|
(soon)
Вакансия
Marc Sherratt
interview
johannesburg, south africa
The MSSA Office was founded in 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is engaged in architectural research and projects focused on restoring the ecological environment in Africa.
Founder, Director and Head of the Research Department at Marc Sherratt, Sustainability Architects (MSSA).
It's not obvious, but South Africa is a very urbanized place. Here, the seizure of territories by cities occurs chaotically, without state control: people simply come to cities and build wherever they can find a site. This damages the ecological systems in and around cities.
Our main task is to restore the lost ecological system consisting of plants, insects and birds. We develop technologies, including AI-based ones, for monitoring biodiversity systems, and based on their results, we design and select materials for construction. It is much more interesting to do this in Africa than, for example, somewhere in the Western Hemisphere, where there is almost nothing to restore.
Here the idea of nature differs from the European one, it affects all spheres of human life every day. At the same time, nature remains a source of danger: until now, a lion can attack a child going to school. It's a part of life in Africa. They know how to live here in such close, sometimes dramatic contact with nature. This skill needs to be studied and fixed, it can become a source of unique solutions all over the world.
Our main task is to restore the lost ecological system consisting of plants, insects and birds. We develop technologies, including AI-based ones, for monitoring biodiversity systems, and based on their results, we design and select materials for construction. It is much more interesting to do this in Africa than, for example, somewhere in the Western Hemisphere, where there is almost nothing to restore.
Here the idea of nature differs from the European one, it affects all spheres of human life every day. At the same time, nature remains a source of danger: until now, a lion can attack a child going to school. It's a part of life in Africa. They know how to live here in such close, sometimes dramatic contact with nature. This skill needs to be studied and fixed, it can become a source of unique solutions all over the world.
What is the peculiarity of the work of an architectural bureau in Africa?
Who usually becomes your client?
At the same time, many in Africa feel some kind of inferiority complex, feel left behind in some areas, and believe that they have nothing to teach the rest of the world. Therefore, most of our work is aimed at giving people the opportunity to be proud of their lifestyle in harmony with nature.
Before colonization, South Africa's economic systems were built around cattle. Settlements were formed around a living being that needed to eat and breathe. All processes proceeded from this point, even the production of building materials was tied to the life cycle of animals. Now we are looking for a new value core. It can be an American consumer lifestyle, a European or Japanese model, or something very local.
Before colonization, South Africa's economic systems were built around cattle. Settlements were formed around a living being that needed to eat and breathe. All processes proceeded from this point, even the production of building materials was tied to the life cycle of animals. Now we are looking for a new value core. It can be an American consumer lifestyle, a European or Japanese model, or something very local.
What projects are you proud of?
We started out like any architectural firm: we tried to win contests while we were looking for a topic that would become part of our belief system. The first major project we implemented was the Cultural Heritage House in Johannesburg. It was the first in Africa to be marked by the Green Building Council as a zero—waste project - nothing was sent or sent to landfill during its construction and operation. Most people said that complete absence of waste in Africa was impossible, but we were the first to prove the opposite. It was very important for us.
We also had a landscape project in which we restored endangered pastures. The most vulnerable pasture in Johannesburg was Igori Granite grassland, and we restored its landscape with an area of about 1,500 square meters, filling it with 140 plant species.
In our work, we often use technologies to monitor biodiversity, which I mentioned earlier. One device we have developed classifies birds by sound and allows us to track climate change — when birds arrive from other parts of the world, then the real summer begins. We post this information in public places to inform people about the change of season.
We have also designed a typical zero-carbon clinic that can be built all over Africa. Environmental friendliness does not consist in uniqueness. There should be a certain degree of standardization in things like public infrastructure.
We also had a landscape project in which we restored endangered pastures. The most vulnerable pasture in Johannesburg was Igori Granite grassland, and we restored its landscape with an area of about 1,500 square meters, filling it with 140 plant species.
In our work, we often use technologies to monitor biodiversity, which I mentioned earlier. One device we have developed classifies birds by sound and allows us to track climate change — when birds arrive from other parts of the world, then the real summer begins. We post this information in public places to inform people about the change of season.
