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rise in the City 2018

Pushing the boundaries of design

Maseru, Lesotho

About rise in the city

rise in the city 2018 was a unique international architecture competition for students and recent graduates worldwide. Here’s a brief video summarising how it all went down! 

The challenge was to design affordable and sustainable housing solutions for Africa’s growing population. The competition was organised by rise International and BOND Events building on the success of rise in the city 2017. All innovative problem solvers in the built environment were invited to design a low-income housing prototype in an effort to curb Lesotho’s housing problem in an environment challenged by:  increased urban migration, climate change and scarcity of resources. Here’s a summary on how it worked. Here’s the competition brief.  

Here are Important Questions & Answers for all competition entries to read.

 

How it works

Lesotho is a lower middle income country completely surrounded by South Africa. For this competition, its capital city, Maseru is being split into 100 virtual blocks. Virtual residency was offered for 3 entities per block:

Phase One – deadline September 30, 2018: 100 students and recent architecture graduates were invited to enter the architecture competition and design an affordable  residential house for low income families in an urban setting for Maseru.

Phase Two – deadline Oct 31, 2018: 100 Leading architecture and design firms were invited to take up virtual residence of one of the blocks for free. In return, they mentored and critiqued the student competition entry who also took up virtual residency of the same block. AND offered an architectural experience to the sponsor of their block.  This architectural experience was a networking lunch with the senior design team or a tour of a building they have designed if one is located close to their office.

Phase Three – deadline Jan 31, 2019: 100 companies keen to gain a one-on-one networking opportunity, chose a Maseru block to sponsor for only $1,200 and got to enjoy the experience with the resident architecture firm in their block.

A high profile jury shortlisted the best entries that are being exhibited at various events internationally. There will be one International winner and one winner from Lesotho who will be announced on March 8, 2019. 100% of proceeds goes directly towards the project – a design & build training program for Lesotho unemployed youth who get to construct a community development project. 

If enough additional funding is raised from the competition, we will then build the prototype, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, so that people in Lesotho can see the design, get inspired and adapt to build houses that are equally as sustainable and made from locally sourced materials.

By getting involved with rise in the city, either by mentoring a student competition entry, sponsoring one of the city blocks or entering the competition, you have helped give the people of Lesotho the opportunity to better their lives for themselves.

Arial shot of Maseru

Who you help

rise is working towards a world where sustainable social enterprises, created by local entrepreneurs are the norm. Through our professional network, rise links social entrepreneurs from low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa to fundamental resources that they would otherwise not have access to, in order to fulfil their potential.

The first rise project, followed the in loco “hands-on, bottom-up” approach, to deliver a new building with accommodation, study and service facilities for the children at a very overcrowded orphanage in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Learn more. This combined with entrepreneurship training and mentoring, will enable the orphanage to provide enough accommodation for the children and to become more self-sustaining by launching income-generating activities.

True to the rise ethos, the local community will be instrumental through this process, with the support and expertise of industry experts. rise is a not-for-profit organization, co-founded by BOND Events as an integral part of its Social Responsibility Program.

