Collaborative Housing Solutions – Cissie Gool House Co-Design Exhibition in Cape Town
In Cape Town, a new approach to affordable housing is gaining traction. The Cissie Gool House CoDesign Exhibition, hosted at the Cape Institute for Architecture, presents an innovative vision for addressing the city's housing challenges. The exhibition showcases the work and ideas of Cissie Gool House residents, who have been occupying the former Woodstock Hospital since 2017, led by the activist group Reclaim the City.
In Cape Town, a new approach to affordable housing is gaining traction. The Cissie Gool House Co-Design Exhibition, hosted at the Cape Institute for Architecture, presents an innovative vision for addressing the city’s housing challenges. The exhibition showcases the work and ideas of Cissie Gool House residents, who have been occupying the former Woodstock Hospital since 2017, led by the activist group Reclaim the City.
Exhibition Features
The exhibition features portraits of occupation leaders, adorned with their stories and Reclaim the City slogans. Additionally, it offers case studies of local and international affordable housing movements, as well as short documentary screenings.
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Co-Design Process
The co-design process, led by architect and development planner Malcolm Campbell, allowed residents to contribute their ideas and shape their housing future. The process evolved organically, with two key events that influenced the project: the City of Cape Town’s tender for a facilities manager for the occupation and a heritage impact assessment of the building.
Importance of Self-Reliance
Bevil Lucas, a leader at Cissie Gool House, emphasized the importance of self-reliance in their approach. “What we have attempted to do here is to show, not only the State but to show people our collective engagement… Not to wait on the new world, but to contribute, build, and to make sure that our interpretation of a new world is possible,” he said.
Invitation to Collaborate
Karen Hendricks, another leader at Cissie Gool House, encourages people to visit and engage with the exhibition. “Come and see how we are able to collaborate, communicate, and build an alternative. We are in the middle of a housing crisis. We also know that we live in the most unequal city where housing is a pure commodity… People can’t live and die on a waiting list, they have to live in homes,” she said.
Potential of Community-Driven Initiatives
The Cissie Gool House Co-Design Exhibition highlights the potential of community-driven initiatives in addressing housing crises. By giving residents a platform to share their solutions, it empowers them to play an active role in shaping their living environments. The exhibition also provides valuable lessons for other cities grappling with similar challenges and serves as an example of how collective engagement and creativity can lead to practical, sustainable housing solutions.
Dates and Times
This inspiring showcase of alternative housing possibilities runs until June 21, open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
Opportunity for Change
As Cape Town faces ongoing housing challenges, the Cissie Gool House Co-Design Exhibition offers an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to learn and engage with the community’s innovative ideas for a more equitable and inclusive future.
Liam Fortuin is a Cape Town journalist whose reporting on the city’s evolving food culture—from township kitchens to wine-land farms—captures the flavours and stories of South Africa’s many kitchens. Raised in Bo-Kaap, he still starts Saturday mornings hunting koesisters at family stalls on Wale Street, a ritual that feeds both his palate and his notebook.
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