The SIAH4Afica Design Competition is funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, sponsored by the University of Cape Town (SA), National Home Builders Registration Council (SA), Agrément South Africa, South African Institution Of Civil Engineering, and in partnership with the Central University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University, Leeds Beckett University, Cardiff University, and the University of Montreal. The competition recognises two exceptional house design projects that integrate sustainability, well-being, technological innovation, lifecycle assessment, circular economy, and affordability, that will be evaluated using the 10 categories of the SIAH for built work and the SIAH Framework for Design and Construction Excellence.
The design of a house plays a crucial role in the sustainability and affordability of a house and the resident’s quality of life. Innovative design thinking and modern technologies are key to producing a sustainable house that meets human needs for both function and delight, adapts to climate change projections, continues to support the health and well-being of inhabitants despite natural and human-caused disasters, and minimises contributions to further climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and recycling of water. Preparing students and young graduates to envision and design a climate adaptive, resilient, inclusive, sustainable and innovative house that affordable to own, operate and maintenance by African middle-income level.
Given their long lifespan, new houses must be designed to enhance the Quality of Life (QOL) and well-being of residents, as well as adapt to climate change, and respond to its projected impacts, well into the second half of the 21st Century and beyond.
The need for African SIAH has sparked the collaboration between academics, industry, and policymakers to co-create a design competition for the SIAH4Africa. This project aims to introduce, encourage, and promote the idea of sustainability, innovation, and cyber technologies in the design and construction of affordable housing for African housing stakeholders included government agencies, designers, developers, academics, and students, through a collaborative partnership.
The main target for this competition is students and young professionals. However, doors are opened for any professionals and practitioners that are interested in participating, and we encourage to include students and/or young professionals in each team.
For a team to enter and win this competition, they must:
The design of the house needs to be innovative, provide all needs of residents, efficient and minimise waste of materials and space.
Design teams should use the African climate zone data for their design based on the location of the house, and they should provide details of their assumptions regarding the location and orientation of the house. The design (layout and exterior), materials and construction methods of the house need to emphasise the importance of affordability, sustainability and innovation such as user satisfaction, passive design, reduced energy, water and waste and diminish environmental impact.
Material and construction methods choices need to be kept innovative but locally acceptable, available, and compliant within the local and international design and building standards. A structural engineer will evaluate the finalist designs to verify structural integrity.
To achieve optimum environmental sustainability, the design needs to maximise passive design, consider water and energy efficiencies, produce on-site energy and food, and recycle on-site water.
The house needs to be designed to be as efficient as possible and, at a minimum, must meet the energy intensity units (EUIs) of 50kWh/m2/year. The remaining electricity demand, as far as possible, is generated on-site.
Design teams are required to undertake initial water and energy modelling to provide indicative, annual water and energy consumption figures using standard opensource software such as the EDGE tool.
Thermal comfort must still be achieved whilst delivering a low energy building to mitigate against retrofitting the building with inefficient heating and cooling devices. The focus of the design is to meet the sustainability (economy, social, and environment) of the house during its lifespan through adopting technological innovation. However, participants are also encouraged to consider Net-Zero energy, carbon, water, food, waste, and other ecological impacts, as well as QOL and the well-being of residents.
House should be highly resource-efficient in different phases of construction (materials, energy, water and waste), operation (energy, water, waste, food) and maintenance (materials, water, energy).
At least 50% of the annual energy consumption of the house should generate from renewable energy on-site, and 30% of the annual water consumption of the house should produce from recycling water on-site.
To modelling the energy the following electrical needs and appliances. Teams are to specify specific products that are appropriate for the size, cost and energy requirements of the unit.
Preferably systems: Water and energy-efficient fittings and appliances such as double flush toilet, low flow taps, LED, etc.
Note that the SIAH4Africa design competition's primary objective is for educational purposes; therefore, the design, material, technologies and construction methods choices and constructability need to consider that this is only an educational competition.
EOI submission criteria: April 30, 2021
To be emailed to [email protected] subject: EOI SIAH4Africa Design Competition
Submission criteria: July 30, 2021
Judging Criteria:
Successful responses should demonstrate design moving towards the sustainable, affordable house through a creative and innovative integration of design and construction strategies such as passive design, modern materials, recycling water, energy generation, and other sustainable systems, through a cohesive, aesthetic architectural and functional and safe engineering understanding. Issues to consider include community enhancement, land use and effect on site ecology, bioclimatic design, energy and water use, impact on health and well-being, approach to environmental quality, modern materials and construction methods, design flexibility and adaptation, long-life considerations, and feedback loops. Entries will also be judged for the success and innovation that the project has met the following criteria out of a total of 200 points:
SIAH Framework for Design and Construction Excellence
|
Category |
Description |
Point |
| Design for innovation |
|
25 |
| Design for affordability |
|
25 |
| Design for integration |
|
20 |
| Design for construction |
|
25 |
| Design for energy |
|
20 |
| Design for water |
|
15 |
| Design for equitable communities |
|
10 |
| Design for ecosystems |
|
10 |
| Design for Well-being |
|
10 |
| Design for change |
|
10 |
| Bonus points |
|
30 |
Two projects will be chosen for recognition at the discretion of the jury. Winners will be notified of the competition results directly. Winning projects will be announced and displayed at the virtual SIAH4Africa Convention. Winning projects will also be promoted on the SIAH-I networks.
