Browsing by Subject "Landscape Architecture"
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- ItemOpen AccessBee-cause - Designing to receive: a project which explores designing landform and soils to receive and support a variety of flowering species in strategically located corridors; bridging the boundary between the cape honey bee foraging grounds and bee pollinated farmlands, as a result creating other socioeconomic, educational and environmental relationships(2018) Lubbe, Roux; Hindes, Clinton"Land Mosaic" is a term often referred to by Richard Forman as the fundamentally different ecotopes which play out within a landscape forming a spatial juxtaposition of landscape patchworks. Each ecotope is defined by a variety of factors such as landform, soils, hydrology and weather. In a natural setting, the relationship between two different ecotopes tend to be less abrupt than that of an urban setting. When two different ecotopes meet, a gradual gradient is formed called an Ecotone. A sort of "mosaic" or gradient of ecotopes entwined within the boundary of the ecotone. Gradient is a critical characteristic of many healthy ecotope edges. In the book "Urban Ecology" by R. Forman a comparison is made between this ecological theory and the functioning of an urban setting. This study uses Formans theory in Section A. to analyse the zoning, land use and function of the urban fabric within the diverse neighbourhood of Elsieskraal, CT, following the rapid changing zones along the public river corridor, to reveal relationships between the spatial qualities of ecotope boundaries and the success of the ecotopes functioning. The study finds an interesting process is hindered by an unconventional boundary, perhaps the type of boundary a city planning or urban design method of analysis might have overlooked. The process of crop pollination by Cape honey bees (Apis mellifera capensis). The study found that although no physical conventional barrier stops the bees from flying into the desired agricultural land from their more permanent foraging grounds, they are restricted by the spatial quality of the two ecotopes edges. The lack of curve linear "lobed" edges prevent the interaction between the two ecotopes through short flight range by the bees. In Section B. the document further continues to investigate the process of pollination, bee life cycle and desired nectar-rich plant palette to design system which encourages the interaction whilst assisting the devastating bee crises, increase crop yield. The design lays out a network of proposed corridors in a specific off-set from one another, running through the agricultural land, linking schools environmental, tourism and economic activities as a "spin-off" effect. Emphasis is placed on designing landform and soils within the network of corridors to help grow the largest variety of colourful, nectar abundant and scented flowering species possible, all which are carefully chosen for their desire by the cape honey bee and their flowering time in comparison to local crops. By the morphing the boundary of nectar-rich foraging grounds into the mono-cultural farm land in the form of lobes the project creates an essential relationship between crop and foraging ground, reintroducing a critical process of pollination and bridging the boundary between socioeconomic and environmental aspects.
- ItemOpen AccessChanging Tides: sculpting heterogeneity through exposing and submerging form in tidal pool design(2020) de Villiers, Roché; Klitzner, TarnaThis project highlights the dynamic processes, systems and ecological interactions of the intertidal landscape. The tidal pool sits at this intersection of land and water, known as the intertidal zone. They are site specific social spaces where people can interact with marine life and they are valuable public places that can connect people to nature. As such it's in the unique position to raise awareness about the dynamism of natural systems and ecological processes which can be particularly well observed in tidal flux. In the context of climate change and associated sea level rise this awareness of change and flux will be particularly important in fostering adaptation capabilities. Although tidal pool design respond to site in their engineering and are mostly built on rocky substrates, I have noticed that not much form inspiration is drawn from the unique geologies of tidal pool sites. As a result the natural heterogeneity and delight inherent in rock pools is lost and somewhat mono-functional human-centered spaces result. As a design strategy, I considered the core importance of specificity to site as a strategy to build in this rather unusual landscape. The intent is to find and establish a new set of criteria for tidal pool design within the Table Mountain Sandstone geology. In this thesis I'm exploring whether the process of designing with intimate attention to the host rocks can provide better opportunities and a more sensitive approach for creating heterogeneity in tidal pool design that make vibrant space for both social and ecological functions. Sculpting heterogeneity in the rocky intertidal zone of St. James' rocky outcrop will enhance the cohabitation of human and marine life and hold the opportunity to celebrate the ecological value of this rich and sensitive environment through environmental education through experience.
