BLOEMFONTEIN – An award-winning master’s project crafted by Glory Kamthunzi, a graduate of the University of the Free State (UFS), is among the 44 entries currently on display as part of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Medals 2025 touring exhibition at the Cape Institute for Architecture Gallery in Cape Town.

A record 378 entries were submitted by 110 schools of architecture across 30 countries. The exhibition officially opened on Thursday 1 October and formed part of Cape Town’s popular First Thursdays programme.

Kamthunzi’s award-winning project, Dialogues in Sticks & Stones: Spatial Testimonies of the East African Slave Trade in Nkhotakota, Malawi, secured a first prize in the RIBA Silver Medal category in December last year. She made history as the first South African recipient of the RIBA President’s Silver Medal, regarded as one of the world’s most sought-after for student architecture. The achievement also marked the first time a South African school of architecture had received a RIBA President’s Medal.

A project rooted in memory, heritage and healing

Kamthunzi’s project envisages 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 converge. By combining 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 visitors attending the Cape Town exhibition, the display offers a rare opportunity to engage with the drawings, concepts and design thinking behind one of the most celebrated student architectural projects in the world. The exhibition not only highlights excellence in design but also demonstrates how architecture can give voice to important historical narratives and contribute to social healing.

A proud moment for the UFS

According to Prof. Jonathan Noble of the UFS’ Department of Architecture, the exhibition is highly significant for both the department and the university.

“It is a great moment for architecture at the UFS, because Glory Kamthunzi’s design took first prize and is displayed among the winning, commended and nominated projects selected from around the world.” Noble attended the exhibition opening in Cape Town with Kamthunzi.

Prof. Vasu Reddy, deputy vice-chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, said: “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.”

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