Beyond Buildings: Using Urban Design for Social and Environmental Change

Imbued with a strong sense of justice, new Rebel Jessica Blumberg is ready to tackle today’s most pressing social and environmental issues through urban development. The Joburg native tells us how architecture and urban design can be a force for positive change, where she draws inspiration from, and what projects she’ll be working on.

Could you tell us a little bit about your professional background?

‘I’m an architect by training. After my master’s degree, I started working in traditional architecture, designing and constructing buildings. But I soon became frustrated. I wondered if I was going to spend my career creating buildings for the wealthy.’’

‘Soon, I switched jobs and started working for an architecture, urban design and research firm where projects were geared toward social and economic impact. Some of the major projects I worked on, developed strategies for economic development in townships, aiming to make South African townships economically independent, when they were historically designed not to be. For example, these areas were zoned to be purely residential, so small businesses would have a hard time getting a loan or getting licensed or registered, limiting their growth potential. We worked towards removing barriers, considering issues regarding policy, design, social contexts and economics redesigning areas. Community engagement was a key component to understating the local problems and co-producing solutions.

‘I also advised cities on strategies to revitalize inner cities and marginalized areas. This wasn’t just focused on the spatial aspects, but involved stakeholder management with public and private partners, and using data to develop solutions from the ground up. I really enjoyed seeing the greater impact of my work, engaging with policy, using a creative approach to solving complex problems and contributing to the early initiation and development of projects. So, I started to look around: where could I do more of this?’

Is that what drew you to Rebel?

‘Exactly. I think I had reached my growth capacity at my previous job and I wanted to collaborate more with people who, like me, are interested in doing things differently. As an architect, you are often expected to do the job you’re appointed for once its purpose and parameters have already been developed, but I wanted to reframe what was expected of the role. I wanted to be part of the early stages of projects, to be part of the ideation process, and to use research/data as evidence to guide a project, designed for maximum impact.

‘Rebel had engaged with the company I worked at on previous projects, so I was familiar with them. Through a friend, I later heard they were looking for an urban development consultant. Looking at Rebel, I saw my skill set and interests aligned.

‘I was excited by Rebel’s values (‘No change without a Rebel!’) and the opportunity to work with experts in different fields, in other countries, who bring a different kind of experience and share their knowledge with you.’

What do you think makes you a Rebel?

‘I am willing to try out new things and put myself on the line. I think that’s quite rebellious. Rebel wasn’t looking for an architect or urban designer. But I applied anyway, believing I could put my skills developed through architecture, urban design and research to use in a different industry.

‘As an architect, you’re taught to think differently to coordinate complex systems. Your job is to bring people together around a big, single vision. When you are designing a space you have to coordinate various experts with diverse skills, roles and responsibilities, they are each involved at different stages to contribute to components that eventually come together to achieve the overall goal. It requires a kind of creative thinking and agility that could be applied to many complex projects.

What makes you tick?

‘I grew up in Johannesburg, in a society that is unequal by design. Many things have changed over the past 30 years, but we are still dealing with the consequences. I have a strong sense of justice, and I need to use whatever I can to contribute to a more equitable society. When it comes to my work, I don’t just want to tick the boxes and go home.

‘My parents were very socially aware. My father was a lawyer who emphasized doing the right thing. A lot of his work was pro bono. He and my mother made us aware of our privilege and impressed upon us that we don’t have a right to anything just because we are born one way or another, or in one place or another- that is just luck.

‘I grew up with a domestic worker who was an incredible role model and taught me so much, she felt like a second mother. I realised she wasn’t afforded the same things in this country that I was. People like her contribute so much, our society relies on them, but they aren’t provided for, respected or considered. This led me to investigate these social and economic issues and their spatial manifestations in my master’s thesis. I looked at the relationship between housing, income and access to economic opportunities. Affordable housing is always further from economic nodes and potential jobs.  I also investigated the way race, gender and income and inequality intersect in South Africa, how these constructs are interdependent. And I ask myself: what can I contribute to fixing this because if I don’t play a role I am just reiterating it?

What projects are you excited about working on?

‘At the moment, I am working on several projects that contribute to the Just Energy Transition in the Western Cape. The projects are policy-related, but also about providing for communities on the ground: water supply, recycling facilities, solar farms. There’s a shift to more environmentally friendly practices, but we want to take into account what impact that has on local communities.

‘I’m interested in seeing where environmental impact and the built environment overlap. I’ve already spoken quite a bit to our Circular Economy and Flora and Fauna teams. I’m interested to learn from them.’

What does your ideal world look like?

‘That’s a tough one. I don’t know if I have a specific description. I guess it would be a world, where we base our decisions on ethics as much as economics. That’s why I like what Rebel does. We try to demonstrate how doing the right thing for a more sustainable and equitable society is also economically viable.’

Who are your role models?

‘My previous employer, Urban Works, was a big inspiration and mentor to me. Others that come to mind are Sumayya Vally, one of the founders of the architectural firm CounterSpace. She looks at ways that architecture and urbanism can be considered to serve migrants and other marginalised communities. Vally was the youngest, first Muslim and first African woman of colour commissioned to design the prestigious Serpentine Pavilion in London, breaking gender and racial barriers.

‘And there’s Lesley Lokko, a Ghanaian-Scottish architect, researcher and founder of the African Futures Institute, which takes a more diverse and inclusive approach to designing and thinking about the built environment.’

‘What connects these people is that they were not afraid to raise important issues, while not necessarily being the most familiar or even the most respected voice in the room. Yet, they use the responsibility of their position to impact things they’re concerned about. That’s inspiring to me.’

What, outside of work, are you passionate about?

‘I am passionate about friends, my family and I am part of a lovely community. When it comes to hobbies, I have been working with ceramics for a few years. I like how science and creativity come together in this art form, and you get to make something tangible with your hands. I enjoy spending my free time in nature, going hiking or scuba diving. And of course, there’s food. I am vegan because when it comes to sustainability and ethics, I try to put my money where my mouth is. I love to cook and enjoy being creative with recipes and exploring various foods. I am currently delving into Korean cuisine!’