Architect Luyanda Mpahlwa: Transforming South Africa through Design and Social Impact
Award-winning architect Luyanda Mpahlwa, who endured five years of imprisonment during South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, has transformed his experience into a catalyst for design excellence His career in exile has been marked by a commitment to building structures that prioritize social change and inclusive design
Growing up in Mthatha, South Africa in the 1960s, Luyanda Mpahlwa had a passion for drawing houses. He would excitedly show his mother the houses he drew on a slate when he got home. Now, Mpahlwa is the founder and director of the acclaimed Cape Town-based architecture firm, Design Network (formerly known as DesignSpaceAfrica).
Unaware that those sketches were the initial stages of his life's work, Mpahlwa was one of the first Black Africans allowed to pursue architecture studies in South Africa. His academic journey was interrupted in 1981 when he was arrested during the anti-apartheid movement for refusing to testify against three accused individuals in a treason trial.
Spending five years in the notorious Robben Island Prison, where Nelson Mandela was held from 1964 to 1982 for his anti-apartheid activities, profoundly influenced the architect's future mindset. Mpahlwa stated, "I believe that experience shaped my entire consciousness moving forward."
The South African architect is leveraging his personal encounter with systemic racism to inspire the design of spaces that promote inclusivity and address critical social challenges in South Africa.
"I harness the influence of architecture to propel social transformation," he stated, "and to reform spaces and environments."
Apart from community projects, Mpahlwa's team also creates commercial properties, such as the Radisson RED hotel in Cape Town. Seen here is the stunning view from the rooftop pool at the hotel, with Table Mountain as the backdrop.
Radisson RED Cape Town, V&A Waterfront
A career begins in exile
When Mpahlwa emerged from prison, the country he called home was in crisis.
"South Africa was in a state of emergency," he said. "It was quite dangerous then for me."
Following his release, Mpahlwa was compelled to go into exile. Through the assistance of an amnesty organization dedicated to aiding victims of human rights violations, he was able to resettle in Berlin, Germany, where he resided for the next 15 years. During his time there, he completed a masters degree in architecture at the Technical University of Berlin in 1989 and commenced his career at Pysall.Ruge, a design firm located in the current German capital.
Luyanda Mpahlwa at a drafting table in class at Technikon Natal (now the Durban University of Technology) in 1980.
Luyanda Mpahlwa's initial major undertaking was the South African Embassy in Berlin. He saw it as a chance to showcase his country's aesthetics by integrating artwork crafted from materials sourced from South Africa. For his inclusive design of the building, Mpahlwa was honored with the 2006 South African Institute of Architects Corobrik Award of Excellence.
The goal wasn't to construct an African-style building in Berlin, but rather to create a building that captures the essence of South Africa through its design references. This experience heightened his understanding of how design can influence a space or community. Reflecting on the plight of townships in South Africa, he saw architecture as a way to make a positive impact by improving living spaces and the overall quality of life.
Huge tapestries tell the story of a South African town, one masterpiece at a time
Building with social change in focus
In 2000, Mpahlwa returned to South Africa with his family and founded his first company, MMA Architects. Despite the end of apartheid in the early 1990s, the architect observed a nation still grappling with the social and economic consequences of over 40 years of segregation policies.
He commented, "The truth is that the majority of South Africans live in conditions that fall far below the standards of what we should consider an urban environment."
The architect focused on alleviating peoples roadblocks to creating a better life.
Mpahlwa and his family met former South African President Nelson Mandela in 1995. Mpahlwas and Mandelas prison terms briefly overlapped at Robben Island in the early 1980s.
Courtesy Luyanda Mpahlwa
The "50 schools in 50 weeks" project was one of the initial implementations of this ideology. It was created in response to the Department of Basic Education's request for Mpahlwa's firm to upgrade 50 run-down huts with modern school facilities in the Eastern Cape.
Following this, Mpahlwa spearheaded the 10x10 Indaba Housing Project in Cape Town's Mitchells Plain Township. This project utilized cost-effective indigenous methods, such as sandbags and timber, to minimize energy usage and lower labor expenses. His work on these projects led to him being honored with the 2008 Curry Stone Design Prize in the United States.
Mpahlwa and his design firm recently tackled one of the Western Cape's most urgent housing issues at the Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi Township.
Approximately 15,000 individuals reside in the destitute neighborhood, where dilapidated and hazardous shacks are common, and where access to basic utilities like electricity, water, and sewage systems is lacking.
"They are in a struggle," Mpahlwa remarked, "not of war, but of economic survival."
CNN visited the site with him shortly after the community was submerged by heavy rains. "The issue isn't just about housing, it's a social and economic problem," he stated. "These people have been living in this informal settlement for two decades, and their situation hasn't improved at all."
Inclusive design
The Mpahlwas team has been working on improving the settlement and building safe housing since 2016. However, they have only been able to complete 400 homes out of the required 6,000 due to hazardous conditions.
"We have encountered a significant challenge in the comprehensive redesign of our urban spaces and enhancement of public infrastructure, with a focus on benefiting not only the affluent, but also those individuals on the lower rungs of the economic ladder," he stated. "I am committed to gaining an understanding of the dire living conditions that people endure, and finding ways to swiftly make a meaningful impact in transforming their lives."
Mpahlwa (right) speaks with residents about the conditions at the Kosovo Informal Settlement in Philippi Township, Western Cape.
CNN
Mpahlwa's design approach for the new Kosovo settlement prioritizes inclusivity. The housing community includes a mix of double and single-story homes to accommodate a range of needs, including accessibility for those with disabilities. Additionally, residents of the new settlement are utilizing another one of Mpahlwa's building projects, the iThemba Labantu Lutheran Community Center, which provides multipurpose facilities and a vital support system through its soup kitchen for the community.
Amid delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and zoning disputes, Mpahlwa is hopeful the project will progress.
Ghanaian photographer Paul Ninson on how he was able to visit the village with no men
"Its a new community which is developing here," said the architect. "Weve just got to make it work and be patient."
For now, Mpahlwa is focused on making housing equitable for everyone.
"Thats what designed for social change means - that you afford even ordinary people the best quality of life possible."
