PETER RICH

2011

PETER RICH

LEARNT IN TRANSLATION

PETER RICH

Peter Rich is dedicated to the creation of authentic contemporary African architecture. He is a founding Partner of Light Earth Designs, a collaboration based in the UK and Rwanda, set up to develop sustainable technological solutions for the developing world. Peter Rich was also mentor at Global Studio Istanbul, 2005, and Local Convenor for Global Studio Johannesburg 2007 & 2008.

Rich has explored his vision of an African genius loci through his sketch books and his built work; his contribution to the architectural profession over more than three decades has deservingly been recognized. He is the recipient of 16 Awards of Merits, the Gold Medal from the South African Institute of Architecture in 2010 and has received numerous International Awards including the World Architecture Festival – WAF 2009 World Building of the Year for the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre.

It was at the University of the Witwatersrand where he later held a lecturing position and where the major influence of Pancho Guedes is credited to having been instrumental in arousing his interest in

the African continent, its people and their aesthetic pursuits, making Peter one of South Africa’s foremost authorities on the subject.

Through the lessons learnt from the modest African vernacular and his engagement with grassroots communities, combined with a thorough Modernist background, Peter Rich was increasingly able to distil and develop an architectural language pertinent to the socio-economic circumstances of the African continent – unique both in interpretation and implementation. He is a most deserving laureate and is praised for his exceptional architectural insight, his creative output, his continued teaching commitments (currently mostly abroad) as well as his contribution to Africa’s architectural legacy.

He teaches and lectures extensively across the World, regularly organizing exchanges between students from the US and Europe to Africa.

Born 20 March 1945
Education 1991: Masters in Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng; 1973: Bachelor of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Projects featured The Mennel Pavilion, Johannesburg, Gauteng (1992); Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre, Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo (2009)

SG 23

THE MENNEL PAVILION

Melrose, Johannesburg, Gauteng | 1992

MAPUNGUBWE INTERPRETATION CENTRE

Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo | 2009