African Design Magazine ADM #37 February 2018 | Page 28

Empower 'Shack is a collaborative
initiative undertaken by Urban Think
Tank, ETH Zurich and South African
NGO Ikhayalami, to address the
upgrading of housing in South
Africa's many informal settlements.
Three African projects nominated for
RIBA AWARDS
The list of nominees for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) biennial International
Awards, include three projects from Africa. These are the Empower Shack and Zeitz MOCAA
projects in South Africa and the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Kericho in Kenya.
aunched in 2016, the RIBA International Awards considers the
world's best new buildings completed in the past two years
that exemplify “design excellence, architectural ambition and
delivering meaningful social impact”. This year's 62 projects from
around the world are vying for the opportunity to make it onto
the Institute's shortlist.
“This significant selection…illustrates the meaningful impact and transformative quality
that well-designed buildings can have on communities, wherever they are in the world.” -
Ben Derbyshire, RIBA President
The shortlist will be selected by a Grand Jury led by esteemed architect Elizabeth Diller of
Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The overall winner of the RIBA International Prize will be
announced in December 2018.
EMPOWER SHACK - South Africa
'Empower 'Shack is a collaborative initiative undertaken by Urban Think Tank, ETH Zurich
and South African NGO Ikhayalami, to address the upgrading of housing in South Africa's
many informal se lements. This includes an urbanisation scheme that combines housing
upgrades with a safer urban environment and new economic and social possibilities.
28 africandesignmagazine.com