DERIVE _ INTRODUCTION

Derive is an architectural studio composed of 8 architectural students both from 3rd and 5th year  from the university of Johannesburg working for/towards an  AFORMAL terrain with the informal settlement of Denver.

AFORMAL terrain (AT) is a collaborative and collective architecture/urbanism/landscape laboratory which closely engages with complex urban conditions.AT focuses on integrating resources and skills towards promoting awareness and generating appropriate responses to the context of rapidly changing and often unstable contemporary urban phenomena. This approach is underpinned by people-driven methodologies for engagement, research ,design responses and planning strategies.

This project is site specific (Denver informal settlement) in which the outcomes will be identified in collaboration with settlement residents with the intention to assist such existing communities via existing processes, to improve their living conditions and spatial environments.