Try GOLD - Free
Westbury Transformation Development Centre
SA Building Review
|Volume 8 2020
Can social justice be found through friendly and inclusive design? We think so. The Westbury Transformation Development Centre (TDC) project grapples with the issue of spatial and social justice in a marginalised community.
-
After 25 years of democracy, one of the legacies of apartheid planning is the many marginalised communities still prevalent in South Africa. These communities are often poorly serviced and have very few public amenities. The public facilities which one can find are often behind a fence, very clearly enforcing exclusion. We decided to challenge this norm through this project and to create a new typology of public facility in South Africa.
With a complex project brief, and multiple enduser stakeholders, the project houses a variety of social development programmes, such as a senior citizens day-care, a food security unit, a greenhouse, a migrant unit, an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) and offices. The project is centred around creating smaller safe spaces within a larger programme, while providing a generous public space along the street edge of the narrow site, to be used by the community for various social activities.

St Barnabas School the anchoring point
This story is from the Volume 8 2020 edition of SA Building Review.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM SA Building Review
SA Building Review
Transforming Stellenbosch University's Social Sciences Landmark
Stellenbosch University has invited Salt Architects to participate in a competition to redesign its renowned Arts and Social Sciences Building, incorporating a more gentle façade, enhanced circulation, and sustainable features.
2 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
Why zinc galvanising matters for South Africa's infrastructure
IZA Africa highlights how zinc galvanising protects steel from harsh coastal corrosion, extending service life and supporting durable, sustainable infrastructure across key sectors.
1 min
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
The Rubik: a sculptural landmark in Cape Town
dhk Architects have completed The Rubik, a 27-storey mixed-use tower featuring stacked, twisting cubic forms that blend contemporary design with heritage sensitivity.
3 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
A Garden of Harmony: Where Two Visions Become One
A couple's conflicting garden visions - one craving nature, the other simplicity - led to a landscape that balances tranquillity and practicality in one elegant, lawn-free design.
4 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
A Sanctuary of Modern Living in Clara Anna Fontein
Nestled in Clara Anna Fontein Lifestyle Estate, this U-shaped family home blends luxury, sustainability and tranquillity, with every room opening onto a central lawn overlooking vineyards and rolling farmland.
1 min
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
AMA Architects Unveils Phase Two of 2.1.9.6 Skye in Sandton
AMA Architects brings the new tower to 2.1.9.6 Skye, elevating high-rise, luxury apartment design and investment appeal in Sandton.
2 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
Window tint, a smart approach
Solar window tinting has been around for years, yet it remains one of the most overlooked products on the market. Like the misunderstood uncle, the rebellious stepchild, or the ugly duckling, only those who understand it recognise its true value.
1 min
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
Why cutting quality is cutting corners on South Africa's future
AfriSam's Amit Dawneerangen warns that reducing material quality to save money is undermining infrastructure and increasing long-term costs.
2 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
Brookfield at Royal: dhk Architects' Contemporary Vision
Brookfield at Royal marks a first for Johannesburg: a luxury apartment development located within the esteemed Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club precinct. Designed by dhk Architects for Tricolt, the project repurposes unused land at the edge of the urban golf course into a premium residential estate that combines heritage, luxury, and contemporary convenience.
2 mins
Volume 14 2026
SA Building Review
Remington House Redefines Green Housing in Johannesburg
TUHF's EDGE-certified conversion sets a new benchmark for sustainable, affordable living in the inner city.
2 mins
Volume 14 2026
Translate
Change font size