who-you-help

Block 001

Architect
JUAN MATIZ
Student Competitor

Tankiso Hantsi

Lesotho

Block 002

Architect
Jason Olsen
Student Competitor

Thebe Letsopha

Lesotho

Block 003

Architect
John Lyon
Student Competitor

Thandi Joyce Mokoma

Lesotho

Block 004

Architect
Kurt Hagstette
Student Competitor

Cassidy Rosen

United States

Block 005

Architect
Brett Swiatocha
Student Competitor

Samuel Alayande

Nigeria

Block 006

Architect
Erika Belsey
Student Competitor

Siddhant Gupta

India

Block 007

Architect
Andrei Sdrula
Student Competitor

Valeriia Frolova

United States

Block 008

Architect
Manish Chadha
Student Competitor

zinal dudhat

India

Block 009

Architect
JANE CAMERON
Student Competitor

Aditya Sharma

India

Block 010

Architect
YOLANDE DANIELS
Student Competitor

nichoals nuccio

United States

Block 011

Architect
Yolandi Vorster
Student Competitor

JAYESH SINGH RAWAT

India

Block 012

Architect
Rick Gunter
Student Competitor

Joy Gwokyalya

Uganda

Block 013

Architect
ANTONIO DI ORONZO
Student Competitor

Hailemikael Negussie

Ethiopia

Block 014

Architect
Krynauw Nel
Student Competitor

Mya Hnin Phyu

Myanmar

Block 015

Architect
Alberto Martinez Garcia
Student Competitor

Malesela Kenneth Molekoa

United States

Block 016

Architect
Matthew Bremer
Student Competitor

Nthabiseng Moshoeshoe

Lesotho

Block 017

Architect
Phooko Phooko
Student Competitor

Adamson Mwanza

Zambia

Block 018

Architect
Phu Hoang
Student Competitor

Noriel Estipular

Philippines

Block 019

Architect
David Mojewa
Student Competitor

Maluke Maluke

Lesotho

Block 020

Architect
Andrew Carson
Student Competitor

Palesa Rapolo

Lesotho

Block 021

Architect
Karina Moran
Student Competitor

Rocio Ferro

United States

Block 022

Architect
Ricky Taylor
Student Competitor

Erika Gallego

Colombia

Block 023

Architect
Qefate Lerotholi
Student Competitor

javad rajabzade

Iran

Block 024

Architect
Paul Taylor
Student Competitor

Chris Benny Paul

Canada

Block 025

Architect
Christopher Rose
Student Competitor

David Kwantwi-Mensah

Ghana

Block 026

Architect
Felix Holland
Student Competitor

Stepan Cibulka

Czech Republic

Block 027

Architect
Michael Sorkin
Student Competitor

hamidreza khademi

Italy

Block 028

Architect
Hermann Kamte
Student Competitor

Simone Op den Kamp

Netherlands

Block 029

Architect
Cezary Bednarski
Student Competitor

Yvonne Asiimwe

Uganda

Block 030

Architect
Nihan Basak
Student Competitor

Sergio Del Villar

Mexico

Block 031

Architect
Margi Glavovic Nothard
Student Competitor

Nwabisa Madyibi

South Africa

Block 032

Architect
susan wright
Student Competitor

Natasha Afzal

Pakistan

Block 033

Architect
Thabo Mokhesi
Student Competitor

Ramabilikoe Mahao

Lesotho

Block 034

Architect
Kelsey Jordan
Student Competitor

Luis Munoz

United States

Block 035

Architect
Minho Kim
Student Competitor

DANIEL GAKWAVU RUTALINDWA

Rwanda

Block 036

Architect
Rich Hubacker
Student Competitor

mohamad waheed fareed

Egypt

Block 037

Architect
Emily Demarest
Student Competitor

Robin Smith

Zambia

Block 038

Architect
Verda Alexander
Student Competitor

Zakaria Boucetta

Canada

Block 039

Architect
Mark Ginsberg
Student Competitor

Hend Abdelaziz

United Kingdom

Block 040

Architect
Pardi Claudio
Student Competitor

Theertha Shetty

India

Block 041

Architect
Tim Zielke
Student Competitor

Shiladitya Roy

India

Block 042

Architect
Poloko Sakoane
Student Competitor

sello papa

Lesotho