- ItemOpen AccessChild's play : facilitating child development through play and interaction with plants(2014) Snyders, Timothy; Raxworthy, JulianThe 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.
- ItemOpen AccessDesigning for experiential access to spring water: focusing on inclusivity, ecology & education(2020) de Waal, Christa; Hindes, ClintonIn 2018 water scarcity caused people from all races, cultures and ages to visit allocated springs in Cape Town to collect spring water for everyday use. These water points were insufficient, over-utilized and inappropriately designed causing long queues and disputes about water. The purpose of this research is to address the need to design spaces that will make access to spring water easy and enjoyable. Spring water has the potential to become the binding element that brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate (heritage & play) and utilize spring water. The approach of the project The project synthesises three important aspects. Firstly by creating strong connections between natural flowing spring water and water collection points, the connection between water from a tap and natural spring water is made visible. Secondly opportunities to experience and explore wetland systems will evoke curiosity and educate the public about on-site, ecological water treatment systems. This will include using water on site for irrigation. Thirdly children will be encouraged to actively play and experience the water with heightened sensitivity to the gift of this precious element. The researcher believes that the management of spring water within Cape Town is critical for long term sustainability in the light of climate induced changes in the global south. Cape Town with Table Mountain and the number of springs rising up in this landscape has a valuable resource to be cared for and distributed with respect for the health and well being of all.
- ItemOpen AccessFamiliarizing the Alien: Designing working nodes that reveal the opportunity of invasive alien plants as a resource in the Theewaterskloof catchment area(2020) Suijs, Yvo Cornelis Adrianus; Henry, MarcelThe Theewaterskloof dam supplies more than 40% of the City of Cape Town's water. However, the catchment area that leads to the dam is almost entirely infested with invasive alien plant species which are the single largest contributor to water loss from the dam (up to ±300 million liters of water are lost per year). Given the context of severe water scarcity in the region, the management of these alien invasive species, which are rapidly spreading, must become a priority. This thesis investigates how landscape architectural design can influence management strategies for dealing with the alien plant invasion of mountain catchments, and how these alien species may come to be seen not just as a threat, but also as a resource. The project examines mechanisms of invasiveness in four key plant species affecting the area in order to inform a suitable responsive management strategy. Mapping of the current locations of invasive alien plants, their context-specific growth patterns and densities was required. An analysis of how these four species could be used in the production of timber, wood fuel, resin, honey and carbon products, reveals significant potential for using these invasive plants as an economic resource. One of the key discoveries of the research, is that access to invaded mountain areas, which include steep, rugged and marshy terrains, remains a major obstacle to the management of the invasive alien plants. The design project considers a system for improving access to these difficult-to-reach areas which doubles as a system of new recreational routes through the landscape. As part of the public interface with the productive and management systems that are envisioned, an experimental working node is developed. The node combines productive and experiential programs in an engaging public space that aims to change perceptions that acknowledge the presence of alien invasive plants as an enduring feature of the landscape.
