Since 1994 the world has witnessed South Africa slowly redesigning and rebuilding a triumphant nation with one of the world’s most progressive Constitutions as a road map. The 2010 FIFA World Cup saw a galvanisation of the previously unheralded strategic, economic and creative skill inherent in the country. Created as a platform to salute the energy that created the World Cup, DESIGNING_ZA posits the event as a case study for national cooperation, dedication and identity. The country performed under intense international scrutiny and has the chance to present its success as inspiration and learnings, not only to other nations, but also to its own future generations.
Reflections & Opportunities, published by DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA, encapsulates the critical, reflective dialogue the organisation has generated since 2010. Edited by DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA founder Zahira Asmal, the book is divided into two sections. The first section, “Reflections” contains ten feature articles by leading international and local publications including Wallpaper*, Financial Times and The Guardian. Secondly, “Opportunities” entails four essays by key academics: African Centre for Cities director Professor Edgar Pieterse; architect Henning Rasmuss; assistant professor of international relations at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo, Oliver Stuenkel; and Cape Peninsula University of Technology sports management lecturer Brendon Knott.
The publication features a foreword by the head of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee, Dr Danny Jordaan. Striking images and photographs by Andrew Bell (from the Litshe le Golide film with Guy Ailion – and David Goldblatt – one of the country’s most revered photographers – complement the full-colour, large-format publication.
Published in English and Portuguese, the book is the first formal South African gesture towards sharing its experience and learnings with Brazil, the hosts of the next World Cup and Olympic Games. The two languages can be read by simply flipping the book over – English designated by a blue title on one side and Portuguese in green on the other.
Available here are samples of the related essays. The complete essays are published in the Reflections & Opportunities book, which can be ordered here.
WORLD CUP PROMISE by Edgar Pieterse
MORE THAN WILDLIFE & SCENIC BEAUTY by Brendon Knott
THE BIG FIVE OPPORTUNITIES by Henning Rasmuss
BRICS & THE BRIDGE TO BRAZIL by Oliver Stuenkel
BOOK REVIEWS
DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA represented South Africa at the International Architecture & Design Showcase in London in June & July 2012 a part of the London Architecture Festival.
The exhibition entitled ‘A Nation Under Construction’, curated by Zahira Asmal, opened on Friday, 29th June 2012 within a hub called ‘Architectures of Change’. Alongside Taiwan, Serbia, Namibia and the Carribean DESIGNING_ZA told the story of South Africa’s contemporary urbanism, architecture and social development through striking portraits, reportage, landscape and cityscape images by Andrew Bell, taken from Litshe Le Golide on which he collaborated with fellow architect and filmmaker Guy Adam Ailion, Leon Krige, Dave Southwood and Bruce Sutherland. Combined with the moving image installation ‘DESIGN, A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL (a snapshot of DESIGNING SOUTHAFRICA’s ongoing research), the exhibition’s narrative formed an exploration of the urban, architectural and social development issues and opportunities that arise through mega-events on the eve of London’s turn to take centre stage as host of the 2012 Olympic Games.
DOWNLOAD POSTER FOR THE EXHIBITION
Seminars that were part of our exhibition participation:
EXPANDED TERRITORIES COLLOQUIEM
DESIGN DIPLOMACY: NAMIBIA & SOUTH AFRICA POST COLONIAL LEGACIES
Exhibition images credit: Adrenus Craton & Zahira Asmal
Since the launch of the DESIGN, CITIES & WORLD CUP programme in 2009, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA hosted editors-in-chief of 15 global design and culture publications. This has been a very rewarding endeavour for South African cities, designers, architects and prominent urban projects. Due to these direct efforts we have seen in excess of ZAR8,89 million worth of global media coverage between 2010 and 2011. We have reached markets in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Unites States, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, China, Japan and Australia.
For the Reflections & Opportunities book tour of Brazil between April and May 2012, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA received US$467,450 news coverage in broadcast, print and online media in Brazil, including a prime time slot on Brazil’s most prominent television network, GLOBO. With over 100 million people viewers of GLOBO TV alone, the reach has been phenomenal.
Media Editorials
Design Week UK: Symbol of Hope
designboom: Making the Makarapa
designboom: World Cup Mobile Medical Unit
designboom: Touring Cape Town Stadium
designboom: Inside Soccer City
designboom: World Cup Mosaics
designboom: Heath Nash Studio
designboom: 12 Decades Art Hotel
Due to our direct efforts to advocate important design work globally, we have featured in prominent publications globally. See DESIGNING_ZA IN THE GLOBAL MEDIA
In 3 years (2010 – 2012), DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA has presented to audiences at 11 Universities and Design Schools,