VIRTUAL London.
Abstract
This paper will look at the complexities of Cape Town’s urban fabric, exploring its seductive allure over time. Focused on revealing the city’s hidden narratives, our students will embark on a journey that integrates lived experiences with speculative inquiries. Through this interdisciplinary lens, we aim to reimagine Cape Town by harnessing existing architectural landscapes to orchestrate narratives of transformation. Drawing from methodologies that include film and storytelling, we seek to amplify the voices and experiences embedded within the city’s layers. We provoke critical reflections on what a livable city entails by weaving together personal narratives, historical insights, and speculative scenarios. Our exploration extends beyond conventional architectural paradigms, delving into urban life’s social, ecological, and cultural dimensions. In response to the multifaceted call of the Livable Cities – London conference, we interrogate the notion of ‘the livable city’ as a construct shaped by diverse agendas, practices, and disciplines. Our research critiques Cape Town as a physical entity and a dynamic interplay of forces encompassing spatial design, politics, sociological trends, cultural nuances, and media representations. This paper presents the studio’s teaching methodology and our student’s innovative approach toward redefining the urban sphere, advocating for a collaborative reimagining of livable cities that transcends disciplinary boundaries.
Dickson Adu-Agyei is a professional architect, visualization artist, and founder of Adu Agyei Architecture Studio. He has over five years of experience teaching at the GSA and is the co-lead for Unit 20. His interest lies in a collaboration and multi-disciplinary approach to design thinking, making, and research. Central to his research pursuit is the notion that film is more than mere entertainment; it operates as a medium that stimulates our collective imagination and defines our perception of space, time, and possibility.
Veronica Chipwanya, a designer and creative thinker, explores the intersection of politics, policy making, and architecture, emphasizing the body’s role in civic and digital spaces. Her research employs interdisciplinary dialogue, incorporating storytelling, the moving image, and architecture within diasporic contexts. Currently a Professional Architect in Johannesburg, South Africa, she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2015 and completed her Masters in Architecture at GSA, UJ in 2019. Veronica leads ASAH Atelier and serves as a unit Co-lead for Unit 20 at GSA, UJ.