Urban cowboys and gals in Nelson Mandela Bay are in for a metropolitan treat this weekend when DJs from around the country pour in for the finale event of the 2011 National Student Architecture Congress, Concrete Zoo.
The event – which is open to the public and set in the urban industrial setting of the city – is an effort to showcase not only Port Elizabeth’s CBD to hundreds of future architectural professionals, lecturers and international delegates, but also to a public that has largely vacated the area, say organisers.
Over 700 students and delegates come from around the country and city to spend a week in Nelson Mandela Bay discussing hot topics in architecture.
“The concept of Concrete Zoo is built on some of the fundamentals of architecture and construction,” said Daniel van der Merwe, from the Cement and Concrete Institute, which is sponsoring the event. “The location of the finale party was chosen because of its heritage capital and architectural value. It also represents the interaction of concrete, modern construction, industrial history, geospatial positioning in the central business district and heritage architecture.”
The event is being hosted on the site of the Old South African Brewery building. While the event is not being held in the Old South African Brewery building, which is not open to the public, but an adjacent warehouse, the heritage building will be lit up to highlight its architectural and heritage value.
It is no small irony that the following day – 24 September – is National Heritage Day, added van der Merwe.
Local event organizing company, Numb City Productions, is throwing the party that will see three top national DJs and a strong line-up of local performers hotting the bill. The events company says the event will resurrect a unique city space.
“Since its closure in 2000 the surrounding buildings on the site have been used as office space, but the main storage and wine distillery area – where the Concrete Zoo event will be held – has not been utilized,” said Jacques Nel, co-owner of Numb City Productions. “Therefore this event will not only be filling an unused space in the city but will also cast light on the dilapidation of a city’s architectural and industrial heritage. A unique city space with interesting history will be brought back to life for one night.”
The Old Brewery building was built in 1901 in Port Elizabeth. Before that, in 1886, businessmen Morgan and White opened a brewery in Queen Street, now Govan Mbeki Avenue. In 1900 the construction of a new brewery for their business was put out to tender. The new brewery, known as Morgan’s brewery, was commissioned and built in 1901.
Morgan’s Brewery is the oldest known brewery in Port Elizabeth. In 1906 South African Breweries purchased Morgan’s Brewery and continued to operate until its closure in September 2000, when the new Ibhayi Brewery in Perseverance replaced it.
The theme of resurrection fits perfectly with the overall theme of the Congress, “Sustainable Architecture in the Developing World”.
“Basically, young, upcoming students of the architectural profession will celebrate – with Nelson Mandela Bay locals – after a week of workshops, national and international lectures while concurrently engaging with the cityscape in an interactive way.
“Come celebrate our architectural heritage in the heart of Nelson Mandela Bay’s CBD – and feel our city’s pulse.”
Concrete Zoo features the country’s most “wicked” DJs and the Nelson Mandela Bay’s finest talent. DJs Haezer, fresh from a European tour, and Fletcher of Cape Town will be sliding up the decks in the industrial setting with their electro, dub, drum and bass, and swing mixes. From Johannesburg comes Blunted Stuntman with his signature alternative, breakbeat and electronica tunes.
The local line-up also boasts top talent dub-step phenomenon Guns ‘n Lazers, Northern Areas hip-hop outfit True Sight Music, Sykotiq (Cypher), Dave (DnE), Frakshun (BreakRobot) and many more. The VIP area will screen a diverse array of silent architecture films onto the expansive concrete walls, complemented with VJ projections.
Concrete Zoo is also a fringe event to the Nelson Mandela Bay Pride event hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay Pride. The event takes place on Friday September 23 at 8pm at the Old Breweries building on the corner of Lespade Street and Govan Mbeki, just off the Albany road turnoff (opposite Detroit Motor Spirit).
Pre-sale tickets are R50 and available at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism visitor information centres at the Donkin Reserve, The Boardwalk and Airport; at Black Concepts on Parliament Street and online at www.strictlytickets.co.za. R60 at the door and R80 for VIP entry.
The National Architecture Student Congress will run from September 18-24 and features keynote speakers, Jo Noero – who designed the award-winning Red Location Museum – Peter van Legen, Nina Maritz and more.
Alan Straton
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