Block 043

Architect
Noah Steffes
Student Competitor

Nick Tolman

United States

Block 044

Architect
Ramohlaboli Khotle
Student Competitor

Jacob Samson

Nigeria

Block 045

Architect
Liza Borzoni
Student Competitor

Chris Watkins

United States

Block 046

Architect
Karen Frome
Student Competitor

Mothibe Putsoa

Lesotho

Block 047

Architect
Benjamin Porto
Student Competitor

Tumelo Lerata

Lesotho

Block 048

Architect
Blake Sherwood
Student Competitor

Mohamed Muaviya

India

Block 049

Architect
Daniela Pastore
Student Competitor

Matthias LAURENT

France

Block 050

Architect
Claude de Passillé
Student Competitor

CHRYSI CHARISKOU

Greece

Block 051

Architect
Richard Jorgensen
Student Competitor

Ogunsanya Kolajo

Nigeria

Block 052

Architect
Teboho Ntsaba
Student Competitor

Tlalinyane Motanyane

Lesotho

Block 053

Architect
Gordon Vella
Student Competitor

Apoorva Sethuraman

United States

Block 054

Architect
Haiou Yang
Student Competitor

Qingyang Li

China

Block 055

Architect
Rafael Amuchastegui
Student Competitor

Hape Matheka

Lesotho

Block 056

Architect
Mark Bearak
Student Competitor

Rubal Sharma

India

Block 057

Architect
Nicolas Medrano
Student Competitor

Hossein Goudarzi

United States

Block 058

Architect
Arabang Maama
Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 059

Architect
Stuart Coppedge
Student Competitor

Argjire Krasniqi

Belgium

Block 060

Architect
Anne Rakel Almaas
Student Competitor

Shane Kemp

South Africa

Block 061

Architect
Jessica Thompson
Student Competitor

Kaushik Saseedharan

Singapore

Block 062

Architect
Nate Jenkins
Student Competitor

Nour Fuqa

United States

Block 063

Architect
Daniel Tsuene
Student Competitor

Milda Sutkaityte

Lithuania

Block 064

Architect
Keith Cole
Student Competitor

Esther Shipuata

Namibia

Block 065

Architect
Stuart Crawford
Student Competitor

Sawadogo Lionel

Burkina Faso

Block 066

Architect
Earl Jackson
Student Competitor

Ntholeng Mohajane

Lesotho

Block 067

Architect
Ian Nestler
Student Competitor

Milena Aleksandrova

Bulgaria

Block 068

Architect
Shabbir Chandabhai
Student Competitor

Sharon Nair

India

Block 069

Architect
Abiy Dejene
Student Competitor

noel gustav

Tanzania

Block 070

Architect
Stephen Dynia
Student Competitor

Luca Luca

Denmark

Block 071

Architect
Malefetsane Mohlomi
Student Competitor

Maleeka Metteden

Nigeria

Block 072

Architect
Willy Bermudez
Student Competitor

Michael Kotlar

Czech Republic

Block 073

Architect
Rebwar Muhammed
Student Competitor

Alex Umerie

Nigeria

Block 074

Architect
Audrey Matlock
Student Competitor

Homeira Asgari

Iran

Block 075

Architect
David Gross
Student Competitor

Kemoele Matete

Lesotho

Block 076

Architect
Danielle Martin
Student Competitor

Ivan Cosentino

Italy

Block 077

Architect
Samuel Herpin
Student Competitor

Tanmoy Dey

Bangladesh

Block 078

Architect
Stephen Schoch
Student Competitor

Sebastião De Sousa

Portugal

Block 079

Architect
Carolina Larrazabal
Student Competitor

Anthony Mutiso

Kenya

Block 080

Architect
John Clark
Student Competitor

Nik Hazreen Nik Fauzi

Malaysia

Block 081

Architect
Brent Kendle
Student Competitor

Nick Randall

South Africa

Block 082

Architect
Marshall Anderson
Student Competitor

Djofrely Ferreira

United Kingdom

Block 083

Architect
Victor Mirontschuk
Student Competitor

SIXIN LIANG

Italy

Block 084

Architect
Gregory Waugh
Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 085

