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17 July 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs
Grant Bicknell
Grant Bicknell, architect from Theunissen Jankowitz Architects and UFS graduate who entered GO Architect’s: The People's Notre-Dame Cathedral Design Competition.

On 15 April 2019, people worldwide saw the roof of one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, the medieval Catholic cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, severely damaged in a devastating fire. 

Although the fire caused great sadness and the loss of a piece of history that started in 1163 – it also provided some opportunities for renewal.

A South African architect at Theunissen Jankowitz Architects and former student at the University of the Free State, Grant Bicknell, enjoys a challenge and the learning process linked to a new project; he therefore decided to enter GO Architect’s: The People's Notre-Dame Cathedral Design Competition.

His entry was one of 220 from across the world which provided an interpretation and presentation of what the roof should look like. He will represent South Africa in the competition. 

Although the winning design will not be used as blueprint to rebuild the roof, it is an opportunity for participants to provide a creative architectural solution.

The competition

In his design, Bicknell – among others – brought an interfaith space to the table. He explains this aspect: “The world is going through a phase of turmoil and extremes – whether it be religious, political, environmental or economical. All have the effect of polarising opinions and ideologies.” 

“France is not exempt from these catalysts of change, with anti-immigration sentiment, terrorist attacks, and radicalisation all on the rise. All of these are of great concern to the people of France, resulting in a detrimental breakdown of French public cohesion.” 

“Similarly, the Catholic Church is going through a transitional period, trying to overcome a perceived public image of intolerance, an insular nature, and a fear of change.”

Bicknell believes that the Catholic Church, as a guiding light for the people of France and the world, has a responsibility to act as a beacon of positive change. 

He elaborates: “The Notre-Dame de Paris has always been a constant and enduring symbol of French identity throughout its history. The significant cultural gravitas inherent in its built form affords it the opportunity – through careful and considered alteration and addition – to affect positive change in the mindsets of the people of France and the rest of the world.”

Bicknell’s proposed roof intervention recommends the introduction of a functional spiritual haven housed in the former roof of the Notre Dame, where spiritual and non-spiritual leaders of all backgrounds will spread messages of positivity and acceptance. 

“This space is intended to be open to people of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures, and is placed on top of one of the most recognisable landmarks in France and the world. It is housed in the roof structure of one of Catholicism’s most recognisable symbols – an uncharacteristically progressive act of genuine humility from the Catholic Church, placing the needs of the people and the world before its own,” said Bicknell. 

He believes that placing such a controversial and thought-provoking intervention on top of the Notre Dame conveys an effortless message of acceptance and inclusiveness to the people of France and the rest of the world that will ripple throughout society and history.

The designer

As architect, Bicknell is not specialising in any type of architectural work. He says he likes the challenge and the learning process when dealing with work he has no experience in. 

When asked about his dream project, Bicknell indicated that he would love to be part of the David Chipperfield team. “It will be an aggressive learning curve in terms of exposure to the different elements, materials, and thinking. I believe one needs to always hunger for more challenges and that you need to question things. To stagnate in our industry, you will miss out on the bright future out there,” he says. 

The Kovsie

Although he is working on big and challenging projects – providing a farm-feel identity to the new Brakpan mall – Bicknell will always have a soft spot for his alma mater, the University of the Free State Department of Architecture. He will never forget the studio culture, “because it was in those late-night hours that we solved the world’s biggest problems, got into mischief, and at the same time worked to make our deadline the next morning”.

“At no other place on campus would you find a bigger group of liberal and interesting thinkers under one roof. We not only grew in our field, but also in our character and our thinking,” he said.

Bicknell concluded: “Architecture is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if it was, the UFS would be the best choice you could ever make. The Department of Architecture is blessed with lecturers and mentors to shape you in the best architect for solving the problems out there in a creative and rational way.”

News Archive

UV vestig hom afgelope eeu as leier op verskeie terreine
2004-05-11

Michelle O'Connor - Volksblad - 11 Mei 2004

Ondank terugslae nou 'n 'gesonde volwassene'

HOEWEL die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) vanjaar sy eeufees vier en met 23 000 studente die grootste universiteit in die sentrale deel van die land is, was dié instelling se geboorte glad nie maklik nie. MICHELÉ O'CONNOR het met prof. Frederick Fourie, rektor, oor die nederige begin van dié instelling gesels.

DIE behoefte aan 'n eie universiteit in die Vrystaat het reeds in 1855, kort ná die stigting van Grey-kollege, kop uitgesteek.

