Reimagining Practice: An African Alternative

In this lecture, you were invited into a transdisciplinary exploration of architecture and design through an African lens - one that challenges conventional paradigms and proposes alternative pathways for practice in a changing world. Drawing from lived experience across Eastern and Southern Africa, and global collaborations from Central Europe, the USA and India, Kimwelle reflected on how alternative, community-centred, regenerative design practices can act as both a catalyst and a framework for social transformation. We explored how architecture, at its most radical, became an agent of resource circularity, ecological innovation, and the restoration of dignity.  

Several case studies - including a 90% up-cycled home, a waste collector intervention, an 80% recycled materials community centre, and a recently completed 98% commercial development - illustrated how architects (and designers) could reach beyond standardised typologies and globalised aesthetics to engage local knowledge, material specificity and collective agency. Discussion sparked a re-imagining of what design practice might become when rooted in the rhythms, challenges and opportunities of Africa, yet spoken to universal urgencies of climate justice, equity and resilient futures. Those attending left with a broadened perspective on how an ‘African alternative’ could inform not only African contexts but also inspire a global re-thinking of architecture and design practice for our planet in transition. 

This event was convened by CUBE and MASS in collaboration.  

• CUBE: Centre for Urban and Built Ecologies is a research centre at London Metropolitan University that brings together research and knowledge exchange in the fields of architecture, design and urbanism. 
• MASS: Metropolitan Architecture Student Society is a student organisation that operates as a collective to host lectures, share ideas, convene social activities and bring students across architecture and design subject areas together.  

Keynote Speaker 

Kevin Kimwelle   

Kevin Kimwelle is an architect whose work bridges Kenya and South Africa, with global collaborations in the USA, Europe, India, and across Africa. His doctoral research explores alternative design as a catalyst for social change, focusing on climate-responsive innovation. His recent Food Pavilion at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront—constructed from 98% recycled waste—was nominated for the 2024 Barcelona Construmat Awards. He has received multiple honours, including SAIA Eastern Cape Regional Commendation (2023), the SA Cities Network Best Developmental Approach (2021), and SAPOA’s Most Transformational Project Award (2018). His work has been featured in Architectural Record, Metropolis Magazine, ArchDaily, CNN, The Guardian, and Deutsche Welle. He has spoken at TEDx, the 2023 UIA Copenhagen Film Festival under the UN SDG banner, and participated in the Creative Climate Coalition at COP27. 

Co-chaired by: 

Matthew Barac (CUBE) 

Matthew Barac is Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture at London Metropolitan University where he leads the PhD programme at the School of Art, Architecture and Design and is Director of CUBE. He established the research theme of Afropolitan studies at CUBE which has given rise to several projects including Afropolitan Architecture, London Afropolitan, and the UK/Kenya Season 2025 commission. 

Harry Grant (MASS) 

Harry Grant is a final year Architecture student on RIBA Part 2 Architecture MA course at London Metropolitan University. This year he has taken up a collaborative leadership role on MASS, and has been active in raising the profile of the School of Art, Architecture and Design, In October, he hosted a one-hour online ‘taster’ session to which prospective applicants were invited. Those who may be curious to know more about what it means to be an architect and how the creative process works were promised the opportunity to ‘learn the secrets of an architecture student!’