Browsing by Author "Raxworthy, Julian"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    A case study: Brown-green infrastructure in a semi-arid
    (2016) Schmidbauer, Gaby Bianca; Raxworthy, Julian
    “Green infrastructure is defined as an interconnected network of “green” space that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides related benefits to both human and non-human (Fauna & Flora) population. Green Infrastructure is therefore a new ecological (framework) model needed for considering spatial, environmental, social and economic sustainability in a bigger strategic context—in short it is an essential natural life sustaining system for our nation. The green infrastructure model provides a contemporary and innovative way to address this strategic absence in the urban environment. Despite different definition of what constitute green infrastructure, most theorists agree that it comprises 3 things: connectivity, multi-functionality, and “green”. River corridors are natural ecosystems considered as “Green” Infrastructure, which provide an interconnected network of “green” open spaces in cities. In terms of connectivity, Windhoek, Namibia, has three major ecological corridors along the Klein Windhoek, Gammams and Arebbusch rivers, connecting suburbs, the city and two major dams known as Goreangab dam, North-West and Avis dam, South East of Windhoek. The rivers are ephemeral; it creates a contrast between a dominant dry season to a relative “wet” season i.e. due to water flow during a specific time of the year. Over 200 hectares of river course space during both peak and non-peak events is underutilised. These existing open spaces are left unused, polluted and poorly managed reducing their potential for “multi-functionality”. Most critically however, Windhoek is a semi-arid landscape and not necessarily “green”. This begs the question: Does “green” infrastructure have to be green? In semi-arid regions, many green infrastructure practices may not be “green” at all. 3 Windhoek, will therefore be used as a case study to test how green infrastructure might function in a different way when it is not entirely green, which is a key part of green infrastructure. Would “brown-green” infrastructure be a better description for this context?
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    Child's play : facilitating child development through play and interaction with plants
    (2014) Snyders, Timothy; Raxworthy, Julian
    The representation of planting has been under- theorised in landscape architecture and has become a simple technical accompaniment to design rather than a vital part of the design process. Generally, planting design is left to the end of the project when it fills a previously generated plan geometry as opposed to being used as an opportunity to exploit plants’ characteristics and thus assist the initial design process. The conventional representation of a planting plan comprises of circles on a page that depict the plants position and future diameter, but disregards other characteristics, such as growth and seasonal change. This mode of representation prioritises architectural characteristics rather than the visual qualities of the plants. Furthermore, since plants are the only element within a landscape design that changes naturally over time, methods need to be developed that accommodate and exploit this change. To do so, these changes need to be represented for use in the design process. I will be using the Amazing Cape planting design in the Biodiversity Garden in Green Point Park, to explore alternative graphic methods that could have been used to represent the growth and end result of the planting design and palette. This is in contrast to the more conventional, technical manner of representation. A graphic review and analysis of the planting design and palette will be undertaken, with the “re-presentation” of a range of different contemporary planting plan representation techniques by leading plant design authors and landscape designers. Evaluating the representation of the future growth and seasonal change in the planting plan and palette. Ultimately producing graphics that best represents the growth and seasonal change of the Amazing Cape planting design.
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    Grafting the sub-terrain: Working from the ground up in Mowbray
    (2018) Kelly, Stuart; Raxworthy, Julian
    The sub-terrain is the foundation for plant growth. Soils are important for biodiversity, supporting animal and plant life above and below the earth's surface. Soil profiles have diverse physical, chemical and biological properties and can assist in reducing pollution by harmful substances through soil absorption properties. The sub-terrain also has the ability to capture and store water to assist in providing water supply. However, soils found within the urban environment have been negatively impacted and altered by human activity resulting in poor structure and depleted properties. Grafting is a horticultural technique used for propagation of similar productive trees, combining one plant portion with another to assist growth of the plant as an integrated whole. The concept of grafting can be applied to soils and reshaping of the sub-terrain. This will be achieved by cutting out the fragments of the current sub-terrain and inserting alternative soil types that consist of varying properties. This cut and fill of the sub-terrain cab be viewed as the equivalent to grafting two similar plant species together. Inserting fragments of improved soil profiles into portions of Mowbray's current sub-terrain has the ability to alter the current nature of the streetscape leading up to and including Mowbray's public transport hub. This rejuvenation of the sub terrain will result in improved soil profile conditions, providing the opportunity to incorporate pockets of various productive trees. Redesigning the soil profiles will result in greater biodiversity, improved ground water storage and an enhanced productive landscape, as well as create an unusual type of landscape and experience, grown from the ground up.
