Have you hugged your Architect today?
The East Cape Institute of Architects (ECIA) is proud to be
associated with this Business Link publication. Our members are full of praise
for the work that Business Link has done over the years to strengthen linkages
between businesses in our region. We recognise this strength because the
building of linkages has been at the heart of our organisation for over 100
years.
The ECIA was founded as the Port Elizabeth Society of Architects in 1900. It has since that
time worked tirelessly to strengthen linkages between Architects in the region.
The Institute has also championed the cause of strengthening linkages between the
profession and the public as well as private sector developers who make use of
our services in creating the built environment that we see around us in the City,
that we have all made our home.
Central to our task, our mission and our mandate is building
and re-enforcing of linkages with the world of design and ideas from beyond the
City limits and beyond the borders of our country. The Institute of Architects
has over the years unapologetically promoted excellence in design and
construction. This it does through a number of programmes including Continuing
Professional Development (CPD), awards programmes and publications. In spite of
its smaller economy and in spite of its remoteness from the centres of power
and commerce, the ECIA has consistently continued its culture of excellence and
innovation. At this year’s national awards ceremony in Cape Town, the South
African Institute of Architects (SAIA) presented four “Awards of Merit” and an “Award
of Excellence” to projects from our City. (No other region in our province
managed even one award!)
It is critical that therefore that I now make this point to
business and civic leaders that are reading this publication:
Port Elizabeth Architects are of the highest order. We have been able
to achieve this status because of the unwavering vision of local private and
public sector leaders who over the last one hundred and eleven years have
continued to entrust us with their most significant, most public and most visible
investments. I speak for every member of the East Cape Institute of Architects
when I say that we are deeply grateful to you and the space you have given us
to assist you in building a lasting built environment of which residents of our
City can be proud.
It is not incidental that we have in Port Elizabeth a
multi-award winning architecture department at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The relationship between
practicing Architects at the ECIA and the professors, lecturers and students at
the NMMU has always been a special one. We treasure this relationship because
we know that the practice of architecture has as its foundation the centuries
old scientific and cultural traditions of six continents over many epochs. We
treasure this relationship also because of the innovation that the NMMU is able
to provide in seeking answers to the challenge of the sustainable and green
cities that will have to become our future.
So, I would ask that you take your time to look though the Directory
of Architects listed in this publication. I can personally vouch for each and
every one of them. Feel free to speak to an architect about your vision and
your ideas for your property (architects love to chat and a glass of red wine
tends to make them even chattier.) Yes we want to make money out of you, but we
are also interested in being responsible members of the business community. We
are an interesting lot! Invite us to talk to your Rotary Club or your AGM. We
will go on about the “Ideal City”,“green buildings”, Ancient Egypt or rain
water harvesting. I can guarantee you it will be interesting!
GIVE US A CALL!
(This Article first appeared in the Business Link on 12 November 2012)