We have also designed a typical zero-carbon clinic that can be built all over Africa. Environmental friendliness does not consist in uniqueness. There should be a certain degree of standardization in things like public infrastructure.
When you talk about your projects, it seems that architecture doesn't always play a major role in them. What does architecture mean to you, and what role does it play in the environmental agenda?
In the rest of Africa, there is a significant dominance of China in the construction and import of materials. There are negative aspects to this, but there are more opportunities for experimentation, because the regulations are not as strict as in South Africa and Britain.
But everything is changing. I think the South African Green Building Council is doing a great job of developing best practices for sustainable development on the continent by setting standards for materials and design solutions. Designing here is a very long process. And, as a rule, the biggest limitation is the cost in the early stages of design: research, data collection and analysis. The need for this is not clear to all customers. It seems to me that the industry is moving towards making decisions based primarily on the data collected, rather than aesthetics. But customers have yet to be convinced of this.
But everything is changing. I think the South African Green Building Council is doing a great job of developing best practices for sustainable development on the continent by setting standards for materials and design solutions. Designing here is a very long process. And, as a rule, the biggest limitation is the cost in the early stages of design: research, data collection and analysis. The need for this is not clear to all customers. It seems to me that the industry is moving towards making decisions based primarily on the data collected, rather than aesthetics. But customers have yet to be convinced of this.
I like the fact that architecture is people-oriented. Through architectural solutions, our office helps Africans maintain contact with nature, but in a new way. We are engaged in reducing the destructive impact of architecture on the environment.
The various crises of recent years have taught us to unite the whole world, for example, in the fight against covid. I see my role as bringing people together to fight global problems. In my opinion, this is one of the skills of an architect — to bring together different professionals, make them a cohesive team and lead it. I think all architects have a set of skills that can be used on a global scale and not necessarily for building design. These can be very complex and unexpected problems: for example, elephants are endangered — an architect can find a solution to this using his skills.
The various crises of recent years have taught us to unite the whole world, for example, in the fight against covid. I see my role as bringing people together to fight global problems. In my opinion, this is one of the skills of an architect — to bring together different professionals, make them a cohesive team and lead it. I think all architects have a set of skills that can be used on a global scale and not necessarily for building design. These can be very complex and unexpected problems: for example, elephants are endangered — an architect can find a solution to this using his skills.
Is it difficult for you to bring your ideas to life?
It depends on the part of Africa. South Africa, where we work, is a very industrialized country, but at the same time conservative. Here, engineers build well and quickly, but they are used to certain, not always environmentally friendly approaches and materials. It's hard to convince them to use something new.
Most of our clients are representatives of the government or organizations that deal with projects with great social responsibility: healthcare, schools, social housing, cultural and public buildings.
We initiate some research and development ourselves. For example, we did the project "Talking to Elephants", which was presented at the Venice Biennale. He restored the ability of the endangered African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) to migrate through the Limpopo territory. The designed route was equipped with infrasound locators that guided elephants along a new 1,000-kilometer migration corridor.
We also have private clients. The construction of buildings costs millions of euros, so there is a place for wealthy customers and corporations for whom environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate change and concepts such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) and net zero (Net Zero Emissions) are important.
We initiate some research and development ourselves. For example, we did the project "Talking to Elephants", which was presented at the Venice Biennale. He restored the ability of the endangered African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) to migrate through the Limpopo territory. The designed route was equipped with infrasound locators that guided elephants along a new 1,000-kilometer migration corridor.
We also have private clients. The construction of buildings costs millions of euros, so there is a place for wealthy customers and corporations for whom environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate change and concepts such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) and net zero (Net Zero Emissions) are important.
night house
Willowild, johannesburg
Willowild, johannesburg
singing chapel
rwanda
rwanda
Talking to Elephants,
Biennale Architettura 2025
Biennale Architettura 2025
vulture cling
johannesburg
johannesburg
covid healthcare
sub-acute facility, springs
sub-acute facility, springs
VLEIHUIS DEVELOPMENT