Bold Visions, Big Ideas & Bricks: Inside the 38th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards

The 38th edition of the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards offered a captivating journey through imagination, innovation, and the pursuit of meaningful design. This prestigious event, often referred to as the “Oscars” of architectural education in South Africa, celebrates the country’s most promising Master of Architecture graduates as they present their final-year thesis projects—each a bold step toward reshaping the built environment.

Each year, accredited universities across South Africa nominate one standout student to represent them at the national awards. This platform not only honours academic excellence but also elevates voices determined to tackle complex social, environmental, and spatial challenges through architecture.

The 2025 ceremony was a vibrant showcase of boundary-pushing concepts and deeply rooted design philosophies. Finalists presented their work to a panel of seasoned industry professionals, including past winners and leading architects, who evaluated the projects for creativity, technical merit, and social relevance.

All 8 finalists & Corobrik Team

Tammy Ohlson de Fine from the University of the Witwatersrand emerged as the overall winner, receiving the top prize of R70,000. Her thesis, set in Prince Albert in the semi-arid Karoo, explored a unique biodiversity research station. Her architectural approach was one of collaboration—not only with community but with nature itself. In her design, wind, soil, and wildlife weren’t obstacles—they were co-authors. The result was a sensitive, layered response to the land that challenged traditional boundaries between building and ecology.

Winner, Tammy Ohlson de Fine (WITS), Peter du Trevou (Corobrik Chairman), Nick Booth (Corobrik CEO),

Two other finalists received special commendations and R10,000 each for their outstanding work:

• Thapelo Douse (Nelson Mandela University) revisited South End, a vibrant Port Elizabeth community fragmented by apartheid-era urban planning. His project combined memory, resistance, and urban revival to create a space that both remembers the past and reclaims the future.

• Shannon Rees (University of Pretoria) brought a deeply personal and culturally resonant approach to architecture. Her work in Eshowe, Zululand, draws from indigenous craftsmanship—particularly weaving and pottery—to inform a modern design language grounded in tradition, sustainability, and ancestral knowledge.

The judging panel praised the diversity of thought and the depth of research presented. They noted that this year’s cohort of finalists demonstrated not just technical excellence, but a powerful sense of purpose. These students, they said, aren’t simply designing structures—they’re confronting histories, restoring communities, and imagining resilient futures.

As the event sponsor, Corobrik once again underscored its commitment to education, innovation, and sustainability. More than a brick manufacturer, Corobrik plays a pivotal role in supporting the architectural profession, ensuring that materiality and imagination go hand-in-hand in the evolution of South Africa’s built environment.

The takeaway from this year’s awards? The future of architecture is in bold, capable hands. These young architects are unafraid to ask difficult questions, to challenge entrenched systems, and most importantly, to design with heart.

More than just a competition, the 38th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards offered a vision of what is possible when architecture meets courage, care, and community. To explore the finalist projects and watch highlights from the ceremony, visit studentawards.corobrik.co.za.