Taking Up Space

Meet some of the outstanding Black creatives owning and exploring their identities through design work

- THOBEKA PHANYEKO & SHANNON MANUEL

MPENDULO DLAMINI Architect, South Africa

Before his career in architecture that now spans a decade, it was the residential niche that captured Mpendulo’s attention as a final-year university student. A phone call from a Gauteng-based medical doctor to design his new home at Eboste Estate changed his life’s trajectory. And upon the completion of the project, the good doctor’s friends, stokvel members and relatives were all lining up to make use of his services. ‘I had about 20 projects lined up at the time, which was enough to launch my small studio in Rosebank.’

With each new project, he dedicates more time to the client in order to understand them better, learning about their values and the significance of his contribution to their lives. ‘We brainstorm ideas around their lifestyles, family dynamics and sociability so that my interpretation of their vision is translated onto paper. This process requires empathy and time.’

The young creative approaches architecture as a time capsule, and over the past 10 years, has learnt that each home he builds is a statement that represents a moment in time. ‘Through each structure, future generations can be able to hear us, feel us and see us.

His favourite project? Mpendulo says it is hard to say, as all of his work opens up new challenges to him. One career-defining project was the first mega-township community he designed for 4 000 residents, which he presented to all stakeholders, including mayors.’