Architect
Michelle Cintron
Student Competitor

Lebohang Mosiuoa

Lesotho

Block 086

Architect
William Soler
Student Competitor

Ahmad Hafez

Kuwait

Block 087

Architect
Chris Munro
Student Competitor

Amanda Saputri

Indonesia

Block 088

Architect
Ward Welch
Student Competitor

Palash Jain

India

Block 089

Architect
Kenneth Lowery
Student Competitor

OLIVIA JOHNSON

United Kingdom

Block 090

Architect
Erica Giusta
Student Competitor

Mohammad sadegh Nazari

Iran

Block 091

Architect
Mochaba Kampong
Student Competitor

Wibowo Fredy

Singapore

Block 092

Architect
David Craun
Student Competitor

Semih Ata

Turkey

Block 093

Architect
Elizabeth Wilson
Student Competitor

Alexandre Boulé

France

Block 094

Architect
Josh Good
Student Competitor

Ithabeleng Mpapea

Lesotho

Block 095

Architect
Diego Terna
Student Competitor

Tlhoriso Desmond Lebeta

Lesotho

Block 096

Architect
david ling
Student Competitor

Gogo Zhu

United States

Block 097

Architect
Elizabeth Graziolo
Student Competitor

warda ajmal

Pakistan

Block 098

Architect
Wilson Theko
Student Competitor

Sylwia Marcinkowska

Poland

Block 099

Architect
Anne Ball
Student Competitor

Jorge Mancilla

Mexico

Block 100

Architect
David Dennis
Student Competitor

Yaser Rahmaniani

Iran

City Blocks

View the competition design entries 

All the design entries can be viewed by clicking on the student competitor’s names which are highlighted in orange below or by clicking on any of the city blocks above.  

The shortlisted entries are:

Block #25: “Lelapa” by David Kwantwi-Mensah who graduated from BSc in Architecture in 2016 from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in Ghana.
His mentor is Christopher Rose from Christopher Rose Architects in South Carolina, USA. Sponsor is Revel Partners. 

Block #47: “New + Old” by Tumelo Lerata who graduated with a Diploma in Architectural Technology in 2016 from Lerotholi Polytechnic.
His mentor is Benjamin Porto from Snarkitecture in New York, USA. Sponsor is The Durst Organization.

Block #77: “Creating Spaces” led by Tanmoy Dey who graduated in 2015 in BArch from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology in Bangladesh.
Their mentor is Samuel Herpin from Remson Haley Herpin Architects in Louisiana, USA. Sponsor is Revel Partners. 

Block #83: “House of Timing” by Sixin Liang who is currently studying MArch at the University of Ferrara in Italy.
Her mentor is Victor Mirontschuk from EDI International in New York, USA. Sponsor is Simply Oak. 

Block #87: “Four by Four Times Three” by Amanda Saputri who graduated in Architecture in 2018 from Parahyangan Catholic University in Indonesia.
Her mentor is Chris Munro from Fusion Design Consultants in Massachusetts, USA. Sponsor is Fender Katsalidis Architects.

Block #96: “Inside and Outside” by Gogo Zhu who is currently taking a BArch at Virginia Tech in USA.  
Her mentor is David Ling from David Ling Architects in New York, USA. Sponsor is Revel Partners. 

Come back after March 8th to find out who the overall winner is! 

 

