It is almost three decades since South Africa officially realized its radical political change: the abandonment of its system of discriminatory rule. Spatial exclusion and the concomitant segregation of so-called indigenous peoples had been the primary building block for apartheid. Whereas it has been relatively easy to change and dismantle that practice’s legal structure, the legacy of its spatial infrastructure continues to present its most enduring and divisionary attribute.

Noero Architects, originally founded in 1984, represents an inherent ability to generate design projects that complement this national imperative. This has enabled the development of a unique identity. Predicated on the ability to ask thoughtful questions, as opposed to simply solving design problems, this studio pursues what is possible in conditions particular to each project. One of these has been the Red Location Cultural Precinct, which transformed the oldest surviving relocation site in Port Elizabeth—where thousands of native Africans were forced to settle—by providing opportunities for education, employment, and artistic expression. An enduring response is evident in the sustained production of transformed building types that directly contribute to offering new life for users.