The Universities of Cape Town and Basel workshop on Critical Urbanisms
From the 8th-10th of April, students and staff of “Critical Urbanisms” – an Masters course jointly hosted by the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town and the University of Basel in Switzerland – came together at Fynbos Estate for an intensive research design workshop. Led by Professor Sophie Oldfield, Dr. Anna Selmeczi and Dr. Laura Nkula-Wenz from UCT, and Professors Manuel Herz and Kenny Cupers from the University of Basel, the students were guided in developing their individual research strategies for their upcoming Master thesis research. They worked in the Pavilion together and in small groups and pasted the awnings full with intriguing coloured notations. They were a real delight and filled the farm with their committed yet playful energy
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Between intensive thesis design, advising and creative writing sessions in the airy workshop marquee, we were treated to hearty lunches and short walks in the surrounding nature reserve, which allowed the creative juices to flow freely. The students were housed in the expansive historic main house with its sprawling verandas, while staff members shared cosy rooms in the beautiful cottages. The delicious dinners and accompanying wine tastings (natural wines, no headaches!!) were certainly highlights, and the homemade ice-creams (particularly the salted caramel!) was an instant hit with everyone!
Diana and her staff were very friendly and super accommodating, always making sure we had everything we needed.
We cannot recommend Fynbos Estate highly enough and are already planning our next writing retreat there.