Located in Slovo Park, Johannesburg, The Slovo Hall Project is the result of more than 15 years of collaboration between the Slovo Park Community Development Forum (SPCDF) and 1to1 – Agency of Engagement. What began as a modest spatial justice initiative has evolved into a key social and political space for the settlement, which has long been engaged in a 25-year legal struggle for housing and infrastructure rights. The hall stands as both a symbol of that struggle and a practical tool for community self-organization.

The project repurposes an abandoned 1994 voting structure – an act of adaptive reuse that connects historical memory to new civic purpose. Over time, residents have transformed the hall into a multi-functional public space housing a meeting hall, crèche, clinic, civic square and safe play area. It also serves as a hub for youth programmes, after-school education, public health outreach and skills development. Each addition has emerged from within the community itself, through incremental construction guided by necessity and local expertise rather than external design imposition.

Built and maintained entirely by residents, the hall exemplifies how architecture can operate in contexts of resource scarcity without relying on extractive or top-down processes. Materials are sourced locally – often donated, salvaged or reused – and their irregularity gives the building its layered, lived-in character. The project minimizes waste and embraces repair as an architectural principle, prioritizing circularity over replacement. Passive design features such as natural ventilation, deep overhangs and shaded outdoor areas help mitigate the harsh climate while keeping energy use low.

At its core, The Slovo Hall Project is a living example of social and environmental responsibility intertwined. The design process is radical in its participation – residents are not clients or end-users but co-designers and custodians. The incremental building process allows for continual evolution, reflecting the community’s priorities and capacities. This slow, grounded approach fosters ownership, ensuring that the architecture remains relevant and resilient over time. As a result, the hall has become both a political platform and a civic commons, hosting public meetings, health initiatives and cultural events that strengthen the social fabric of Slovo Park.

In its broader impact, the project challenges traditional notions of professional authorship and architectural permanence. It demonstrates how design can act as a tool for advocacy, enabling communities to claim their right to space and participate in shaping their environments. By placing process above product, The Slovo Hall Project redefines architectural success – not as formal completion, but as continuous transformation led by those who inhabit and sustain it.