Occupying the prominent public space of the Cape Town Station Forecourt from 28 October to 8 November 2014, the Better Living Challenge Showcase was an engaging exhibition of green and afforable home-improvement solutions aimed at low-income communities.
On Tuesday, 28 October 2014, commuters were puzzled to find the Cape Town Station Forecourt occupied by a mini-community of eco-structures – the outcome of 110% Green and World Design Capital 2014 Project #WDC204, and its hunt for solutions and ideas to improve low-income homes. To our excitement, puzzlement soon turned to curiosity and the Better Living Challenge Showcase was up and away!
Besides a constant stream of public visitors, daily commuters and organised community groups, the Showcase was also viewed by Western Cape Mayor Patricia de Lille and Premier Helen Zille, who officially opened the Showcase, along with MECs Winde and Madikizela.
At the opening, MEC Madikizela was incredibly impressed with Exhibitor Vusumzi Mahlatshana’s lightweight prickly pear brick. Finalist James van der Walt and his SolarTurtle provided the Showcase with much appreciated solar energy, as did exhibitor Deon du Preez’s Solazela and Richard Lomax’s LedzShine. Barry Lewis’s sandbag-filling demos also generated a high level of interest.
Also a hit were the House Hosts, led by Think:Inn’s Ansi Gilfillan – what an amazingly energetic and well-informed team! Ansi, Methuli Mbanjwa and the Think:Inn team also facilitated the community voting panel, ensuring that members from various communities visited the Showcase and were efficiently guided through the Showcase before casting their votes.
A few days into the Showcase, the judging panel was tasked with evaluating the Finalists’ entries in order to help decide the overall winners per category. The judges’ contribution counts for 60% of the total score, the scores from the community voting panel count 30% and the public votes carry a 10% weighting. This exciting process culminates at the Better Living Challenge Award Ceremony which is taking place on 25 November 2014. Winners will be announced publicly on 26 November 2014!
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