Ubuntu Design Group

Ubuntu Design Group At the heart of Ubuntu is the concept of community - “I am because you are.” We seek to create This was the birth of Ubuntu Design Group.

Wandile Mthiyane, founder of Ubuntu Design Group, grew up in the shanty towns of Durban, South Africa, and always dreamed of returning to make a difference in his home town. When the Ethekwini Municipality afforded him an opportunity to study at Andrews University, located in Michigan, USA, he was finally able to meet like-minded peers and make this lifelong dream a reality. With this urgency and

desire to help his South African community, Wandile found opportunities to learn from his professors and classmates about engaging his passion for architecture while using these skills as a tool to empower shanty towns back home. From there Wandile was afforded the opportunity to present his “Half-House Project” during the One Young World Resolution Project Summit in Bankgok, Thailand in [2015]. He was awarded a fellowship along with start up funding for Ubuntu.

The word Zulu means Heaven and the Zulu people are known as the people of the heavens.A big part of Zulu culture revolve...
05/04/2022

The word Zulu means Heaven and the Zulu people are known as the people of the heavens.

A big part of Zulu culture revolves around practices that connect the individual to their God and to the heavens.

This was a particularly exciting project designing a Zulu observatory as tool that will teach Zulu children about their traditions, values and astronomy.


"I am hoping to change the paradigm, push people to dream and undergo risk. It is not because you are rich that you shou...
23/03/2022

"I am hoping to change the paradigm, push people to dream and undergo risk. It is not because you are rich that you should waste material. It is not because you are poor that you should not try to create quality. Everyone deserves quality, everyone deserves luxury, and everyone deserves comfort. We are interlinked and concerns in climate, democracy and scarcity are concerns for us all" - Francis Kéré

We would like to take a moment to honour and celebrate Mr Diébédo Francis Kéré for his historical & ground breaking moment in being the FIRST African & FIRST Black Architect to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is considered an Architect's highest honor.

To us as young African Architects, this fills us with hope and courage to see an incredible Architect being honoured for his work which seeks to empower & transform communities through Architecture.

ONCE AGAIN WE CELEBRATE YOU, WE HONOUR YOU & WE THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY

**Appreciation Post**Mona-Lisa has been an associate architectural designer with us for the past year and she’s transfor...
16/03/2022

**Appreciation Post**

Mona-Lisa has been an associate architectural designer with us for the past year and she’s transformed how we work and think of architecture. She’s an incredible designer who’s led our impact design department over the past year.

Her work ethic, attention to detail and passion for social impact design has been an inspiration to all us at Ubuntu.

Mona, thank you for challenging us to be better. We’ve been honored to have you be a part of our team over the past year. We wish you all the best as you go to graduate school and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you go on to do.

**Appreciation Post**Mona-Lisa has been an associate architectural designer with us for the past year and she’s transfor...
16/03/2022

**Appreciation Post**

Mona-Lisa has been an associate architectural designer with us for the past year and she’s transformed how we work and think of architecture. She’s an incredible designer who’s led our designs department over the past year. Her work ethic, attention to detail and passion for social impact design has been an inspiration to all us at Ubuntu.

Mona, thank you for challenging us to be better. We’ve been honored to have you be a part of our team over the past year. We wish you all the best as you go to graduate school and we can’t wait to see all that you go on to do.

The Gantsho Residential is well underway, nestled in a spectacular landscape, once complete this home will witness some ...
02/02/2022

The Gantsho Residential is well underway, nestled in a spectacular landscape, once complete this home will witness some pretty incredible views!!

We are excited for what's to come as this year is off to a good start!! Watch the space...

Currently on the drawing board is the Rondavel House.Rondavels are possibly one of the most universal house forms in Sub...
17/11/2021

Currently on the drawing board is the Rondavel House.

Rondavels are possibly one of the most universal house forms in Sub Saharan Architecture, manifesting in different forms as a result of a combination of cultural customs, kinship, climate, resources, settlement geography e.t.c

The structure is usually an element of a homestead pattern, originally built in wattle and daub walls with conically thatched roofs, derived from domed huts.


Meet the faces behind Ubuntu Design Group.Wandile Mthiyane is an Obama Leader, TEDx fellow, Social entrepreneur, Archite...
27/10/2021

Meet the faces behind Ubuntu Design Group.

Wandile Mthiyane is an Obama Leader, TEDx fellow, Social entrepreneur, Architectural designer as well as the founder & CEO of UDG. Influenced by his childhood experiences growing up in post-apartheid South Africa, he founded UDG. With a vision of having an Architectural organisation that would bring about social impact through the design and building of projects ranging from residential to urban scale.

Nontokozo Mhlungu is the Principal Architect at UDG with years of experience in the industry. She possesses a design flair needed to conceptualize, co-ordinate & develop landmark architecture. She has a holistic yet practical outlook on design as well as other creative endeavours such as fine arts & product design.

In this reimagined concept we are currently working on, Ubuntu Home Hotel is a scheme born out of our passion for an Arc...
22/10/2021

In this reimagined concept we are currently working on, Ubuntu Home Hotel is a scheme born out of our passion for an Architecture that heals.

A restoration of the old colonial facade with the bright modern building emerging from it highlights our vision for seeing the old meet new.

We envisioned an inclusive space were like minded young Africans could be part of something bigger than themselves. Imagine staying or even owning a portion of the Hotel & Condominiums that didn't just turn profit but that directly benefited low-income communities by utilising some of the proceeds to build homes for families in need.

Build Homes in your sleep!!

Imagine that!!

Let us know your thoughts? What kind of features and amenities would you want to see in such a space?

In this design for a Physiotherapy Center for children UDG's concept was to create an environment that felt more like a ...
13/10/2021

In this design for a Physiotherapy Center for children UDG's concept was to create an environment that felt more like a home than a facility, a space conducive to the development of children with disabilities.

The aim was to explore sustainable yet affordable & creative solutions for a therapeutic home. A space that would be flexible in facilitating various treatment procedures while still promoting a sense of dignity for its occupants.

The building would be split into two wings, with different functions, separated by large open circulation spaces. One wing would be for day to day therapy & consultation & the other to be utilised as a day care. From these two wings people can access a garden with a series of pathways and a sensory garden, which all play a vital role in the treatment aspect of the home.

The Shazi Home sits complete and absolutely beautiful with its new facade, as you can tell from the smile on , we are pr...
06/10/2021

The Shazi Home sits complete and absolutely beautiful with its new facade, as you can tell from the smile on , we are proud of this project and looking forward to more projects like this!

In this concept design, Ubuntu Design Group had the task of analysing the existing Masikhule Preschool with the intentio...
27/09/2021

In this concept design, Ubuntu Design Group had the task of analysing the existing Masikhule Preschool with the intention of upscaling it through design interventions that would uplift the local community as well as provide dignified childcare facilities that meet the local authority regulations.

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