The architecture and design blog

Photo: Entrance road. AKAA / Jean-Charles Tall.

Located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, is Mapungubwe Hill, a World Heritage site. Etched on stones uncovered from there, are ancient motifs that have provided the inspiration for the plan of this extraordinary building. It tells the story of the site in a series of gloriously, vaulted, exhibition and learning spaces. Read more

Photos: Nico van der Meulen Architects

The Ber House challenges all kinds of perceptions about South Africa for those of us that know little about the country. Designed by local practice, Nico van der Meulen Architects, you would be forgiven for thinking it is a hotel or perhaps a private health retreat.

It is certainly an essay in luxury living.
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Photos: Leon Krige.

As part of the redevelopment of Soweto’s Central Business District, a new theatre has been built that will become a focus for public arts in the city.

It will be the area’s first professional quality theatre and as such has been conceived as a black box to give the greatest possible flexibility in use. It is also designed by Studio MAS Architects to be a landmark building. It is the first such theatre in any former township in South Africa and so in that sense is a great innovation.

Although this is the first formal theatre building, theatre and performance are well established in Soweto. Traditionally performances would take place outdoors or wherever suitable temporary space could be found. In itself, this informal approach created an expectation of what theatre is and also informed the writing and performances that made made the art and defined the craft. Bringing this tradition into the formal environment was vital if the new theatre was to continue to connect with its local audience, and so this was a central objective of the design. Read more