The prize money of R320 000 was to be awarded to one
winner and two runners-up who would receive R200 000,
R80 000 and R40 000 respectively. However, none of the
designs submitted met all the criteria, and thus do not
qualify for an award. But although there was no clear winner, Media24
decided to reward the three favoured designs. “Some of the entries
truly reimagined the iconic Naspers Centre, so even though there was
not a clear winner we decided to split the prize money equally between
the top three entries as recognition of their artistic contribution,” said
Media24 CEO Esmaré Weideman.
They are, in no particular order:
• Cape Town-based Tsai Design Studio, whose design
titled ‘Urban Sculpture’ imagined a folded sheath
wrapped around the building, with a prominent media
wall facing Walter Sisulu Avenue.
• MLB Architects, based in Cape Town and Johannesburg, whose
design titled ‘Reimagining an Icon’ used glass, mesh and green
planting to create an entirely new silhouette for the building.
• Pretoria-based DBM Architects, whose design titled ‘Roots’
imagined tangled roots reaching up the full height of the
building, in reference to Media24’s 100-year history in
Cape Town.
Anika Ebrahim, head of corporate communications for Media24, said:
“The curators and judges were asked to find three winners from over 90
submissions. While most
submissions met different
aspects of the brief, we
were looking for ideas
that would completely
reimagine this 52-year old
icon. The primary inten-
tion behind Design24 was
to find striking, inspiring
ideas that would trans-
form our head office
building to reflect a multi-
platform media company
on the move. The designs
selected have done that,
albeit falling short of the
cost criteria.”
The competition drew
94 entries from architects
and
designers
across
South Africa, in response
to a brief that called
for ideas to rejuvenate
the
building’s
exterior
façade.
Entries
were
judged by two panels and
were assessed against six
criteria: aesthetic value,
sustainability, cost, tech-
nical
feasibility,
build-
>
MARKETPLACE
>
Design24’s
TOP DESIGNS
announced
Media24 has revealed the judges’ most
favoured designs submitted for Design24, a
design competition seeking concept ideas
to reimagine and rejuvenate the Naspers
Centre on Cape Town’s Foreshore.
MLB Architects, ‘Reimagining an Icon’.
Design Studio, ‘Urban Sculpture’.
ability and, lastly, a reflection of all four World Design Capital themes.
Design24 is an official World Design Capital project.
Eight finalists and 10 ‘cool ideas’ from the entries were revealed
and displayed and the top three entries were announced at a function
on Nasdak, on top of the Naspers Centre. Weideman said: “We thank
the many architects, graphic designers, artists, industrial designers,
urban planners, students and even a journalist who took part in this
exciting competition. We were inspired by the imagination and crea-
tivity of many of the designs. Our implementation team will now be
tasked with the challenge to find the best design solution – which
could include elements of the top three designs – within our modest
budget. Though this is the end of the competition, it is only the first
phase of the exciting journey to reinstate our building as an icon of the
future Foreshore.”
“The curators and judges were asked to find
three winners from over 90 submissions ...
We were looking for ideas that would
completely reimagine this 52-year old icon.”
8
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2014