- ItemOpen AccessFeral: Re-wilding the Urban Child through Process Driven Design and an Appreciation of Weeds(2020) Rennie, Kathryn; Raxworthy, Julian RichardDue to our rapidly urbanising population, the number of children that have little or no access to nature is increasing. Interactions with nature not only improve the mental and physical development but also foster a consciousness and enchantment with the natural world. As naturalness, proximity, scale, and modifiability of spaces are key aspects that determine the pleasure that children experience in public spaces, neighbourhood parks will become increasingly important part of the urban fabric. The funding model for public open space provisions in South Africa preferences initial capital outlay over maintenance over time. This leads to the creation of parks that decline over time and become unappealing and dangerous to residents of the area. Small-scale neighbourhood parks are the first to feel the effects when there is a reduction in public spending. This project intends to create a new model that requires a paradigm shift from the current funding model to one that assigns funding primarily to a management strategy that allows for continued management and design intervention over the lifetime of the park. There is great potential for these parks to become resilient and heuristic spaces where children can immerse themselves in natural processes and learn to appreciate urban ecology through interaction and play. By acknowledging that landscapes are open systems and by utilising the processes and life forms that thrive in the city, such as weeds, the designer can work with the energy of nature and society to create adaptive spaces that are appealing to children. The benefits of this method are two-fold. Firstly, using plants that are free and prolific allows children to have unprescribed and tactile interactions with nature, and secondly, it will increase the biodiversity of the city by valuing novel ecosystems and harnessing ecological processes. The design is dynamic and flexible made up of primarily catalytic interventions that both expose and accelerate natural processes on site, as well as proposed design responses to the predicted outcomes of these processes. In this way, the designers input acts as a scaffold for natural systems to develop rather than any predetermined outcome. The process of design is never complete, there is no maintaining of a single state. It is a design that is on-going and that adapts to social and environmental change so that it evolves with the guiding hand of the designer. By utilising this method in the design of a public open space in Woodstock, this dissertation tests a new model for designing small scale urban parks that could be replicated throughout the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. Neighbourhood parks and other undervalued public spaces can become places where humans and nature can come together and have meaningful interactions
- ItemOpen AccessGrafting the sub-terrain: Working from the ground up in Mowbray(2018) Kelly, Stuart; Raxworthy, JulianThe 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.
- ItemOpen AccessHealed. Womxn. Empowered.: creating healing spaces for women in places of conflict in Nyanga(2021) Mbekeni, Kazeka Talisa; Thompson, AmyGender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread issue for women in South Africa, and this was demonstrated on the 4th of September, 2019 when womxn marched together to end GBV in South Africa after the death of local UCT student Uyinene "Nene" Mrwetyana. GBV is a significant obstacle for gender equality and female empowerment in South Africa and also has long-lasting psychological effects on the women who survive these events as well as those around them; altering the way they see themselves and others in relation to the world. There is a need for healing spaces for womxn in South Africa. Spaces that make women feel safe (physically and mentally) and empowered. The current healing spaces are mostly found in private clinics/hospitals patient-use (private space) and they are usually focused more on physical health (with the use of medicinal plants) but not centred around improving mental health. Retaining healing spaces in these sorts of environments (private spaces) makes them inaccessible. This project aims to contribute to the field of landscape architecture (and other space-makers) mainly focused on mental health and to encourage that these spaces be made more accessible, an essential part of our everyday lives, and implemented as a design solution for environments that could be detrimental to our mental health. This thesis carefully unpacks the issues around gender-based violence in South Africa (such as safety, representation and memorialization of local women, female empowerment, and mental health) and theories such as ecotherapy and ecopsychology to understand how the landscape can be used to provide a safe and healing environment for local women. Healing typically consists of cognitive restructuring (changing ideas around self-worth) and, in this study, it is explored at two levels. The one, empowerment is looked at more as a visual practice that takes place within the public realm whilst the other, inward-looking, self-discovery and meditative practice is looked at more as an experiential practice that takes place in the private realm. The chosen area of study is Nyanga (located in Cape Town, South Africa) which has been known to be the murder capital of South Africa. This area has also been identified as one of the top 30 GBV hotspots in South Africa with abuse and murder of women and children queer people in South Africa amongst the highest in the world. Zooming in on the Nyanga taxi Interchange precinct as the area that local women in Nyanga occupy most and unpacking the conditions of these used spaces and the key activities within this area which will inform the project and; majority-female informal trade taking place, the day clinic, the vegetable garden, and the under-utilized private land; to properly understand how these could be strategically integrated to create healing spaces for everyday use.
