GLORY KAMTHUMZI'S ACCLAIMED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IS THE HIGHLIGHT IN CAPE TOWN
By: Neo Ntsele
For many architecture students, securing an international award represents the peak of years of research, design, and creative endeavours.
Visitors to the Cape Institute for Architecture Gallery in Cape Town now have the opportunity to experience this work firsthand.
The project that earned Glory Kamthunzi, a graduate from the University of the Free State, the esteemed RIBA President's Silver Medal is currently showcased as part of the RIBA President's Medals 2025 Touring Exhibition, which began on 1 October 2026 and will be open for the entire month.
The exhibition's opening was part of Cape Town's well-known First Thursdays program.
The exhibition presents 44 projects chosen from a record 378 submissions by 110 architecture schools across 30 countries.
Included is Kamthunzi's award-winning master's project, Dialogues in Sticks & Stones: Spatial Testimonies of the East African Slave Trade in Nkhotakota, Malawi, which won first place in the RIBA Silver Medal category.
In December 2025, Kamthunzi made history as the first South African to receive the RIBA President's Silver Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in student architecture globally.
This achievement also marked the first time a South African architecture school received a RIBA President's Medal.
The project envisions a rural memorial on the shores of Lake Malawi, where the histories of the Swahili Arab slave trade, David Livingstone's missionary journeys, and local African chiefdoms intersect.
By integrating a slave route memorial centre with a beachside fishing village, the proposal creates a powerful commemorative landscape dedicated to remembrance, heritage, reflection, and healing.
For those attending the Cape Town exhibition, the display offers a unique chance to engage with the drawings, concepts, and design thinking behind one of the world's most acclaimed student architectural projects.
The exhibition not only showcases design excellence but also illustrates how architecture can articulate important historical narratives and contribute to social healing.
According to Prof Jonathan Noble from the UFS Department of Architecture, the exhibition holds great significance for both the department and the university.
"It is a significant moment for architecture at the UFS, as Glory Kamthunzi's design secured first place and is exhibited among the winning, commended, and nominated projects selected globally."
Prof Noble attended the exhibition opening in Cape Town with Kamthunzi and believes the exhibition serves as an important platform to celebrate both Kamthunzi’s achievement and the growing international reputation of architectural education at the University of the Free State. According to Prof Noble, the touring exhibition brings internationally recognised student work to South African audiences and highlights the quality of architectural scholarship emerging from the continent.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, Prof Vasu Reddy, expressed pride that a University of the Free State graduate has elevated African architectural scholarship onto one of the world's most esteemed stages.
"Great architecture does more than shape spaces; it shapes how societies remember, heal, and envision their futures.
Glory Kamthunzi's achievement reminds us that design is also a profound act of care and historical reflection. Her work demonstrates the power of universities to nurture graduates who can connect heritage, justice, and innovation in transformative ways,” said Prof Vasu Reddy.
The RIBA President's Medals have been awarded since 1836 and are internationally recognised as among the highest honours in architectural education.
In 2025, the competition received its largest number of entries to date, further emphasising the significance of Kamthunzi's achievement.
As the exhibition continues throughout October, architects, students, academics, and the public have the chance to view the project that made South African architectural history and positioned the University of the Free State at the forefront of global architectural education.
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