Architecture "with the Other 90%" - an African Story

Abstract

Taking direction from the well-received exhibition Design with the Other 90%: CITIES (2011 – 2012), organized by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in America, this seminar will refer to the notion of “Architecture ‘with the Other 90%’”.By making reference to collaborative community-led architectural projects emanating from the African continent to illustrate the shift towards 'Architecture "with the other 90%" in addressing spontaneous urbanism in these regions. the main case studies that will be analyzed in the discussion is the Makoko Floating School in Lagos, Nigeria by NLE Architects lead by Kunle Adeyemi (NLE Architecture & Design, 2016a) and the Design Indaba 10x10 Low-Cost Housing projects by LuyandaMpahlwa, From MMA Architects, for a family home in Freedom Park (Michell's Plain,Cape Town) (Design Indaba, 2016a). This paper's central focus is to illustrate a shift in social responsibility design and approach in African by referring to interdisciplinary architectural and design projects that are community-led, participatory, human-centered and promotes active citizenship.