Jhono Bennett

Background

About Jhono Bennett

I am a South African architect, urban researcher, and educator focused on spatial justice, reparative design, and inclusive urbanism. I co-founded 1to1 – Agency of Engagement, a design-led social enterprise established in 2010 to support the redevelopment of post-Apartheid South African cities facing systemic spatial inequality. Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked across grassroots design practice, international research networks, and architectural education — exploring how architecture can meaningfully engage with the lived realities of marginalised communities. After five rewarding years in the UK — including teaching at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) and contributing to postgraduate programmes at Cambridge, UAL Central Saint Martins, and across the TACK / Communities of Tacit Knowledge network — I’ve returned to South Africa as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town’s School of Architecture. My teaching and research work has included collaborations with Harvard GSD, CEPT Ahmedabad, and the University of Sheffield. I continue to develop work that bridges academic inquiry, design pedagogy, and urban activism. I’ve been honoured to receive several awards, including the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans (Civic Sector), the Ashoka Fellowship, and the Mandela Washington YALI Fellowship.