Urban Campus: Building the local craft tradition in Delft

Van Niekerk, Warren

Urban Campus: Building the local craft tradition in Delft

Master Thesis

2018

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Abstract

Delft is currently under construction. Evidence reveals that most residents have engaged in some form of building activity, be it small scale or large scale, self-initiated or by hired means. This labour-intensive condition gives rise to the notion of Delft as a site of production, resulting in an emerging local industry, which in return possess a number of opportunities both locally within Delft and outside of Delft. In this regard, the dissertation explores how these building-related craft traditions can be supported, through the design of a vocational training urban campus in Delft. Thus far, building work has been executed within Delft in an ad hoc manner, and good building work remains unappreciated. The dissertation attempts to construct an institutional campus informed by the local vernacular that aids in the creation of a positive public realm and contributes to the civic. The components of constructing the campus are explored through three typologies that make up the various conditions as a whole; building as an edge of exchange, building as a thoroughfare and building as a yard. The building system adopted is deliberately clear and didactic in its making, revealing materials, joints, details and structure. The process of assembly is intended to echo the existing vernacular, but at the same time introduce new techniques and technologies of making, serving both a pedagogic and a development purpose

Keywords

Architecture

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