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    Le Jardin des Pamplemousses: A case study into the role of botanical gardens in post-colonial Africa
    (2018) Marie, Yannick Michel; Raxworthy, Julian
    The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden of Mauritius, commonly known as "Le Jardin des Pamplemousses" was founded during the French occupation in 1770. Then it was the first tropical botanical garden in the world in addition to being the first botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. "Pamplemousses" has been acclaimed for its wide collection of palms and spices, which have fascinated tourists and locals for centuries. However, the value of this botanical garden that was once a pearl of the Indian Ocean has depleted. The garden shows traces of neglect accumulated over decades, which has resulted in a typically negative reputation locally. The botanical garden is a unique landscape typology. Primarily it can be understood as a natural theatre where items are collected and exhibited and secondarily as a laboratory where new techniques are explored. Today botanical gardens are faced with new challenges as the environmental crisis reaches new proportions. Furthermore, Le Jardin des Pamplemousses, established under French rule, is also confronted by the challenges that arise from its colonial identity in post-colonial Africa. The 'botanical' and 'post-colonial' can therefore be understood as the 2 main identities of the garden - ones that should be interrogated symbiotically in order to uncover the garden's development and future. This Research Project is an investigation of the past role, current state and envisioned future responsibility of Le Jardin des Pamplemousses based on a critical interrogation of its botanical onus and its colonial legacy. The investigation is supported by an inventory of the botanical gardens of Africa which acts as a contextualizing benchmark study, a literary review, in addition to specialized and public interviews carried out on site which aim to unpack the contemporary perception of the garden, and finally a mapping exercise which facilitates an assessment and evaluation of the present state of the garden. The Research Project condenses and resolves this information to allow for an informed interrogation of the future of Le Jardin des Pamplemousses, both as a botanical garden and as a remnant of colonial infrastructure in post-colonial Africa.
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    Living on the land: redesigning land use relationships in the Philippi Horticultural Area
    (2016) Asmal, Saudah; Raxworthy, Julian
    Since the mid-1800's the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) has been of agricultural significance to Cape Town, producing food for the city. The Area also forms part of the remnant floodplain, and is essential in maintaining the recharge of the Cape Flats Aquifer, an important water source for Cape Town. Conflicting land use agendas are the major threat to resources in the PHA. Besides agriculture, there is an increasing demand on the City of Cape Town to provide housing in close proximity to the city centre. In light of this, re-zoning land in the PHA is being considered. While rezoning will address the demand for housing, it will put even further pressure on the current natural systems and water resources, as well as the historic presence of agriculture in the PHA. A new approach is required using landscape-based urban design to tackle what would usually be a planning predicament. Densification and development could be viable if they do not impact or encroach on the natural systems and agricultural land in the area, but rather help to sustain them. This requires introducing development typologies that work within the existing landscape and reconfiguring urban form to facilitate positive interfaces with both natural and agricultural systems. This project investigates integrating land use and experimentation with landscape and urban morphology as design tools in reconciling agendas, securing the agricultural and water resources in the PHA. The structuring land uses utilised are the urban fabric, agricultural land, natural systems and public open space. These are explored through a combination of geo-spatial mapping, collages, and a series of typologies that interrogate land use relationships in the PHA. Experimentation at multiple scales was used, a smaller area being used as a prototype for the larger area. Property lines significantly inform the framework for development, with consolidation and subdivision being the main tools for intervention. The project will re-organise the PHA in a way that enables mutually supportive land-use relationships, to secure the natural resources and function of the PHA while facilitating necessary development.
