Abstract:
For such a time as this; when cities and regions globally are faced with existential crises
related to climate change, hyper-urbanisation, and growing sociospatial inequalities –
disciplinary decadence, and silo mentalities cannot hold. If anything, collapsing
disciplinary/professional boundaries must be a priority if we are to imagine and build
stronger, resilient, just and liveable cities. The purpose of this discussion is to provide a
new thinking frame about the built environment, focusing particularly on why and how all
professionals within the built environment can think, and work in a transdisciplinary
manner to best serve all communities. The recent calls for the decolonisation of the space
in general, and the built environment in particular, compels planners, engineers and all
professionals tasked with the ‘mission’ of reconstituting urban and rural spaces to work
together. With South Africa, and Africa in mind, I propose the strengthening and
capacitation of institutions such as the Council for the Built Environment for instance, to
forge credible strategies and approaches that can allow for meaningful cross/multi-
disciplinary dialogues within the built environment.
