→SOCIAL IMPACT ARCHITECTURE
The MAAK is an award-winning spatial practice based in Cape Town, South Africa, dedicated to what we call ‘social impact architecture’.
We specialise in community, cultural, and public projects that strengthen social and civic infrastructure. Our project clients range from national governments to well run NGO’s. Alongside commissioned work, we partner with like-minded donors and CSI teams to finance urgent social builds (see The MAAK Fund below).
We are guided by our belief that all architecture should be inclusive, impactful and fun.
Get in touch to work with The MAAK HERE
Desmond Tutu Clinic (2019)
New Rest Valley Creche (2023)
→ THE MAAK FUND
We are committed to design that creates tangible social impact.
We believe that purposeful infrastructure can unlock the potential of our cities, creating places of access, opportunity, and joy while bridging social, cultural, and racial divides.
The MAAK Fund allows individuals and organisations to support this work and help bring meaningful projects to life.
→ A PROCESS BASED PRACTICE
The MAAK is underpinned by a deep interest in place, people, material and process.
Each project is embraced as a fertile testing ground to explore new possibilities and unique architectural narratives. This allows us to continually produce provocative and future-thinking work.
Our Design & Make projects reflect on the studio’s role is shaping the boundaries of contemporary architecture practice.
Learn more about our Design & Make workshop series ‘Follies in the Veld’ HERE
Explore our project archive HERE
Waste to Wonder (2019)
Rahmaniyeh Primary School (2025)
→ USER-CENTERED APPROACH
People are at the centre of what we do.
Our design process begins with an in-depth investigation into the needs and aspirations of the communities and future users of each space.
Through project-specific user-engagement, we listen, research, and collaborate to understand how architecture can genuinely reflect the people that it serves.
"Through the potential of craft architecture can be used to connect the identity of a people with the specificity of place." The MAAK
→ THE MAAK SHOP
From time to time, our projects lead to the creation of unique objects and fit out details. These are sometimes refined into limited-edition products available via The MAAK Shop. Each piece is an intentional extension of a specific project and allows the public to collect a small piece of the buildings we design.
From zines to high-end luxury lamps, The MAAK Shop is one way to engage with our community while celebrating the core focus of our work: social impact architecture.
Explore The MAAK Shop HERE