Block 002

Architect
Jason Olsen
Student Competitor

Thebe Letsopha

Lesotho

Block 003

Architect
John Lyon
Student Competitor

Thandi Joyce Mokoma

Lesotho

Block 005

Architect
Brett Swiatocha
Student Competitor

Samuel Alayande

Nigeria

Block 008

Architect
Manish Chadha
Student Competitor

zinal dudhat

India

Block 012

Architect
Rick Gunter
Student Competitor

Joy Gwokyalya

Uganda

Block 013

Architect
ANTONIO DI ORONZO
Student Competitor

Hailemikael Negussie

Ethiopia

Block 014

Architect
Krynauw Nel
Student Competitor

Mya Hnin Phyu

Myanmar

Block 019

Architect
David Mojewa
Student Competitor

Maluke Maluke

Lesotho

Block 020

Architect
Andrew Carson
Student Competitor

Palesa Rapolo

Lesotho

Block 021

Architect
Karina Moran
Student Competitor

Rocio Ferro

United States

Block 025

Architect
Christopher Rose
Student Competitor

David Kwantwi-Mensah

Ghana

Block 031

Architect
Margi Glavovic Nothard
Student Competitor

Nwabisa Madyibi

South Africa

Block 032

Architect
susan wright
Student Competitor

Natasha Afzal

Pakistan

Block 033

Architect
Thabo Mokhesi
Student Competitor

Ramabilikoe Mahao

Lesotho

Block 036

Architect
Rich Hubacker
Student Competitor

mohamad waheed fareed

Egypt

Block 039

Architect
Mark Ginsberg
Student Competitor

Hend Abdelaziz

United Kingdom

Block 043

Architect
Noah Steffes
Student Competitor

Nick Tolman

United States

Block 044

Architect
Ramohlaboli Khotle
Student Competitor

Jacob Samson

Nigeria

Block 047

Architect
Benjamin Porto
Student Competitor

Tumelo Lerata

Lesotho

Block 049

Architect
Daniela Pastore
Student Competitor

Matthias LAURENT

France

Block 050

Architect
Claude de Passillé
Student Competitor

CHRYSI CHARISKOU

Greece

Block 051

Architect
Richard Jorgensen
Student Competitor

Ogunsanya Kolajo

Nigeria

Block 052

Architect
Teboho Ntsaba
Student Competitor

Tlalinyane Motanyane

Lesotho

Block 056

Architect
Mark Bearak
Student Competitor

Rubal Sharma

India

Block 057

Architect
Nicolas Medrano
Student Competitor

Hossein Goudarzi

United States

Block 063

Architect
Daniel Tsuene
Student Competitor

Milda Sutkaityte

Lithuania

Block 068

Architect
Shabbir Chandabhai
Student Competitor

Sharon Nair

India

Block 070

Architect
Stephen Dynia
Student Competitor

Luca Luca

Denmark

Block 074

Architect
Audrey Matlock
Student Competitor

Homeira Asgari

Iran

Block 076

Architect
Danielle Martin
Student Competitor

Ivan Cosentino

Italy

Block 077

Architect
Samuel Herpin
Student Competitor

Tanmoy Dey

Bangladesh

Block 083

Architect
Victor Mirontschuk
Student Competitor

SIXIN LIANG

Italy

Block 087

Architect
Chris Munro
Student Competitor

Amanda Saputri

Indonesia

Block 088

Architect
Ward Welch
Student Competitor

Palash Jain

India

Block 093

Architect
Elizabeth Wilson
Student Competitor

Alexandre Boulé

France

Block 096

Architect
david ling
Student Competitor

Gogo Zhu

United States

Block 097

Architect
Elizabeth Graziolo
Student Competitor

warda ajmal

Pakistan

Block 100

Architect
David Dennis
Student Competitor

Yaser Rahmaniani

Iran

Competition

Deadline for competition entries closed on September 30. Architecture students and graduates who have finished studying architecture within the last 5 years were invited to enter the competition. This unique opportunity is open to the first 100 entries. There is currently a waiting list for entries receive after the first 100 entries were received.

Guidelines

Designs have been judged by a high profile panel of judges who have rated the submissions based on:

  • Use of local materials specific to Lesotho (Maseru)
  • Unique and feasible designs that can be implemented immediately
  • Low cost sustainable design incorporating autonomy
  • A design that celebrates IDENTITY of a people

Design Brief available here.

Submitting your design

  1. Select one of the available 100 Maseru blocks to take up virtual residency alongside a Sponsor and an Architecture Firm who will offer mentorship with the design.  
  2. Preliminary submission by November 15 for Architectural Firms to critique the designs by email to [email protected] 
  3. Preliminary design review by December 7, 2018
  4. Final submission by December 21, 2018. 
  5. Shortlist announced on January 31, 2019.
  6. Winners announced on March 8, 2019.

