The contest, launched earlier this year, invited architects and designers to propose innovative, climate-conscious housing concepts suited to Botswana’s social and environmental realities. It was held in partnership with the Architects Registration Council (ARC) and the Botswana Green Building Council (Bot GBC), reflecting a growing collaboration amongst finance, design, and environmental sectors in shaping Botswana’s built environment. Mothoogare, the founder and principal architect of IDA Architects, was honoured for her reimagining of Legaethe Setswana word for homethrough a design that balances modernity, affordability, and environmental responsibility. Her concept was praised for its community focused approach, incorporating energy efficient features, local materials, and adaptable layouts that respond to Botswana’s climate and cultural dynamics. Mothoogare’s visionary design earned her first place work and stood out for demonstrating that sustainability in housing does not have to come at the expense of affordability or aesthetics.
Stanbic Bank Botswana Chief Executive, Chose Modise, described the initiative as a step toward embedding sustainability in everyday life through partnerships that merge creativity, technical expertise, and financial accessibility. “We sought to merge imagination with impact to show that banking can play a role in shaping the spaces where people grow and thrive,” he said during the announcement ceremony. The event took place at the Stanbic Bank’s Executive Wing in Gaborone, attended by architects, academics, and sustainability advocates. While the competition was initiated by a commercial bank, its implications stretch far beyond corporate social investment. It signals national conversation on how homes that are both dignified and sustainable can be built in Botswana, a challenge increasingly pressing amid rapid urbanisation and rising housing costs. According to the promoters, the competition used the SEE framework - Society, Economy, and Environmentas its guiding principle, encouraging participants to view design through an integrated lens. The approach mirrors global trends in sustainable architecture but places emphasis on Botswana’s local needs, thermal comfort in semi-arid conditions, use of locally sourced materials, and fostering communal living patterns deeply rooted in Setswana culture.
