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31 July 2018 Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Decor and building products showcased at BloemBuild Expo
Want to build your own home? On offer at this year’s BloemBuild Expo was something for everyone, from the prospective student who wants to study architecture, to property developers. Ilana Serfontein from Acorn Construction and Zack Wessels, one of the organisers of the event from the UFS Department of Architecture, contributed to the success of this annual event.
With the recent drought in many parts of South Africa, the theme for this year’s BloemBuild Expo was ‘How to survive the drought’, with much emphasis on energy-saving materials, grey-water systems and environmental-friendly products. Some presentations, supporting the theme, included talks on design for sustainability, nature-based solutions for drought conditions as well as the role of grey-water systems for food security.

The University of the Free State (UFS) was this year again the host of the Expo which provided a showcase for the latest décor trends and building products. The event that took place in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus was presented by the South African Institute of Architects Free State Region in conjunction with University Estates and the Department of Architecture.

Students from the Department of Architecture exhibited their models and took first place in the Corobrik tower building challenge. Also from the Department of Architecture was a lecture by Kobus du Preez on the ‘Architectural Highlights of Bloemfontein’. Jan Ras from the same department delivered a lecture: ‘To architect or not to architect – how to choose your architect’. 

Ras said the relationship between homeowner and architect stretched over several months: from the first meeting until the key is put in the front door. He said he believed professional architects were there to make dreams come true. 

Visitors could enjoy, view and take part in the Expo which offered something for everyone including academics, members of the community, the industry and professionals. 

This year’s event also saw a big colouring-in competition in which members of the public took part in

News Archive

Disaster risk management centre of the UFS serves on UN specialist committee
2015-06-26

Dr Andries Jordaan
Photo: Supplied

The Director of the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre (DiMTEC) at the University of the Free State, Dr Andries Jordaan, has been invited to serve on a UN special committee by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Dr Jordaan took part in the Expert Workshop on Climate Resilience in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22-23 June 2015.

In preparation for COP 21, which takes place later this year in Paris, the United Nations must draw up a situation report for a universal climate agreement between all the world’s nations. In order to advise the United Nations and the Secretary-General, and to prepare for the UN’s resilience initiative that will be launched during this important international gathering, a small  team of approximately 20 experts and scientists from all over the world have been chosen to review the concept of the project. This group of experts will help to revise the original concept for the project.

According to Dr Jordaan, the Sectretary-General of the UN will be launching a ‘resilience initiative’ that is aimed at promoting resilience in climate-related risks.

Jordaan says it is an honour for him to represent the UFS and DiMTEC on such a specialist committee. “For me, it is recognition of the contribution we make in Africa and the world to disaster risk and climate adaptation,” he says.

DiMTEC is proud to be at the forefront of disaster management training in Africa. The centre has close ties with institutions of the United Nations, such as UNU-EHS, UNU-Flores UNOOSA, UNSPIDER, UNEASCO, UNEP, UNCCD, UNISDR and UNDP, among others.

DiMTEC strives to inform the public about disaster risk reduction through education. The centre’s master’s and post-graduate degrees in disaster management, as well as short courses and research, are of the highest standard.

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