All FINAL Competition entries should be sent by email as ONE pdf file to [email protected] or uploaded in PDF format max file size 128MB) via the link below on or before December 21 at midnight GMT (+2). Submit Architecture Competition Entry 

Judges

Peter Rich’s seminal research into African space making, has informed his approach to the design of human settlements especially when respectfully interacting with cultures other than one’s own. His work, be it the design of a new capital city or the relocation of a family or community, attempts to address the sensitive issues of cultures embracing increasing change in becoming more urbanised.He has been made a fellow of the FAIA and IntfRIBA and he is a gold medal recipient of the SAIA. African cities are in 15 years developing at a rate that most existing cities took 150 years to evolve. Peter’s architecture firm, PRich Style & Design uses best practise situations demonstrating the advantages of denser living to guide the urbanization process. Furthermore, the firm focuses on cultural heritage as an asset that gives pride to a people, as well as with the right care enabling cultural tourism to develop as an economic advantage.

Mariam Kamara is an architect, activist, and social entrepreneur. She is the Founding Principal of atelier masōmī, a firm that focuses on creating culturally and environmentally responsive solutions to spatial problems. Her work is guided by the belief that architects have an important role to play in providing a better quality of life for millions, especially in the developing world, with solutions that come from within. Through her practice, Mariam aims to discover innovative ways of using local techniques and materials for contemporary local architectures. Her firm has undertaken projects that tackle various typologies, including housing, public, education, commercial and urban design. Mariam is also a founding member of united4design, a global collective of architects working on projects in the U.S., Afghanistan and Niger as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Brown University.

Mphethi Morojele is owner and founder of MMA Design Studio an award-winning architecture and design studio based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Lesotho he studied architecture at the University of Cape Town and at the Bartlett, University College London before becoming a studio lecturer in the School of Architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His built and critical work has been recognised locally and abroad for engaging the African landscape through a contemporary interpretation of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. He is a regular conference speaker and has curated exhibitions on South African architecture and urbanity at the Venice Biennale, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and AEDAS, Berlin amongst others. He was a key member of the scientific committee of the 2014 International Union of Architects (UIA) congress in Durban and is one of the founding committee members of the African Architecture Awards.

Nadia Tromp heads Ntsika Architects in Johannesburg, a practice focused on developing relevance through the mediums of design, advocacy, research and documentation. She is the president of the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA), South Africa and the director of the UIA Community Architecture & Human Rights work group. Nadia’s research, through practice, over the last decade, explores the role of architecture in creating social change. Through her work, she has become an international advocate for spatial justice. Since completing her professional degree in Architecture at the University of Cape Town, Nadia has worked in offices of acclaimed architects Jo Noero & Heinrich Wolff as well as Paragon Architects, before starting her own practice in 2008. In 2012/13 she spent a year at Harvard University as a Nieman Affiliate. Nadia has won multiple prestigious national and international awards and served on various architecture & design panels as a judge.

Sam Óghale Oboh is a Principal Architect and Vice President of AECOM Canada Architect Limited and the 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada / Architecture Canada (the first Canadian of African descent to lead this 110 year old organization).
Respected for his expertise, scholarship and commitment to excellence, Sam’s varied background has enabled him to bring valuable perspective to his role. Sam has successfully designed, managed and led projects and initiatives in both the private and public sectors in North America and different parts of Africa. He is a Presidential Medal recipient and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and currently leading the design of the exciting and highly anticipated multimillion dollar African Cultural Centre in Edmonton – Canada (in collaboration with Berlin-based architect Francis Kéré). Sam has held an adjunct lecturer / visiting studio critic role with various universities including Canada’s University of Calgary, Carleton University, University of Toronto and South Africa’s Durban University of Technology. He is also the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Botswana in Canada.
 
 
Please note: Where a judge has a current relationship to a submission (as a member of the design firm, design team or as client commissioning the work in the preceding 12 months), they must declare this relationship and recuse themselves from judging any work submitted by the entrant(s) he /she is ostensibly associated with.
 

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