(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-104313323-2', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview');

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

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 002

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 003

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 004

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 005

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 006

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 007

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 008

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 009

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 010

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 011

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 012

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 013

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 014

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 015

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 016

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 017

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 018

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 019

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 020

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 021

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 022

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 023

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 024

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 025

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 026

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 027

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 028

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 029

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 030

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 031

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 032

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 033

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 034

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 035

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 036

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 037

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 038

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 039

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 040

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 041

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 042

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 043

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 044

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 045

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 046

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 047

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 048

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 049

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 050

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 051

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 052

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 053

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 054

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 055

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 056

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 057

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 058

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 059

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 060

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 061

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 062

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 063

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 064

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 065

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 066

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 067

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 068

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 069

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 070

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 071

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 072

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 073

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 074

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 075

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 076

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 077

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 078

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 079

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 080

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 081

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 082

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 083

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 084

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 085

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 086

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 087

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 088

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 089

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 090

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 091

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 092

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 093

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 094

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 095

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 096

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 097

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 098

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 099

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

Block 100

Seeking Student Architecture Entry
Sign up for Competition

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! 

 

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.
 

Do More

Help us spread the word about this unique and exciting architecture competition [addtoany] If you would like to volunteer and help promote the competition please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Skip to content