As architects we are constantly searching for new technologies and updated practises to
create “Sustainable” buildings. Despite continuous efforts to minimise our impact on the
environment and to reverse the effects of climate change, our fast-changing world requires an
updated definition of “Sustainability”. The prospects of future generations are no longer
dependant only on our ability to successfully balance our ecosystems; social, natural &
economic; but how adaptable we are to inevitable change. This “ability of a social or
ecological system to absorb disturbances while retaining the same basic structure and ways
of functioning, the capacity for Self-organisation, and the capacity to adapt to stress and
change” is referred to as Resilience by Surjan et al (2011:19). It has become increasingly
important for societies to constantly evaluate their impact on the environment. A truly
sustainable society would learn from such evaluations, adapt successfully and remain
resilient for many generations to come. The study investigates the capital of Namibia; one of
the most arid countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the youngest independent state on the
continent. It considers all the main systems and their relationships and shows how a dynamic
ecosystem like a city might be assessed for Resilience. The study will show that Resilience
requires a shift in our perceptions and eventually depends largely on our ability to learn from
the current state of our cities. The study will also show how valuable resilience assessment
can be in re-defining our understanding of “Sustainability”.