Samuel Ramohlola

The architectural fabric of Alexandra Township reflects a distinctive and complex spatial form shaped by exclusion, scarcity, and resilience. Established in 1912 as one of the few freehold areas accessible to Black South Africans, its development diverged from the rigidly planned and state-controlled models of other Johannesburg townships. Alexandra’s built environment is inseparable from the social organisation of families, kinship networks, and survival strategies that have continuously reshaped it. Multi-generational households, often tied to rural homelands, cluster within shared yards that operate as dynamic social and architectural infrastructures. These yards are regularly reconfigured to accommodate new arrivals relatives, students, or migrant workers—illustrating a principle of hospitality and collective survival that drives ongoing spatial adaptation.