ may also be awarded in any jury cycle for an architect or architects who have made a significant contribution to the field over a substantive period of time. A People's Choice Award will also be given to the entry voted most popular online

Head Over to Africa Architecture Website for Key Dates and Entry Guidelines.

CATEGORIES
Built: The Award seeks nominations that represent the broadest possible range of architectural interventions. These include architectural projects ranging from modest, small-scale buildings to sizable complexes – from single homes, kiosks and bus stops to skyscrapers, infrastructure and transportation undertakings, housing initiatives, educational and health campuses, new towns, urban conservation projects, landscape projects and adaptive re-use. All forms of planning practice in urban as well as rural contexts are encouraged. Installations and temporary ‘pop-up’ structures may also be considered, providing they can show active occupation and use. Projects should have been completed in the last five years. 

Speculative: The Award seeks to promote imaginative responses to African realities and contexts that will have an impact for future generations. Speculative projects are generally unbuilt, although they may have an installation, exhibition or temporary use component. Projects may range from unbuilt competition entries to short films about architecture with an emphasis on the future.

Emerging Voices: This Award recognises the role and importance of education in shaping the future. This student category seeks design projects from any student enrolled in an accredited programme anywhere on the African continent. Entries must be visual, in the form of drawings, photographs, films and/or multimedia submissions. All entries must be digitally submitted.

Critical Dialogue: The Award seeks to position critical writing and discussion about architecture as an important part of architectural culture. Work submitted in this category must have been published to a wider audience, either in offline print or in digital media such as websites, blogs, Vimeo or YouTube channels. Commercial publishers are welcome to submit articles, essays and books on architecture, and the Award encourages independent and new media publishers to submit in this category. Work may take the form of written entries, films, exhibitions, transcripts of radio interviews or television shows, podcasts and blogs. Only work produced in the last five years is eligible.

SPECIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVERS' AWARDS
This Award is given at the discretion of the Master Jury in any given award cycle. It is awarded to an architect or architects who have made a significant contribution to the professions of architecture and/or urban design over a substantial period of time.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
The Awards are committed to promoting awareness and dialogue with a broad audience. All entries are posted live onto the Africa Architecture Awards website within 72 hours of being submitted and are eligible for online voting. The most popular entry will receive a Winners’ Certificate but is not eligible for a trophy or the $10 000 cash prize.