Theory

Ubuntu (relational design philosophy)

Southern African relational philosophy — 'I am because we are' (umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu) — increasingly formalised as a basis for communal, more-than-human design research.

Collectivity Care Dwelling

Details

Introduced: traditional

Referenced by

The Anatomy of Architecture: Ontology and Metaphor in Batammaliba Architectural Expression articulates

Sources

Moalosi, R. and Rapitsenyane, Y. African Industrial Design Practice: Perspectives on Ubuntu Philosophy. Routledge, n.d..

Cite this entry

First published May 2026Last revised Jul 2026

CLAD. "Ubuntu (relational design philosophy)." Atlas of Architectural Thought. CLAD, 2026. https://www.cl-ad.com.au/research/atlas/theory/ubuntu-relational-design/. Accessed July 17, 2026.