Greetings my Friends,
The Leopard Trail Huts were last week awarded a “Regional Commendation” by the South African Institute of Architects. These awards, conferred once every two years in the Eastern Cape, were made know at a Gqeberha function venue on Thursday.
These tiny timber buildings were praised by the high level judging panel for their simplicity and for their sensitivity to the dominant and imposing landscape that makes up the Baviaans Kloof.
I can tell you though that I was moved and almost a little surprised that these 12 little huts in the wilderness received this, much sought after, peer recognition. I say “surprised” because these structures are so humble and unostentatious that they almost contradict idea that many have of what Architecture with a big “A” is. I suppose the other thing that has moved me about receiving this award (more so than what is in fact quite a number of similar awards we brag about having received over the years!!) is that it really was a very, very difficult project to pull off, Number one, we were working in a declared World Heritage site, number two we were working with in the very strict and stifling constrains of public sector Supply Chain Management procedures. Number 3 we were hit by the Covid Lockdown in the middle of all this with crippling impacts on the performance of public officials, contractors and suppliers all key players in the completion of the project.
While of course I was very pleased and flattered to stand up on stage and receive this award, it is important always to remember that it is an illusion created by the media than any great work of architecture can be credited to any single individual. So with this in mind, I must mention Chris Rensburg, Madilakhe Lawane, Wayne Erlank, Linden Booth and Andre Malherbe and Loyiso Balfour.
I thank you all very much for the pleasant and mature way in which we were able to discuss and agree on complex issues in what were very difficult times and impossible conditions.
I am appreciative.
Please find out more about this project by clicking on our website here. I would love to hear your views
Tim Hewitt-Coleman 7 November 2023
noh ARCHITECTS 