WATER EVER - FRANSCHHOEK

Franschhoek, South Africa

WATER EVER Franschhoek was the 4th Semester Bachelor and Master Design Studio of the Summer Semester 2026. Located in Franschhoek, South Africa, it collaborated with the Water Hub, a joint research project of the TUM Chair of Urban Water Systems, led by Prof. Drewes, and the University of Cape Town. At its core is a nature-based filtration system that treats polluted stream water for irrigation. The research partners approached the Chair of Architectural Design and Participation to develop a holistic vision for the future campus.

The Water Hub lies within an ecologically and socially complex landscape. An all-year stream defines and constrains a site exposed to flooding, surface runoff, and pollution linked to untreated wastewater, vineyards, and limited waste management. Existing water treatment basins, energy facilities, and cultivation areas reveal interconnections between water, energy, food, and waste. The studio approached them as the foundation of a shared landscape for research, education, production, and community.

Students developed masterplans, landscape strategies, research and visitor facilities, accommodation, sanitation, and shared outdoor spaces. Master students focused on visitor centres and research facilities, making scientific processes visible and accessible. Bachelor students designed accommodation for visiting researchers, students, and campus users, addressing community, climate, privacy, and temporary living.

Connecting participatory architecture with scientific research and circular resource management, Water Ever Franschhoek envisaged the Water Hub as a living laboratory and open campus. The projects explore how infrastructure can become communicative and people-centred, and how architecture can support ecological regeneration, knowledge, and everyday life.