an Apartheid buffer designed to contain and separate Alexandra, one of Johannesburg s oldest townships.

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2 In 2012, fifty-one architecture students worked with thirty community planners living in informally settled warehouses, factories and on open plots of Marlboro South, Image Alex Opper

3 an Apartheid buffer designed to contain and separate Alexandra, one of Johannesburg s oldest townships.

4 Based on a request from an alliance of NGOs and informal residents this transforming area Figure ground Marlboro South, image south Architects

5 was extensively documented during the 7 week university course. Work group allocation, image south Architects

6 Evictions of informal inhabitants taking place at the time led to a post-course engagement Image Alex Opper

7 in which re-settlement solutions were developed together with residents. Image Jhono Bennett

8 Whilst the city is adhering to the original vision of an industrial buffer zone, Industrial Area Development Framework City of Johannesburg

9 its decade long efforts to clean up the area have resulted in protracted battles being fought in the law courts and on the streets of Johannesburg. Excerpt from comic by UJ student Jaco Jonker

10 Court interdicts against the city s evictions have locked the area into limbo with neither the business owners, nor residents benefitting. Image south Architects

11 Yet the former buffer has been humanised by its inhabitants, churches, crèches, shops, traders, taverns, social and medical services and informal industries operating alongside formal businesses. Image Leon Krige

12 Together with residents, students produced an accurate land-use map illustrating the dynamic nature of the area. Image south Architects

13 The map acts as a tool informing various stakeholders, including the city, of the actual potential Detail of the Landuse map based on mappings by students of University of Johannesburg, image south Architects

14 in working with, rather than against, what exists. Model by UJ students, image south Architects

15 In addition, students documented the life worlds of Marlboro South s residents Model by UJ students Guillermo Delgado

16 in order to enter a spatial, material and economic reality different to their own Drawings by UJ students Francesco Alves and Naeem Kooreyshi, image south Architects

17 to inform their proposals. UJ student presenting in Marlboro South, image south Architects

18 During an extensive post-course engagement re-settlement layouts were developed for households that won a court interdict against the city s evictions. Presentation of resettlement models in Marlboro South south Architects

19 Based on the request for a 10m² unit which could grow, several layouts for self-constructed settlements were developed. Resettlement models by south Architects, BOOM Architects, image Guillermo Delgado

20 These formed the basis for a large-scale proposal over eleven sites delivered by residents to the responsible MEC s office. Resettlement proposal by south Architects & BOOM Architects, image Jaco Jonker

21 The course was documented and outcomes formatted as a travelling exhibition. Film screenings were held in Marlboro South, Pre-exhibition film screening in Marlboro South, image south Architects

22 the main exhibition opened at the Goethe-Institut Exhibition opening at Goethe-Institut, image Kutlwano Moagi Exhibition opening at Goethe-Institut, image Jhono Bennett

23 and a satellite exhibition was installed at the local Institute for Architecture. Exhibition at GIFA, image south Architects

24 A newspaper formed a catalogue and report of the events and outcomes. Exhibition newspaper, image south Architects

25 The exhibition became a site for engagement on the themes of participative planning and action-led research. Exhibition opening at Goethe-Institut, Johannesburg, image Kutlwano Moagi

26 as well as a setting for discussions with donors and residents on a pair of donated warehouses. AWQAF discussion on donated warehouses at Goethe-Institut, Johannesburg, image Eric Wright

27 These are to be developed as a prototype conversion offering affordable rental... Proposals for converting donated warehouses by 6 10 south Architects and BOOM Architects, image south Architects

28 and a potential way forward for the redevelopment of occupied warehouses. Notes taken at discussion on donated warehouses at Goethe-Institut, image Tolo Pule

29 The exhibition content made it into the South African Presidency, which in turn mandated the City s Housing Department to develop the warehouse prototypes. Image south Architects

30 Whilst the process of engagement is by no means simple or benign, it holds the promise that cities, however flawed, can and should be modified by ordinary citizens. Community member at a discussion on donated warehouses at Goethe-Institut, image Tolo Pule

31 Central to this promise is the necessity that professionals and the institutions which educate them, shift towards modes of education and practice which are more responsive to the reality on the ground. Image south Architects

32 INFORMAL STUDIO: MARLBORO SOUTH presents a case study describing the events and relationships which emerged Processes of Engagement Map by BOOM Architects, image south Architects & BOOM Architects

33 as well as the outcomes, challenges and opportunities a participative approach to planning made evident. Soweto west image Iwan Baan ( Excerpt from Processes of Engagement Map by BOOM Architects, image south Architects & BOOM Architects

34 Info: Teaching staff: Thorsten Deckler & Anne Graupner (Principals at south Architects), Alexander Opper (Director of Architecture Master s Programme, UJ); UJ Lecturers: Eric Wright & Claudia Morgado (Design), Melinda Silverman (Urban Design), Suzette Grace (Architectural Design Theory, UJ), Leon Krige (Architectural & Design Technology & Innovation), Amira Osman (Office Practice), Annemarie Wagener (Construction), Absalom Makhubu (Studio Work), Dr.Finzi Saidi (Landscape & Survey) Marlboro South Community: The community of the Marlboro South informal settlement, including the Marlboro Warehouse Crisis Committee (MWCC): Charles Gininda, Thapelo Mogane, August Tswai, Maluleke David, Loveson Motlapa, and the community architects: Winnie Ngubane, Queenie Nkosi, Happiness Nkosi, Khanyisile Soncgca, Fezeke, Baliswa Mahono, Khanyi Ncube, Nonthando Madondo, Thabo Masenyetse, Phili Thafeni, Karabo Mokaba, Promise Nxumalo, Agnes Lekgotla, Mapule Lekgotla, Anna Mathibedi, Melissa, Jabulani Dwiazawa,Thulie Shabalala, Wonderboy Butheklezi, Andries Tzumbezo, Asanda Magqabi, Ayanda Libala, Khanyi Ncube, Nonthando Madondo and Thabo Masenyetse. UJ Students: Francois Mercer, Elaine Engelbrecht, Francisco Hamilton Alves, David Cloete, Rick van Heerden, Shani Fakir, Nakedi Nkoana, Lance Ho Hip, Brent Proudfoot, Renee van Rooyen, Dylan Watkins, Steffen Fischer, Jolien Dreyer, Eugene Ncube, Naeem Kooreyshi, Katrin Tenim, Martin Bam, Philip van As, Debbie Pienaar, Laura Strydom, Katy Harris, Dewald Coetzer, Jurgen Rubirske, Lemohang Sekhoto, Shyam Patel, Joseph Matebane, Ashlea Weaver, Calvin Copeling, Basil Moutsatsos, Nhlamulo Ngobeni, Samantha Trask, Jaco Jonker, Lungelo Zulu, Alex Verissmo, Grant Woodward, Jaques Wienekus, Motebang Matselela, Sachin Mistry, Caitlin Bell, Robin Theobald, Keron Muller, Michelle Jordaan, Thabiso Siwana, Gareth Jones, Marc Sherrat, Glen Jordan, Lucille Jacobs, Tlale Masiu and Hanle van Huyssteen Support: Goethe-Institut South Africa has financially and logistically supported the project from its inception; Steve Topham (NUSP); Andy Bolnick & Ryan Bosworth (ikhayalami); Sandra Van Rensburg, Andre Mengi, Jhono Bennett & Jacqueline Cuyler (CORC); Tolo Phule and Lungelo Mntambo (Delite Visual Archives Studios); South African Shack Dwellers International Alliance (SDI): Rose Molokoane (FEDUP), Patrick Magebhula (ISN) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS