Research Seminar: Systemic Balance in Habitat Making – Revisiting the African Traditional Architecture
Contemporary city making is rooted in the ethos of modernity, scripting natural processes as ‘the other’ with a clear boundary between the lived and the natural spaces. This dichotomous reading of Nature and Culture, which has promoted a continuous, often tense, struggle for the subjugation of nature, is still the foundational spirit that drives our collective strive for growth and transformation. However, traditional African conceptions do not make such a division between nature and society – offering a vast field of rediscovery for a more harmonious coexistence and dialogue in and with nature. Though the current rapid urban production is disruptive of this dialogue by being dependent on the global circuit of capital, materials, equipment, and skills, the majority of Africa still depends on traditional productions and localized cycles.
By focusing on a particular geographic region within the vast continent, the seminar will attempt to explore the operational mechanics of traditional architecture (habitat making) within the metabolic cycles of the different ecological zones of the region. The main aim is to draw vital and timeless values and principles that are foundational in ensuring stability and balance in the making of the Human Habitat.
First Meeting: 21.04.2026, 14:00
Regular Meeting: Tuesdays, 14:00 – 15:30
Submission/Exam: 21.07.2026
Focus of study: Urban Design
