Counterspace Studio

Counterspace is a Johannesburg-based architecture studio led by the all-female team of Sumayya Vally, Amina Kaskar and Sarah de Villiers. Much of their work is produced through research and interdisciplinary art projects, undertaking mainly architectural design, community engagement, conceptualization of exhibitions and installations, and urban research and design. Their work is influenced by ideas for inclusivity, otherness and the future; they often collaborate with other creative disciplines in developing innovative approaches to interesting design challenges. Their work is inspired by their location - Johannesburg - and they aim to develop design expressions specifically for Johannesburg and the continent - through urban research, publications, installations and architecture. Counterspace has participated in a number of research, graphic and immersion projects with stakeholders nationally, local architects and various South African universities; in addition to various cultural architecture projects in rural and urban South Africa, as well as international projects. The practice occupies a space adjacent to academic practice, with Sumayya running Unit 12 at the Postgraduate School of Architecture in Johannesburg, founded by Professor Lesley Lokko, Sarah currently running Unit 18 at the same institution, and Amina running the Housing Ecologies studio at the University of the Witwatersrand 's Postgraduate School of Architecture.