Spier Africa Centre Conference

Spier, a prestige wine estate in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, hosted a competition to design five contemporary spaces in preparation for the Africa Centre Conference. The Design Team led by Director Luyanda Mpahlwa were selected to develop and execute their concept of ‘Architecture in the Woods’! The site chosen for the temporary spaces was along the Spier river Stream and required a sensitive design intervention which necessitated that built form be woven into the delicate site context.

The brief required the selection of locally available material and eco-friendly building methods and materials to be used. The Design had the challenge to achieve the brief within a very tight budget and a very short construction period. The key challenge however, as with all innovative design processes, was to find adequately equipped and knowledgeable builders. The resulting temporary buildings were the product of research and cooperation with builders with knowledge of alternative building methods.

PROJECT INFORMATION

CLIENT: Spier Estate Project
VALUE: R1M
COMPLETION: January 2006
ADDRESS: Stellenbosch, Western Cape