From 24 to 26 September 2015, the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) will host the Architecture ZA 2015 (AZA2015) future city festival in Newtown, Johannesburg.

The festival, which is being run together with the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ), will see leading thinkers, architects, designers and multi-disciplinary practitioners come together for presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and screenings. Challenges facing cities, how they are shaped and their futures will be of central importance.

Here are five things on the programme to look forward to:

1. Student Architecture Festival. This festival is presented by UJ and it runs alongside the main event. It will also include talks, screenings and exhibitions.
2. The Competition: This acclaimed documentary takes a closer look at the “starchitect” phenomenon. It will have its African premiere as part of the Student Architecture Festival.
3. The Tours: There will be several tours exploring different aspects of Johannesburg’s inner city.
4. Movement Book Launch: Zahira Asmal, founder and managing director of THE CITY, a publishing company focused on city making and design will be launching Movement, her new book focused on Johannesburg.
5. The Talks: There are a multitude of speakers, local and international to be inspired by. They include Richard Stretton, founder of award-winning architecture and furniture design practice Koop Design, and Steffen Lemmerzahl, co-founder of Zurich-based architectural office SLIK Architekten.

AZA2015 runs from 24 to 26 September 2015 at The Sheds@1Fox in Newtown. It is open to the public. Book your tickets at architectureza.org.

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Inspired by a trip to South East Asia, where mobile bars are a thing and retail trades far beyond the limitations of 9 to 5, husband and wife team Bianca and Khaya Sibiya launched the Style Motique (mobile + boutique) retail concept.

The refurbished, 9.3m-long former camper van, which they launched in Johannesburg on 11 March 2015 is a fully-fledged retail and merchandising space, complete with seating, a changing room and a back office. Once inside, customers are treated to a range from the couple’s own fashion label, Punk & Ivy, which they launched in 2012. The range is made up of androgynous African-inspired streetwear and sports luxe items in original prints.

“We are driven by a need to document and articulate life on our continent and within our borders through our creative work,” says Bianca. “We want to provide an alternative for consumers and turn the traditional retail model and its limitations on its head, to take fashion to our customer, and not the other way around.”

The pair plan to take the Motique across the country. For now, lucky Joburg locals can find it every Saturday and Sunday at the The Sheds @1Fox.

Follow them on Facebook to find out when to expect them in your hood.

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