- ItemOpen AccessIbuyambo: reconnecting rural Xhosa people with the natural environment in the contemporary time(2020) Sihlahla, Athenkosi; Hindes, ClintonIn the history of rural Xhosa people lies a rich connection between the people and the natural environment. Access to the natural environment provided a sense of wellbeing, a link to ancestral spirits, a location for religious rituals and a wealth of culturally inspired uses within the landscape. This connection underlies certain cultural activities and functions such as religious and traditional rituals, fuel wood collection, water collection, and farming. However, this incredible connection is under threat due to urbanization, environmental conservation strategies, Betterment planning and the introduction of new developments. Betterment planning appears to be the major cause of the isolation of rural Xhosa people from the natural environment. This study investigates how Betterment planning (a conservation scheme that was implemented in the 1930's, aiming at improving rural black people's lives), impacted the rural Xhosa people's social and cultural relationship with the natural environment. The study draws attention to how people lived before Betterment planning, in relation to how people are living now. The aim of the project is to generate a design that will improve contemporary rural Xhosa people's lives, while reconnecting them with the natural environment. The design focuses on interventions that may facilitate the strengthening of rural Xhosa peoples social and cultural ties to the natural environment as well as to revive land production, land use and appreciation of cultural ecosystem services. The overall concept of the design derives from a historically familiar Xhosa homestead layout and the relationship of its domestic spaces. The case study of this project is Shixini village, Willowvale.
- ItemOpen AccessImvotho: Umz'omkhulu Reclamation of Xhosa people's narrative on their relationship with water(2021) Liwani, Yonela; Thompson, AmyThis thesis confronts beliefs and perceptions, enforced over time, about the relationship Xhosa people have to water. Unpacking these assists in reclaiming the narrative origins of assumed myths about indigenous cultural beliefs and associations with nature and allows undocumented cultural narratives that are slowly vanishing to be recorded. The fragmented and vanishing narratives impact on the loss of cultural identity of black people. This fragmentation is felt acutely on the Cape Flats where postcolonial migration from the rural Eastern Cape to urban centres has severed the spiritual and emotional relationships with nature, particularly water. Khayelitsha is used as a case study site to reconnect people to their cultural narratives. The site has a highly polluted storm water attenuation pond in the middle of an informal settlement. The site selection was mostly informed by its direct link to the Xhosa people who have migrated from the Eastern Cape, accessibility for the people that the study is about and its inclusion of the environmental issues that exist on the site that further shift water associations and perceptions of the relationship Xhosa people have with water. This dissertation aims to uncover and examine the indigenous cultural systems that functioned in the rural spaces in Eastern Cape settlements, namely eNgcobo. Studying the landforms of water bodies, especially active water spaces and the systemic activities and human roles that occurred within the landforms, seeks to reconcile a urban language that allows for a healthy cultural connection to this natural system. Additionally, by understanding true cultural relationships that exist between people and natural systems within the traditional rural context it will provide design cues to apply in urban areas that allows urban populations to reconnect with their cultural identity and heal the negative perceptions towards water.
- ItemOpen AccessIsiko Lehlathi 'The Customary Rights of the Forest': Unearthing the True Nature of Botanical Gardens(2023) Ramodibe, Kekeletso; Hindes, ClintonIt is the apolitical position undertaken by Botanics such as Kirstenbosch Garden that further excludes people from engaging with Ihlathi through harvest and ritual. It prevents them from connecting with spaces that had once been occupied by their ancestors and still carry the consecrated nature of amasiko (customs). In reimagining these spaces with the understanding of African spirituality and indigenous contribution that has shaped Isiko Lehlathi (customary rites of the forest), the main goal is to re-enact the participatory activities, and interactions through design, which used to exist between people and nature. This is an attempt to break the colonial rigour to develop inclusive cultural principles of cultivation and harvest that share the same conservational values as the existing ones. Botanical Gardens have historically been defined by Eurocentric values of cultivating natural landscapes, conserving flora and fauna, and curating spaces that foster medicinal and educational studies of plants. However, they are often established in spaces that have immense cultural and consecrated significance such asehlathini (forest landscapes). South Africa is known as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world with a wide range of biomes, forests, deserts, estuaries, and aquatic systems (Biofin, 2021). These form part of a cultural ecology that is spiritually driven by amasiko (customs) of those who had created a sense of place from these landscapes. Botanical gardens such as Kirstenbosch are situated in forest landscapes that form part of the Capefloristic region protected areas. Conversely, it had been shaped by the existing legacy of colonization which is now sympatric to the traditional cultural rites of those who lived of these landscapes. This has continued to marginalize the history and heritage of Indigenous people such as the Khoi and San who have initiated a transcendent relationship with Ihlathi (forest landscapes).
