Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa May/June 2014 | Page 10

BOOKWATCH

COROBRIK RATED BEST BRICK SUPPLIER IN SA

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
CONTAINERS 2
ISBN: 978-84-15829-31-7
Publisher: MONSA
Available to purchase at: www.monsa.com

Living in a container is becoming something less
original and increasingly necessary due to the
lack of construction land. This kind of architecture
encapsulates a complete life philosophy. It’s
essentially how to pay less for occupying the same
space and make housing more accessible whilst
always respecting environmental criteria. Here
you will find a selection of the latest creations
with ‘cargo boxes’ designed by architect studios
worldwide, starting from a small room for guests,
to a residential complex and even shelters, shops
and apartment buildings. Given the success of
building at such a low cost, many people opt for
modular homes, whether in a big city like São Paulo 
or uninhabited places like Rocky Mountain National
Park in Colorado.

PMR.africa presented the Diamond Arrow Award to Corobrik for the
fourth year running for achieving the highest score in its annual national
survey on brick suppliers to the South African construction industry at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in Johannesburg on 16 April 2014.
The survey was conducted from October 2013 to January 2014 using
a random national sample of 120 representatives from construction
companies and building materials retailers. They rated the brick suppliers
in 11 categories ranging from the ability to meet orders, flexibility and
competitive pricing to the quality and variety of products on offer.
Respondents were also asked whether promised delivery times were
met, how the companies responded to queries and about their perception
of the firms’ brand and integrity as well as their BEE and corporate social
investment practices.
Corobrik’s commercial director, Musa Shangase, said that the company
was proud to have received the highest rating of 4.17 out of a possible 5.00
and that striving to be the best brick supplier in the country was an ongoing
objective. The company, with a workforce of over two thousand people,
has the largest distribution network in the country and distributes more
than 5 million bricks to different sites across South Africa every year.
“Another survey category which contributed to our success was
environment-friendly solutions,” Shangase said. “Green production and
sustainability are an integral part of Corobrik’s culture. We believe that this
involves the total environmental impact of a product, from manufacture
to use, maintenance and ultimate reuse or recycling. We invest in ongoing
research with the aim of minimising the environmental impact of our
products and the energy usage in the buildings where they are used.”
The purpose of the annual PMR.africa awards is to celebrate excellence,
to acknowledge achievements and to set a benchmark for others to aspire to.
Corobrik’s wide range of eco-friendly clay pavers, clay face and nonface bricks, covering the full spectrum of applications, are readily available
throughout SA - via three regional offices and 28 Corobrik Centres – and a
host of independent distributers.
Below: Musa Shangase, Corobrik