Image: MSN
Faizel Patel – 16/03/2021
The founder of South African architecture studio Counterspace Sumayya Vally says South Africa’s urban landscapes and city fabrics are riddled with challenges that was inherited from the colonial and apartheid legacy.
Vally was speaking to Radio Islam after being named as Time Magazine’s 100 leaders of the future.
Valley was the only architect named on the list that aims to “highlight 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future”.
She says South Africa has a number of challenges on an urban level.
“Because of the city we’ve inherited shows the greatness and the amount of impact I think that design and urban design can have and of course with regards to apartheid, that was a very sinister and a very negative form of urban design.”
Vally says urban design is a very deep-seated issue that will remain in South Africa for a while and every architect working in the city needs to be aware of this.
“I think that we think of the opposite to think about spaces that are accessible to the public that give women and children dignity that are safe and free for all to walk in and that allow mobility and movement across the city and access to economic opportunities.
Vally also elaborated on why it is difficult for an African architect to bring new ideas to the table while design is meant to be different, abstract and unique.
“As African architects we are trying to cross this deep chasm and this huge rift in terms of how do we start to self-express again and how do we start to draw on our age old histories and traditions and look into what they can give us.”
Valley says it is humbling and surreal to be recognised among so many voices who are so important in terms of thinking about our future.
Listen to the interview with Sumaya Vally
0 Comments