Simone Grange

Simone le Grange graduated from the School of Architecture and Planning at UCT in 1996 with Distinction. After working in practice for 5 years she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the US. She completed her Master of Urban Design at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2004. When she returned to South Africa, she continued to work at the practice of Lucien le Grange Architects & Urban Planners until she took on a full-time position at UCT in 2008.

As a practicing Architect and Urban Designer her interests and experiences are in the making of buildings and spaces in poorer communities within the Western Cape. While in practice she worked on schools, clinics, and community centres, as well as some more well-known buildings such as the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island, The Prestwich Memorial and Harry Gwala High School. She has also been involved with Urban Design work, particularly related to the redevelopment of District Six.

She began her academic teaching career as a part-time lecturer in design at the Peninsula Technikon and the University of Cape Town, taking on a permanent teaching post at UCT in 2008. As a student at UC Berkeley, she worked as a research assistant to Professor Bosselmann, on a comprehensive study of the Urban Design of San Francisco.

Her research has been in the fields of architectural education and urban design.

As a teacher, she is interested in the dilemma that is particular to South African students, who come from presently and previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and the opportunities for transformation within the School of Architecture that this presents.

As an architect and urban designer she is interested in the ongoing development of appropriate ways of building community and dignity within the Post-Apartheid city through the provision of well-designed and cost effective public buildings and public spaces.

All of her work is grounded in the philosophies of social justice, equity, gender equality and critical thought.

Simone currently teaches in the Master of Architecture (professional) programme.