- ItemOpen AccessLandscape architecture and gender(2018) Smit, Fi; Klizner, TarnaThis Dissertation Project is concerned with the meeting of Gender and Landscape Architectural theory, and aims to populate this (as yet) rare interface that requires urgent attention in discourse and practice. The Study is a research paper supporting the Dissertation Project by locating landscape architecture within the discourse on gender, and draws on Cultural Geography, Sociology, Intersectional, De-colonial and Feminist theory to argue that spatial design and the fields that engage with the production of public open space are key in understanding and addressing gender inequality. This is important because the gendered reproduction of space (and specifically, landscape) has tangible and pervasive effects on the access to, activity in, and safety of our public realm. Landscape positionality, the Nature/Culture dualism, Ecofeminism and Landscape theory are aligned in this Study, that engages with a topic that warrants a great deal of further research and development. The gendered experience, most often taking the form of various manifestations of rape culture, is particularly severe and restrictive in South Africa. Public open space is especially important to the struggle for equality and recognition across the hierarchies of privilege and power that stratify our society. Due to the unique intersections of violent constructions of masculinity, heteronormative and cisnormative socio-cultural codes, patriarchal social order, racial and racialised spatial and economic inequality and rape culture, women and gender minorities' movement, autonomy and potentials are severely limited. These spatial realities and socio-cultural inequalities are experienced every day, and they are gaining increased attention worldwide as social movements that include LGBTQI rights, the #MeToo Campaign, 16Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence bring the power and privilege of intersecting systems of oppression to light, where they can be understood, undermined, transformed and dismantled. Fear and the socio-cultural reproductions of the spatial exclusions that patriarchy imposes upon those it "others", is studied through the interviewing of participants about their perceptions of safety, access and activity in public open space. The Study also gives attention to the dearth of landscape architectural theory that recognises gender as a fundamental informant in the practice and theory of the landscape architectural profession. Feminist Landscape architectural theorists are few and far between, and the study argues that the last 50 years of development in the field has functioned in service of the dominant socio-cultural paradigms by knowingly or unknowingly excluding the extremely relevant advances in the fields mentioned above. By polarising the understandings of 'sustainability' and 'ecology' away from the deeply interrelated realms of sociology, philosophy, cultural geography and anthropology, the construction of Landscape architecture as a profession loses its ideological soul - humans. Whether we like it or not, we are architects and designers of spatial realities - both tangible and intangible, as landscape is not just physical elements, but also 'paysage'. As architects we design with nature for the sake and benefit of the whole. And that whole includes homo sapiens - our processes are natural processes, our artefacts are no less valid in Nature than the weathering of a mountain into stones and sand. The distinct forms and the experiences curated within landscape architectural artefacts evoke not only emotional response, but have the ability to transcribe attitudes. What then, is gender-conscious landscape architecture? The Enquiry phase answers this question by using Cristophe Girot's Trace Concepts (Landing, Grounding, Finding) to engage with a process. The literature shows that feminist architecture and landscape architecture is not a style, but a kind of activity - deeply dependent on the agenda that the designer must be constantly aware of - dependent on positionality. There are rather "…feminist ways of looking at and making architecture, but these are based on a certain approach, not a 'recipe'. This approach stems initially from an understanding that our surroundings are not neutral, that there is a relationship between the content of architecture and our … social structure. The Enquiry phase recognizes this way of knowing as a complex and reflexive condition that includes consideration of a multitude of factors, to approach a design with a gender-sensitive lens is to include a much wider range of considerations than gender alone. Attention to the cultural reproduction of space by virtue of a sensitivity to proxemics, by embracing subjectivity as a design strategy, by embarking on site analysis that involves much more that one view or the layering activity from one vantage point (thereby avoiding the danger of a single story) characterises the enquiry phase, that was continuously informed by the theoretical underpinnings of the Study which was written simultaneously. Enquiry involves the grounding of the design process in a site, and the Tafelberg road is chosen for its positionality and unique patterns of use. This site is visited periodically, documented, experienced, consulted and slowly revealed to be a landscape physically and ideologically continuous with its various contexts - geomorphic, historic, ecological, hydrological etc.. The Founding phase has no discernable beginning point, as it includes the spatialisation of the conceptual development in both written/drawn and idea/ imagery form. It involves spatial investigations in model-making, revisiting the site to test ideas, spatial imaginings and experiential design that is guided by concepts such as Contextualising, Sequencing, Conceal and Reveal, Pause and Program and Opening.
