FuckUtecture: a poignant review on elitist South African architecture

<p>It is important for us as designers to critically evaluate the architecture industry to establish whether or not the current top five architectural firms are designing with the other 90% in mind. We understand this other 90% to be mutually beneficial design that caters to the local context, community development and sustainable building practices. There is an increasing global trend to commission starchitects to design abstract inappropriate iconic buildings The paper will unpack the characteristics of what makes a starchitecture firm and the ‘4F formula’ that guarantees success in bidding for mega government and private project tenders. Using the case study of Sandton and Alexandra Township this paper will demonstrate that money and connections count for more than design and mutually beneficial architecture. Whilst starchitecture addresses fame, fortune and form, pleasing both the architect and the investor, fuckutecture addresses social responsibility, dealing with a community at hand and the establishment of a mutually beneficial architecture.</p>