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UFS Architecture students shine in Italian Design Day competition

11 April 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Supplied

Italian Design Day Competition Winners — National student competition winners, UFS's Gustav Pretorius and Jeanré Erasmus, pictured with Matteo Cibic and Michele Gialdroni, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute.

Two talented Architecture students from the University of the Free State (UFS), Jeanré Erasmus and Gustav Pretorius, have achieved national acclaim by winning the prestigious Italian Design Day 2025 Competition held in Pretoria. Their innovative exhibition space, inspired by The Dancer - a dynamic ceramic sculpture by renowned South African artist Andile Dyalvane – captivated the judging panel and emerged victorious from among 45 entries submitted by 140 students from across South Africa.

Passion meets purpose

For Erasmus, now in his third year of Architecture and working part-time at Soleil Architects, the path to this milestone began at an early age. “Ever since I was little, I’ve been obsessed with building things,” he recalls. His fascination with design and problem-solving naturally evolved into a passion for architecture, and he credits the UFS for providing a nurturing environment where both his technical skills and creative thinking could flourish.

He credits his lecturers and peers for constantly challenging his ideas and pushing him towards excellence. He highlights the impact of former lecturer Martie Bitzer in shaping his journey. “We have an amazing, talented, and kind lecturer in Martie Bitzer, who has a big heart for architecture and her students,” he says.

Pretorius, a fourth-year student, shares a similar drive. His design philosophy is deeply rooted in human experience and storytelling – an approach that played a key role in their winning design. “For me, architecture is not only about the physical form – it is about how people interact with and move through space,” he explains. He believes their studies at UFS prepared them well to take on real-world challenges, equipping them with both conceptual depth and technical precision.

Designing the story

The Italian Design Day 2025 Competition, held on 24 February 2025 in Pretoria, tasked students with designing an exhibition space that captured the whimsical and narrative-rich aesthetic of renowned Italian designer Matteo Cibic. Instead of simply showcasing objects, the brief called for storytelling through design.

Erasmus and Pretorius rose to the challenge by creating a space that echoed the movement and transformation embodied in Dyalvane’s The Dancer. “We didn’t want to use the static display cases,” explained Erasmus. “We designed the space that guided visitors through an interactive journey, rooted in the idea of shaping and refining - mirroring the movement and storytelling embedded in Dyalvane’s clay sculpture.”

Their concept impressed a panel of esteemed judges that included architects, Fanele Zondi and Braam de Villiers, and Stefania Iuliano, Commercial Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Pretoria. The panel’s combined expertise ensured a thorough evaluation of creativity, innovation, and spatial storytelling.

Overcoming creative challenges

Developing a design that balanced imaginative expression with practical execution was no easy task. “Picture two architecture students staring at a blank page late at night, questioning their life choices,” Erasmus jokes. One of the greatest challenges was translating a deeply emotional concept into a physical space - but through teamwork and continuous refinement, they achieved a balance between form and function.

“Like any great duo – Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly, architecture and last-minute deadlines – we balanced each other out,” Erasmus adds. Pretorius agrees, noting that their shared technical mindset kept the design process grounded in feasibility while still allowing room for creativity. Their ability to combine conceptual innovation with structural logic ultimately set their entry apart.

A milestone moment

When Erasmus received the call announcing their win, the moment was surreal. “It was a mix of shock and excitement, with a little bit of ‘Wait, is this a prank?’” he says. Although initially sworn to secrecy, the pair struggled to contain their excitement. “We didn’t exactly stick to that rule,” Erasmus admits with a laugh.

Beyond the accolade, this experience has been transformative. “This experience has been like a masterclass in storytelling through space,” says Pretorius. “It reminded us that architecture is not just about buildings – it is about making people feel something.”

Looking ahead, both students are eager to continue exploring the narrative potential of architecture. Erasmus is particularly interested in how design intersects with various forms of artistic expression, while Pretorius plans to focus on sustainable and experiential design. They agree that the competition has reinforced their belief in architecture as a powerful tool for storytelling and human connection.

The winning exhibition space:

News Archive

#Women'sMonth: Save the children

2017-08-10

Dr Trudi O’Neill, Senior lecturer in the Department of
Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.
Photo: Anja Aucamp

Dr Trudi O’Neill, Senior lecturer in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, is conducting research on rotavirus vaccines.

Dr O’Neill was inspired to conduct research on this issue through her fascination with the virus. “The biology of rotaviruses, especially the genome structure and the virus’ interaction with the host, is fascinating.”

“In fact, it is estimated that, globally, ALL children will be infected with rotavirus before the age of five, irrespective of their socio-economic standing. However, infants and young children in poor countries are more vulnerable due to inadequate healthcare. The WHO estimates that approximately 215 000 deaths occur each year. This roughly equates to eight Airbus A380 planes, the largest commercial carrier with a capacity of approximately 500 seats, filled with only children under the age of five, crashing each week of every year.”

Alternative to expensive medicines
“Currently, there are two vaccines that have been licensed for global use. However, these vaccines are expensive and poor countries, where the need is the greatest, are struggling to introduce them sustainably. It is therefore appealing to study rotaviruses, as it is scientifically challenging, but could at the same time have an impact on child health,” Dr O’Neill said.

The main focus of Dr O’Neill’s research is to develop a more affordable vaccine that can promote child vaccination in countries/areas that cannot afford the current vaccines.

All about a different approach
When asked about the most profound finding of her research, Dr O’Neill responded: “It is not so much a finding, but rather the approach. My rotavirus research group is making use of yeast as vehicle to produce a sub-unit vaccine. These microbes are attractive, as they are relatively easy to manipulate and cheap to cultivate. Downstream production costs can therefore be reduced. The system we use was developed by my colleagues, Profs Koos Albertyn and Martie Smit, and allows for the potential use of any yeast. This enables us to screen a vast number of yeasts in order to identify the best yeast producer.”

Vaccination recently acquired a bad name in the media for its adverse side effects. As researcher, Dr O’Neill has this to say: “Vaccines save lives. By vaccinating your child, you don’t just protect your own child from a potentially deadly infection, but also other children in your community that might be too young to be vaccinated or have pre-existing health problems that prevents vaccination.”

A future without rotavirus vaccination?
Dr O’Neill believes a future without rotavirus vaccination will be a major step backwards, as the impact of rotavirus vaccines has been profound. “Studies in Mexico and Malawi actually show a reduction in deaths. A colleague in Mozambique has commented on the empty hospital beds that amazed both clinicians and scientists only one year after the introduction of the vaccine in that country. Although many parents, mostly in developed countries, don’t have to fear dehydrating diarrhoea and potential hospitalisation of their babies due to rotavirus infection anymore, such an infection could still be a death sentence in countries that have not been able to introduce the vaccine in their national vaccination programmes,” she said.

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