Dr. Luyanda Mpahlwa (PrArch)

Adjunct Prof, UCT, African Centre for Cities (ACC)

Luyanda is a Cape Town based Architect /Urban Design practitioner and commentator on socially relevant matters in Architecture, Urban Design and the condition of African Cities. His focus is on transformative design practice towards the upliftment of marginalised communities and specifically, the spatial transformation of the urban fabric in South Africa. He obtained his Master’s in Architecture at the Technical University of Berlin in 1997, he is the Director of Architecture + Design Network, an Architecture and Urban Design firm which has a broad portfolio of projects in South Africa and abroad, including the South African Embassies in Berlin and Addis Ababa. Design Network works on a collaborative basis with the focus on the social dimension of Architecture to deliver high quality projects, various architecture and urban design projects, schools, affordable urban housing, and consulting in urban development strategies, including Hotels and various projects in the African continent.

Luyanda has contributed to the recent history of South Africa and remains a critical voice in matters of heritage, culture and spatial justice. His University education in was interrupted when he was incarcerated on Robben Island Prison in 1981 for his role in the struggle for liberation and Democracy in South Africa. After his release in 1986, he left for Germany, where he spent 15 years in exile, where he completed his studies.

He has received various design Awards, including SAIA/Corobrik Award of Excellence in 2006 for the South African Embassy building in Berlin, Germany. He was the recipient of USA based Curry Stone Design Prize in 2008 for the Design Indaba Sandbag Low-Cost House in Freedom Park, Mitchells Plein, Cape Town.

Luyanda was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from the Walter Sisulu University in 2010 for his contribution to innovative design and technology. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town, African Centre for Cities (ACC) for the next 5 years. In his role as a scholar, he has been invited as Guest Speaker in various conferences and universities in Africa, the USA and in Europe. In 2024 he participated in a series of Decolonial symposia in Berlin Germany, including a performance lecture on the Music of Struggle, also in Berlin.

He serves in various Boards & Councils, currently the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the National Heritage Council (NHC), and previously, the Robben Island Museum Council (Until 2019) and the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). He is the Past President of SAIA 2018 - 2020. He is a member of SACAP (South African Institute for the Architectural Profession) and UDISA,(Urban Design Institute of South Africa).

Photo Credit: Simon Watson