Matri-Archi(tecture)© is an intersectional collective that empowers African women as a network dedicated to African built development and spatial education. We action our ethos through our research unit and forthcoming spatial education programme, focusing on transformation in partnership with spatial practitioners.
Matri-Archi(tecture)© is an intersectional collective that brings African womxn of colour together for the empowerment and development of African cities, within the realm of spatial education. Matri-Archi(tecture) produces knowledge that constantly aims at catalyzing and fostering dialogue while encouraging consciousness in spatiality, bringing to the forefront the need for an Intersectional Space.
We seek to focus recognition of African women in the global spatial and architectural industry- spaces that have often barred us from representing ourselves and presenting a worldview that stems from our world sense.
Matri-Archi aims to merge, manifest and metamorphose in the spatial sphere of design and writing which currently fails to incorporate diverse identities and visions. MA works to empower its network with established practice and education partners to reframe the various sectors related to design and the city. Not just for the inclusion of African womxn, but for spatial knowledge-bearers, those that reflect the African sense of place and being.
We are a voice and a nexus, a ripe site of emerging and progressive thinkers of African descent who will inevitably contribute to the future of spatial Africa.
Khensani is an architectural researcher and designer from Johannesburg. She centres practicing intersectionality through research and design. Her view of intersectionality questions and imagines how the future of the built environment can be sustainable through ethically social practices.
Solange is a practising architect with a BIM post-master’s specialisation. As a multicultural scholar-explorer, she is passionate about developing self-sufficient spatial solutions and is fluent in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, while currently perfecting her German.
Tapiwa is an ar(tist)chitect who believes in; multidisciplinary collaboration, community based design and holistic approaches that adapt to climate, socio-cultural heritage and local identity toward informing positive perceptions.
Tshego is an Interior and Architectural designer who is currently enrolled in a Master of Science degree at Politecnico di Milano. Previously she obtained her Bachelors in Architectural studies from the University of Cape Town. At the core of her design approach is expressive, creative, social design.
Aude is currently completing her Part 1 in architecture at the Architectural Association. She is interested in west African fractal design and the philosophy that lies beyond it. She seeks to explore the idea of care and time in architecture.