Curro Durbanville High School

  • Prize
    Winner in Architectural Design - Educational
  • Company/Firm
    Bpas Architects
  • Lead Designer
    Landseer Collen
  • Design Team
    Ian Cox, Theo Gutter, Petré Bester, Charl van der Westhuizen, Cuan Stephens
  • Architect
    Bpas Architects
  • Interior Designer
    B-Sense, ORC
  • Const. Company
    MNK Projects
  • Photo Credit
    Burger Engelbrecht
  • Location
    Cape Town, South Africa
  • Client
    Curro Holdings PTY LTD
  • Project Date
    2022
  • Project Link

Located in the Western Cape, South Africa, the site forms part of a larger precinct. It was important that the design process was not isolated to a single author. Inspiration was drawn from the surrounding landscape and the mountains in the distance, the colour of the canola fields and the materiality of existing structures located on and around the site. The design emits an exciting take on form, texture, and scale.

Learning achieved through interactions is the basis of how a child develops. This is the essence of The Third Teacher. Its principles can be summarised as follows; Firstly, interactions with the adults in their lives (parents and teachers), secondly with peers, and thirdly through interaction with their surrounding environment – the physical space in which learners mature becomes The Third Teacher. The design aims to capture and promote the value of The Third Teacher in its layout, spatial qualities and finishes to create a positive, stimulating educational environment.
Overall, the school responds to the site through its sustainability considerations and non-stylized architecture. Ultimately, the building’s success relies on the successful incorporation of its users.

Other prizes
BLT Built Design Awards 2023 - Educational