- ItemOpen AccessLandscape ruin: groundmass excavation at Higgovale Quarry(2018) Thomas, Sarah; Klizner, TarnaMy study consists of an inquiry into archaeology and palaeontology, and the relationship of 'the dig' to landscape. I focus on the idea that digging or excavating is a process that can reveal ancient landscapes and suggest new narratives. My research revolves around ruin discourse, and the idea that a 'dig' is a sort of ruin in reverse. I began thinking about the criteria that define a ruin and applying them to landscapes. The study culminated in the idea of the landscape being a kind of ruin itself; the experience of a ruin, or ruinenlust, isn't only about a structure that has been dragged down into the ground over time- it's also about light, temperature, plants, views - all the elements that make up our experience of landscape. I set about trying to turn this study into a project - how do I design the idea that all landscapes are ruins? The ideas I had explored of excavation, and especially the image of the 'grid' of excavation as an imposition over the landscape, led me to the Higgovale Quarry site.
- ItemOpen AccessLe Jardin des Pamplemousses: A case study into the role of botanical gardens in post-colonial Africa(2018) Marie, Yannick Michel; Raxworthy, JulianThe 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.
- ItemOpen AccessLiving differently(2008) Thorne, ChristineSociety today is structured in a way that supports centralised authorities who devise systems for living (eg: food supply, energy sources) that are not necessarily in keeping with sustainable processes. South Africa is facing a severe energy crisis and the current solution to this problem is to build more energy plants that are heavily dependent on non-renewable resources. The global economic situation is heading towards a recession and South Africa will be greatly affected. The general public seems to be responding to these problems by trying to solve these problems individually eg: buying a generator for their home or installing solar panels on the roof, but these solutions are impractical if not expensive. Rates of energy and resource consumption worldwide follow an exponential growth curve. Already there are noticeable effects of this unsustainable way of living and there is substantial evidence that we are causing often irreparable damage to the planet that supports our livelihoods. To reduce our impact on the planet we should begin to live in a system of closed metabolic cycles that follow patterns of natural systems. Therefore, the key problems that have prompted this dissertation are: The impending global food and energy crises Unsustainable living – in terms of attitudes, such as ignorance of natural systems, and practices, the excessive consumption of resources and production of waste Based on these problems, this dissertation will begin to explore what would happen if certain lifestyle habits changed. If people did start living differently, communities could integrate with natural systems and collectively create sustainable systems that also provided carbon neutral energy and sustainable food supplies. (Although it is explained later, for now it is assumed that landscape architecture plays an important role in creating landscapes of different living.) Because this is a landscape architecture dissertation it is focused on the spatial manifestation of living differently, ie. what will it look like?
- ItemOpen AccessLiving on the land: redesigning land use relationships in the Philippi Horticultural Area(2016) Asmal, Saudah; Raxworthy, JulianSince 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.
