By Tsenulo Moyo
A fourth-year Architecture student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has won third prize in the International NowNow Competition held in Cape Town for his affordable housing design innovationAlfred T. Msipa(23), who is expected to graduate in 2027, outshone competitors from around the world with his concept, "Eco-Terraces" an innovative proposal that transforms an urban parking lot in Cape Town into a self-sustaining ecosystem of modular homes powered by solar energy and supported by a greywater recycling system.
The jury commended the project for its realistic and practical approach to affordable housing, highlighting its modular floor plans, renewable energy integration and sustainable water management as solutions capable of reducing housing costs while promoting environmental sustainability.
Hailing from Masvingo, Msipa said he discovered the competition on LinkedIn and was driven by a desire to tackle tangible problems within the African context describing social housing as one of the continent's most pressing urban challenges.
“I wanted to respond to the question of urban social housing while considering the historical nuances of town planning which made the challenge particularly interesting,” he said.
Msipa said participating in an international ideas competition had broadened his perspective on architecture as it exposed him to different approaches to solving the same problem.
“I think participating in an international competition is really eye-opening especially ideas competitions, because ideas are not bound by borders. It is always interesting to see how people from different parts of the world respond to the same constraints. You learn far more from participating and even losing than simply looking at the winning proposals online,” he said.
He added that his long-term ambition is to use architecture to improve lives and demonstrate the transformative role of design in society.
“I really want to make a positive impact through design especially for people who may not realise how instrumental architecture is. Qualifying as an architect is only the beginning. If I can change how people appreciate the impact architecture has on everyday life, then I will have achieved something meaningful,” he said.
Msipa credited NUST's Design Studio for equipping him with the critical thinking and design skills that enabled him to develop the award-winning concept noting that a mixed-use apartment block project completed during his third year closely aligned with the competition brief.
The achievement reflects NUST's Education 5.0 philosophy of producing graduates who apply innovation, creativity and research to develop practical solutions to Africa's development challenges, while demonstrating the University's growing reputation for producing globally competitive architects.