Caesarstone’s Student Design Challenge 2022 Is A Call To Be Bold

Take a deep breath. Imagine yourself in each space. Explore the heritage. Envision the future. Look to understand the old, so as to envision the new. Use your creativity and skill to navigate the gravity of restoring something lost. Caesarstone’s Student Design Challenge 2022 is a call to be bold!

This topical design brief gives you the opportunity to re-imagine the interiors and architecture of the New National Assembly. Seated in the lap of Table Mountain, beneath sea-salted skies and windy thermals, stands South Africa’s home of democracy; also known as The Houses of Parliament. Within this historical complex, you will find The National Assembly, both old and new.

The Old National Assembly

The Old National Assembly, along with the rest of the Parliamentary complex, was planned and designed in the late 1800’s by architects Charles Freeman and Henry Greaves. An additional wing was built and renovated in the 1920’s by the famous British architect, Sir Herbert Baker; remembered as a dominant force in South African architecture during that era. The building combines the grandeur of scale / simplicity of geometric forms characterised by Neo-classical architecture, with the architectural styles of Cape Dutch.

The New National Assembly

In the 1980’s, additions were made to the Parliamentary Complex to include a NEW National Assembly; a space in which 400 elected representatives could be seated. The additions were planned and designed by South African architects, Jack van der Lecq and Hannes Meiring in a Cape Neo-classical style, similar to the rest of the building. From 1994 onwards, the new National Assembly became a transitional space, hosting the democratic and peaceful change-over of governmental leadership in South Africa. It was within the walls of this National Assembly that Nelson Mandela himself was elected as President of South Africa.

The National Assembly provides a forum where representatives of the people can publicly discuss and debate vital issues of state. The 400 representatives seated within the space are responsible for choosing the South African President, passing laws, and ensuring members of the executive perform their work properly.

In short, The National Assembly is a physical representation of the South African people.

From Ashes We Rise

In January 2022, fires tore through the Parliamentary Complex. The National Assembly Chamber was severely damaged. The roof was completely destroyed, and the fire caused smoke and water damage. Untouched by the fire was the historic library and museum. It has since been discovered that part of the reason the fire spread so drastically throughout the complex was due to the fact that cheap, generic latches were installed onto the fire doors to keep them open.

The Design Challenge

It is time to re-imagine and rebuild The Home of South African Democracy, understanding that the National Assembly of 2022 and Beyond, hereon referred to as #NA22Beyond, will be the space within which our country’s future will be navigated.

This design challenge will call you to inspire both the people and politics of South Africa through the interiors / exteriors of
the #NA22Beyond. It will ask you to draw on history and design a future that is bright and BOLD! As Nick Mafi from Architectural Digest says, “when old and new architecture are joined in a thoughtful manner, the results can be dazzling.” (Reference: https://bit.ly/343Zexf)

For example, in line with inspirations from Afrofuturism, you could imagine this as The Mothership of South African Democracy, or dabble in the concept of hybrid buildings.

Considerations:

Re-imagine a new National Assembly in its entirety
Keep the renovation as simple as possible
Imagine the exterior and interior design language
Look to – furniture, fashion, music, and other forms of creative expression
Look to – the values of our world-renowned constitution
Look to – focus on where we want to be
Understanding the old to envision the new
Think of the traditions and symbolism of South Africa’s heritage
Ask the question, “What is the architecture / interior design of the new South Africa?”
Consider Afrofuturism
BE BOLD!