- ItemOpen AccessLlefa Lame: [Re]imaging Soshanguve Landfill(2023) Molubi, Lefentse; Hindes, Clinton; Klitzner, TarnaTwenty-seven (27) years of democracy in South Africa, communities in townships formed by the apartheid government, live in dire conditions brought by the legacy of apartheid. The lack of economic opportunities and resources make South African citizens creative and innovative, communities from Pretoria north townships gather daily at municipal landfills to collect, sort valuable and recyclable waste in exchange for cash. This study focuses on informal waste re-claimers working conditions at Soshanguve landfill and Soshanguve township communities residing in the vicinity of an active landfill that is situated within an environment that is rich in history and heritage. The aim of this study is to investigate the daily activities of the informal waste re-claimers; and hopes to inform innovative and functional ways to create a tolerable working environment during the operational phases of the landfill with the intention of transforming it to a sustainable public open space upon decommission. The study approach considers a pragmatic research using both qualitative and quantitative study methods to collect data through In-depth interviews, statistical observations and theoretical investigation.
- ItemOpen AccessA new model towards sustainable socio-economic development using the principles of bioregionalism, illustrated through a case study in SW Botswana(2009) Wiersma, Erica Ingrid; Van Riet, WFAccording to Brunkhorst (2001) and Raeberg (1997), governments who are responsible for regional (territorial) planning are in effect planning blindly as they are not taking into account the brilliant work done in related fields which could change their attitude towards planning, design, ecology & technology. The global debates on scarce resources and climate change which are causing governments to have to take a stand, pose questions such as: How are Scarce Resources Managed? How will injustices to the poor be rectified? What policies and guidelines are in place to promote sustainability? The theory is out there, but little or no practical implementation of the theory at broad scale through fine scale has been done to date. To this end I have created a model which takes into consideration these global issues, and tested it on the SW Wildlife ecosystem of Botswana which has all the characteristics mentioned above. Lessons have been learned from failures in Implementation Strategies at Gudigwe (N Botswana) where insufficient planning for the needs and capabilities of the local villagers created a mismatch of the socio-economic product created and the outcomes anticipated. Another example of failure was the unanticipated social culture of the Baswara who take care of each other above the needs of outsiders. The guests and management were at odds with the staff due to these cultural differences at Mababe Village Sankuyo Trust, NW Botswana. The study will contribute a model of bioregional planning from broad to fine scale which can be used in the planning & design of such regions in the future. The macro biogeographic region is defined at the Broad Scale and at the Fine Scale appropriate socioeconomic sustainable interventions are detailed.
- ItemOpen AccessA new nature for exiled territories : the archaeology of beauty(2012) Hedley, PhillippaA thing of beauty is defined by the way one apprehends it, by the reaction of and the experience it evokes in the participant. Two modes of approaching beauty are explored: the first is that of beauty being fundamental to a particular form, holding on to past idealized images; or secondly, that beauty is associated with an emotional experience or response, bound up with the senses. Integral to the design exploration of this preconception of beauty, is Ingold's dwelling perspective, that landscape is seen as an enduring record of what has been and what is left behind (1993: 59), our experiences become linked to the temporality of place. Or, alternately, our "perceptions of landscapes, influenced by the metaphors associated therewith (Spirn 1998: 24), greatly affect the way that they are experienced" (Prinsloo, 2012 a : 37), becoming the archaeology of experience. In exploring the concept of the perception of beauty in derelict quarry landscapes; the damaged site and geology is eroded, succumbing to the temporal processes. This change, the inducing of experience, is felt not only in the dramatic difference of the quarry face to that of the tenacity of the vegetation, but also a richer peculiarity : the original industrial function of place is re-imagined as a medium for biodiversity. This re-imagining of site evolves into that of 'wunderkammer' or wonder room, in which the differences between the wonders of nature and the artefacts of man can be juxtaposed. The concept of 'wunderkammer' provides a platform where ideas can be tested, making the place more capable of appearing; thus, the perception of beauty unfolds in the landscape becoming something in which we explore. The way in which the quarry retains itself, between the decay and revitalization, as a unique place is that it is an alternative to the current reality elsewhere.
- ItemOpen AccessPattern Place(2018) Mputa, Thozama; Raxworthy, JulianCape 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.