Design Network Director Luyanda Mpahlwa is a professional Architect and Urban Design practitioner based in Cape Town. He obtained his Masters in Architecture at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany in 1997. Prior to the current role, he was director at DesignSpaceAfrica, an Architecture and Design firm he founded in 2009. Until then he was a partner at MMA Architects for 12 years in the period 1997 - 2009. His education in South Africa was interrupted when he was incarcerated on Robben Island Prison in 1981 for his role in the liberation struggle against Apartheid. After his release in 1986, he left for Germany, where he spent 15 years in exile. Due to his achievements in Architecture, he has received various awards and recognition for his commitment to  Design for Social Change. Luyanda was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from the Walter Sisulu University in 2010 for his contribution to innovative and sustainable design approaches. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor at the UCT, African Centre for Cities for the next 5 years.

Since 2021, he has been a Guest Lecturer in the German sponsored MuseumsLab Programme, a platform for partnership and dialogue between German and African Museums. He is former President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and sits on various Public Sector Boards including the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and the National Heritage Council (NHC). Luyanda has received various design Awards, including SAIA/Corobrik Award of Excellence in 2006 for the South African Embassy building in Berlin, Germany. He was the recipient of USA based Curry Stone Design Prize in 2008, an award for Architecture which “Improves Lives”, for the Design Indaba Sandbag Low Cost House in Mitchells Plein, Cape Town. He was part of the technical team of advisors for the construction of the 2010 World Cup Stadia in South Africa.

Ulrike Mpahlwa has 25 years of experience in Architecture & Urban Design. She obtained her Masters in Architecture at the Academy of the Arts University, in Berlin 1996 and started her career in Berlin, at Herwart+Holz’, Urban Planning and Architecture (former MAIC-Stadt). She relocated to Cape Town in 1997, where she pursued post-grad Architecture/Urban Design studies under Prof Uytenbogaart at UCT.

Thereafter, she worked at Aaron J. Wegman Architect and Urban Planner for 10 years, where her extensive knowledge in social housing developed. She joined DesignSpaceAfrica in 2007 and has headed the Urban Design department at Design Network since 2021.