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    Pattern Place
    (2018) Mputa, Thozama; Raxworthy, Julian
    Cape Town's solitary fired power station was commissioned in 1961 and opened in 1962 and demolished on the 22 February 2010. A landmark to the city that was not protected under the Heritage Act as it was 48 years old. The power station is the last coalfired power station still standing in Cape Town. The site is well located between movement routes and local communities, large buildings and structures are present on site. The site offers an exciting redevelopment opportunity that can result in a variety of land uses for local and visitors, residential commercial, retail and community facilities. Although site is well located within movement routes these are boundaries, which are barriers between three distinct yet historical neighbourhoods Athlone, Pinelands and Lange. The design will use pattern from site to break down the barriers, promote connectivity through access and movement routes and create place for economic activity, recreational activity and housing.
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    Prison City: redesigning Pollsmoor Prison
    (2018) Pullukattu, Liz; Gibbs, David; Raxworthy, Julian; Klizner, Tarna; Hindes, Clinton
    Rehabilitating the Prison System: The prison system in South Africa is a harsh and ineffective system that emphasises the need to punish rather than rehabilitate and reintegrate the incarcerated back into society. Although a lot of prisons in South Africa host a number of workshops and activities which have been introduced to inmates for such purposes- the recidivism rates of offenders, that have ended up in the penal system, has failed to drop or decline. A Process of deconstruction and synthesis: The method of this study is to analyse and deconstruct existing prison or correctional/ penitentiary/ rehabilitation institute landscapes into potential design components and then synthesise these into environments that can promote the rehabilitation of prisoners. The projects analysed are of international and South African origin, and are of prisons or mental and other high-security institutions. The analysed projects will be looked at as potential interventions that can be synthesised within the landscapes (rather, lack of landscapes) of Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. Looking into redesigning Pollsmoor Prisona prison where conditions do not support opportunities for rehabilitation and integration and where bland, cold concrete and brick facades enclose inmates for mostly 23-hours a day.
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    Reconfiguring the burnt scar: a landscape architectural response to the Knysna fires of June 2017
    (2018) Brukman, Louise Kathleen; Raxworthy, Julian
    June 2017 will be remembered by South Africans for decades to come. A moment when Mother Nature showed her true power and the only options was to get out her path or watch in awe. Within 72hours 20 000 hectares of land and in excess of 800 homes were burnt in the Knysna region along the Garden Route. While fires are not uncommon in this area, this fire had all the conditions to make it 'The Perfect fire'. It was simply a matter of time for these conditions to align. This project begins with an understanding of conditions that caused the fire using the agent of time. Time, according to French philosopher, Henri Lefebvre, can be classified into three categories; Linear Time, Event Time and Cyclical Time. Through this process one is able to isolate the solvable from the unsolvable environmental conditions and thus an on going proposal for intervention can be proposed. The process of reconfiguring the burnt scar begins through the implementation of immediate solutions and long term planning. This project traverses a variety of scales due to the types of fuel load that contributed to the fire. The large areas of unmanaged fynbos, the pine plantations that border Knysna region and the havoc caused as it ripped through the urban settlements down to the domestic garden scale. At a regional scale the the reconfiguring of the burnt scar requires a management system that is responsible for immediate controlling of erosion post fire. As well as the monitoring and the implementation of controlled ecological burns of fynbos stands and the removal of alien invasive species. Furthermore, it is proposed that the reconfiguring of the burnt scar requires a restructuring of the commercial plantations and the establishment of critical fire breaks affecting the urban interface. The introduction of fire resistant non-native commercial trees mass scale present a landscape character and scenic value to the region that calls upon the ideals of the Picturesque. A significant contributing factor the fire was the fuel load within the suburban environment. This project proposes a vegetation palette that property owners could use in a variety of ways to form domestic scale fire break, that when in-conjunction with neighbours, a district break is established.