Grey se manne het hulleself teen 1890 begin voorberei om die intermediêre B.A.-eksamens af te lê. Dié eksamen het hulle toegang gegee tot die tweede jaar van 'n B.A.-graad aan die destydse University of the Cape Good Hope, nou die Universiteit van Kaapstad.

"Presidente F.W. Reitz en M.T. Steyn het destyds albei die stigting van 'n universiteit hier bepleit. Die grootste rede was sodat die seuns van die Vrystaat nie weggestuur word nie.

"Dié twee se droom is op 28 Januarie 1904 bewaarheid toe ses studente hulle onder dr. Johannes Bril, as hoof/rektor van Grey-kollege, vir die graad B.A. ingeskryf het. Dié graad is aanvanklik deur die Kaapse universiteit toegeken.

"Net die klassieke tale soos Latyns en Grieks, die moderne tale, Nederlands, Duits en Engels, filosofie, geskiedenis, wiskunde, fisika, chemie, plant- en dierkunde is aanvanklik aangebied.

"Die UV se geboue het gegroei van 'n klein tweevertrek-geboutjie wat nou naby Huis Abraham Fischer staan, en verblyf in die Grey-kollege se seunskoshuis," sê Fourie.

Volgens hom is die universiteit se eerste raad en senaat tussen 1904 en 1920 saamgestel. Die eerste dosente is aangestel en die eerste geboue opgerig. "Dié tyd was egter baie moeilik.

"Die instelling het teen 1920 net 100 studente gehad en was geldelik in die knyp. Daar was geen vaste rektor nie en geen vooruitgang nie. Vrystaatse kinders is steeds na ander universiteite gestuur.

"Ds. J.D. Kestell, rektor van 1920 tot 1927, het egter dié instelling finaal gevestig.

"Hy het self studente van oor die hele Vrystaat gewerf en geld by onder meer kerke en banke ingesamel. Kestell het selfs Engelse ouers oortuig om hul kinders na die Greyuniversiteitskollege (GUK) te stuur en teen 1927 het dié instelling met 400 studente gespog.

"In die tydperk tussen 1927 en 1950 het die GUK weer verskeie terugslae beleef.

"In dié tyd was dit onder meer die Groot Depressie en die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Die armblanke-vraagstuk het regstreeks op studente en dosente ingewerk en die politieke onderstrominge van dié tyd het die instelling ontwrig.

"Die GUK het egter oorleef en die Universiteitskollege van die Oranje-Vrystaat (UKOVS) is in 1935 gebore," sê Fourie.

Hy sê in dié tyd is verskeie fakulteite gevestig en teen 1950 het die UKOVS met 1 000 studente gespog.

Teen 1950 het dit 'n onafhanklike universiteit geword en die naam is verander na die Universiteit van die OranjeVrystaat (UOVS).

Dié tydperk is gekenmerk deur Afrikaner- en blanke selfvertroue en heerskappy. Studentegetalle het tot 7 000 in 1975 gegroei en heelwat vooruitgang het in dié tyd plaasgevind.

"Tussen 1976 en 1989 sukkel dieuniversiteit weer met onder meer ekonomiese krisisse, die land se politieke onstabiliteit en word die UOVS geï soleer.

"Een ligpunt in dié tyd is die toelating van die eerste swart studente, die nuwe Sasol-biblioteek en die fakulteit teologie wat die lig sien.

"Tussen 1990 en vanjaar het die UOVS verskeie op- en afdraandes beleef. Die universiteit doen nie net die eerste stappe van transformasie nie, maar begin ook aan 'n beleid van multikulturaliteit werk.

"Die UOVS se naam verander in 1996 na die Universiteit van die Vrystaat/University of the Free State en in 2001 word die Sotho-vertaling bygevoeg.

"Geldelike druk en probleme neem drasties toe en personeel word gerasionaliseer.

"Teen 2000 begin die UV met 'n draaistrategie en studentegetalle neem tot meer as 23 000 toe," sê Fourie.

Hy sê die UV het die afgelope eeu nie net verskeie terugslae oorleef nie, maar homself ook op verskeie gebiede as 'n leier gevestig.

Die universiteit behaal sy eie geldelike mikpunte, neem 'n nuwe taalbeleid van veeltaligheid aan en herbelê in personeel.

Die instelling inkorporeer die kampusse van die Vista- en Qwaqwa-universiteit en groei internasionaal.

Die UV vestig ook fondamente van 'n institusionele kultuur van verdraagsaamheid, geregtigheid en diversiteit.

"Die baba het in die afgelope eeu 'n gesonde volwassene geword."

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