In 90% plus, Kevin Kimwelle revisits the building materials, methods, and components he has developed for several alternative design-build projects in South Africa. Kimwelle focuses on sustainable, people-centred community development work, his unique designs responding to the urgency of social and environmental crises, grounding alternative building practices with recycled materials and holistic approaches.
Kevin Kimwelle at the Joe Slovo West Community Project, photo by Joubert Loots
Throughout the Experimental Fellowship with Bauhaus Earth, Kevin initiated collaborative, cross-disciplinary work and networking, bringing his design practice to Berlin to convince local authorities, developers, and professional building consultants to use these alternative building methods in South Africa and beyond.
Practice methodology drawings, courtesy of Kevin Kimwelle
His collaboration with the Bauhaus Earth team at the Marienpark LAB fostered new connections, reflecting his commitment to innovative approaches in reused and recycled materials in the built environment. The meaningful contribution of the project enriched both his practice and the Fellowship, expanding knowledge and raising awareness of an understudied practice.
Kimwelle’s award-winning projects include prototypes of a community facility in Joe Slovo Township (Overall Transformation Award 2018 SAPOA Awards), a house in Port Elizabeth (Winner of South African Institute of Architects 2022 SAIA-EC Awards), and his latest Food Pavilion in Cape Town (“Targeting Net Zero”).
Joe Slovo West Community Project, inside and outside views, photos by Joubert Loots, Franzi Knight
Kevin Kimwelle