Perfect Pitch: the Siyathemba Field of Hope

Congratulations to Pittsburgh architect Swee Hong Ng, the winner of the “Siyathemba,” design competition. 300 designers from around the world competed to design a sports and HIV/AIDS outreach center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, an area with one of the one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world.

the “Siyathemba” competition challenged the world’s designers to create the “perfect pitch,” for the youth of Somkhele, South Africa, who are three times more likely to become HIV positive than youth in other parts of the world. Siyathemba is the Zulu word for “hope.” In addition to serving as a gathering place for youth between the ages of 9-14 and health education/training centre, the pitch will also be home to the area’s first girls’ football league.

The competition was sponsored by Non-profit Architecture for Humanity, "founded in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, partnerships with aid organizations and other activities, Architecture for Humanity creates opportunities for architects and designers from around the world to help communities in need. We believe that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference."

::Swee Hong Ng's winning entry via ::Architecture for Humanity by [LA]