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    Site specificity as the decolonial model : an interpretive study of the Groote Schuur Menagerie
    (2016) Moon, Shannon; Raxworthy, Julian
    The Groote Schuur Menagerie, commonly known as the 'Rhodes' Zoo', is located next to the University of Cape Town on the foothills of Table Mountain. A deserted display of historical relics, this site can be seen as a tangible and perceived symbol of colonisation. Despite not being a focus of the #RhodesMustFall movement to date, the Groote Schuur menagerie was also established by Cecil John Rhodes' and was part of his imperial agenda. Abandonment, physical change over time and immersion of the zoo structures in spontaneous vegetation growth, has blurred the distinction between the architectural objects and the original topography, creating a new hybrid landscape with a particular microclimate and ambiance. This study presents the argument that theories on Site Specificity, as a model of site interrogation and design, is the most appropriate to the discourse of decolonization as it is inherently a de-colonized method of reading the site. Through conducting a site specific analysis on the Groote Schuur Menagerie site, in addition to consulting archived material. I will argue that the current site conditions are a manifestation of the colonial and decolonial, suggestion that the landscape is essential 'new' in its current condition, and therefore appropriate for new identity.
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    Sustainable water governance: An incremental approach towards a decentralised, hybrid water system
    (2018) Faragher, Tamsin; Raxworthy, Julian
    Cape Town is experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. Notwithstanding that the Western Cape has always been a water scarce region, it is this current drought that has brought home the area’s inherent vulnerability and highlighted the governance issues. The world wherein South Africa’s water governance was created is very different to the world we find ourselves in today. It is a world of uncertainty and unpredictability not contemplated in water governance comprised of legislation, policy, guidelines and practice. The current water governance constructs a conventional approach based upon predictability and certainty and is no longer appropriate to meet today’s new challenges. Consistent with this conventional approach, Cape Town’s municipal water supply is almost completely dependent upon surface water which makes it even more vulnerable to drought than if its supply was comprised of a variety of water supply options. With surface water sources fully exploited and storage opportunities within the urban edge limited alternative water supply options must be more seriously considered and the water governance reformed to accommodate its use. Water governance is the focus of reform because it is the framework for infrastructure planning and therefore controls the resultant system, infrastructure and management. This thesis interrogates the current water governance as the starting point before firstly discussing the proposed incremental approach towards a decentralised, hybrid system for water infrastructure and secondly, identifying specific areas where intervention is necessary for implementation.
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    Valuing vacancies : Temporal productive revitalisation of neglected land
    (2016) Wood, Michael; Raxworthy, Julian
    Neglected or underutilised spaces in cities have never been as important as they are today as land is consumed by rapid urbanisation. Landscape architects have been transforming these sites into public places, an example being the repurposing of a disused rai l line to create the High Line in New York, testimony to the inherit opportunity that brownfield sites possess. However, these projects require a significant capital injection making them unsuitable for the South African context. This presents an opportunity for an alternative landscape revitalisation model. This project will endeavour to create a new landscape architectural model to utilise temporary vacant sites within the urban realm- sites with high land value. This model is based around productive landscapes for growing food and has the potential to address some key challenges that cities face, including but not limited to recreational deficits, limited job opportunities and limited education regarding the production of food. The project draws inspiration from the unrestrained beauty of the weedscapes that have colonised derelict sites within the foreshore for the past 79 years and been responsible for the transformation of dredged beach sand into fertile soils, rich in opportunity for temporal productivity. The currently vacant site is located within the reclaimed foreshore of Cape Town's CBD and will act as a pilot site for further initiatives within the city. The abundance of vacant land parcels adjacent to the Port of Cape Town has the ability to provide temporary productive landscapes and initiate new pedestrian linkages to the Waterfront precinct. The project utilises a methodology that begins with detailed transects showing existing relationships between plant communities and the material and soils of the derelict site. It additionally uses the inherit seasonal aesthetic potential that weeds possess, merging it with productive planting compositions· a methodology utilised by Piet Oudolf.