ARCHITECTURE SECTOR OVERVIEW 158
THE BUILDINGS ARE GREENER ON THIS SIDE By Koketso Mamabolo
Lockdowns brought just about everything to a halt. The architecture sector did not come out of it unscathed. “The architectural profession is experiencing devastating financial distress resulting from the economic downturn and Covid-19 pandemic,” said President of the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), Ntsindiso Charles Nduku, in the council’s 2021/2022 annual performance plan. As building plans were slowed or abandoned altogether, broader questions have come up of how the regulatory structure can be adapted, and how the sector can transform itself to be more reflective of the wider South African population. With transformation and shocks to the sector at the forefront, how architects affect the environment cannot be neglected. Green, sustainable architecture is key; the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been. Architects and firms who adapt will find themselves ahead of the curve as climate change continues to hit home.
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SOURCES saia.org.za sacapsa.com gbcsa.org.za
