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The Erf 8448 site is prominently located on Lansdowne Road within one of the proposed development corridors defined by the City Council. The brief was to make urban design proposals on the entire site including housing with the necessary social and community facilities, and also commercial and other uses related to the accessibility on Lansdowne Road. Architectural proposals were required also for housing units, initially one third subsidized, one third gap market and one third walk-up social housing. There were four main ideas developed in the design: the creation of a pedestrian orientated environment of streets and squares, the connection of major public, recreation spaces with the existing adjacent facilities, the provision of a wide range of dwelling units, the introduction of an area of urban agriculture within a large existing electrical servitude. The proposals were shelved when the Council substantially changed the brief. In Association with JSA, as 8448 Architects.
Development of high density housing typologies, and urban design framework for approx 1000 units. Includes design of green space (incorporating urban forestry and urban agriculture) and public buildings (community facilities, commercial developments).

Client: City of Cape Town   Date: 2003 - 2004

The project for 16 houses aimed at the gap (lower middle income) market is on a site adjacent to an existing residential area. It proposes similar, double storey units around a street corner and defining a semi-private court. The court is accessible to all the units creating a sense of identity and also a protected place for childen to play overlooked by houses and their stoeps. The units are small but collectively they have a bold presence and each can be enlarged. Each unit has space which can be used for a motor car or for additional living space.

Client: Lippert Bothman   Date: 2006 - Present

The programme was initiated in 1985 in order to improve the living conditions in the migrant labour hostel areas of Cape Town. It proposed an upgrading of existing buildings to family accommodation and construction of new housing within the hostel areas. The first 10 years involved design feasibility, advocacy work and substantial work in management and community participation. After 1994 the project required urban planning, detailed architectural design and implementation. This was done by the firm Architects Associated of which J Cooke was a partner. By 2003 approximately 3000 units had been constructed. The project is published in journals and a book.

Client: Western Cape Hostels’ Association and City of Cape Town   Date: 1985 - 2003

The project was won in an international competition which required the design of approximately 90 low cost, high density sustainable units. The design proposed essentially a "wall" of two and three storey buildings, some with shopping on ground floor, containing an area of single storey house arranged around courts and including a small community square with a creche and meeting hall. . The chief ideas were the creation of habitable, multi-purpose public spaces, a variety of housing types, and a range from complete units to incremental ones. A pilot of 10 units of Cape Town was constructed. The rezoning required is still in process. The project has been published in a journal.

Client: SIDA (Swedish Aid agency) and Nelson Mandela Municipal Metro   Date: 2003 - 2004

The project was done in a consortium with 6 other consultant firms. Our role was to make housing and urban design proposals. The brief was to propose broad planning strategies for the town’s development over the next 30 years, within an ethos of sustainability. The work involved coordination with the other consultants in a situation analysis, the articulation of opportunities and constraints, the formulation of strategic concepts, a development plan and proposals for implementation. An extremely unique proposal was put forward which combined the qualities of rural and urban life. The specific housing proposals combined new high density areas with infill projects with densification of existing suburbs. They included design guidelines and prototypical designs for neighbourhoods, streets, squares and house units.

Client: Development Bank of South Africa And KSD Municipality   Date: 2008