Design competition launched for Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre

The Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance Architectural Design Competition is looking for you. This, as plans for the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) landmark initiative pick up pace. The proposed project will create a permanent home for the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, while establishing a living memorial dedicated to the values and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

And the best part about the competition? It’s bringing you along. The competition is endorsed by the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and is being conducted in partnership with the African Union of Architects. Registration opened on 25 June and closes on 28 July.

During a launch at the proposed site of the project at the top of campus, attendees danced, reflected and took the opportunity to look ahead at the vision of what the centre should reflect – not only about UCT, but the country, the continent and the world. The broader project, including the memorial centre, academic facilities and associated landscape interventions, is expected to have a total development value of approximately R600 million. The project has been made possible through the support of Atlantic Philanthropies, together with contributions from a range of donors, alumni and partners.

Speakers highlighted the centre’s far-reaching mandate on public leadership education, civic engagement and memorialisation. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Teaching and Learning Professor Brandon Collier-Reed noted, “As Africa’s leading university, UCT has always combined excellence in teaching and research, with a commitment to social responsiveness and public engagement. This project extends that tradition by creating a platform from which the university can contribute directly to leadership development, institutional strengthening and public dialogue across Africa and beyond.”

“Madiba advocated that the best memorials should not just commemorate a static past.”

The head of archives and research at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Razia Saleh, said, “We envision a space that encourages engagement, rather than observation; reflection rather than reverence; dialogue rather than certainty. Importantly, it won’t be a centre dedicated solely to Mandela; instead, it will create room for other historical and contemporary figures whose lives illuminate the meaning of liberation leadership.”

Former Constitutional Court judge Albie Sachs engaged the audience by reflecting on what made his long-time colleague the man he was, concluding each story with care. The first is that Mandela was a man of “calculated madness”; he described him as “a good leader because he listens” and finally, he had “humour with humility”.

The director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, Professor Cheryl Hendricks, said: “We are at a defining moment. It is indeed an ambitious project – to not only memorialise Mandela’s legacy through living ways, but to also contribute towards shaping the continent’s collective and intertwined future through the work of the school.”

Experience, dialogue, transparency

Competition administrator at Lemon Pebble Architects and Urban Designers, Tanzeem Razak, noted: “Madiba advocated that the best memorials should not just commemorate a static past but should actively enrich a nation’s future. The intention is for the best design ideas and most imaginative responses to come to the fore.”

Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa, convenor of the external advisory board to the Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre project, said: “It [the competition] is about an experience, dialogue and transparency. It is about making people feel welcome and creating opportunities to listen to one another and learn about ethical leadership.”

The competition will be adjudicated by a distinguished jury comprising leaders in architecture, urban design, public governance, heritage and memorialisation from South Africa and abroad. The names include Professor Rahul Mehrotra, Tosin Oshinowo, Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa, Malcolm Campbell, Professor Alan Hirsch, Razia Saleh and Fanuel JC Chaane Motsepe.

You can find more information on the dedicated website.