Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city

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dc.contributor.advisorCoetzer, Nicen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorSilverman, Melindaen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMeyer, Tiaanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHenstra, Simonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-06-26T11:22:19Z
dc.date.available2015-06-26T11:22:19Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation emerged from a fascination with the rich urban and architectural fabric of dense inner-cities, the layered palimpsest, and strong sense of character as a result of the piecemeal evolution of the city over time. Retaining this character is at odds with the phenomenon of a market-driven, developer-led method of place ‘un-making’ within the city which aims to maximise utility and scale, removes large portions of the existing urban fabric in the process, but adds much needed density to the city. The dissertation attempts to understand the paradox between the positive addition of density, and the nega- tive destruction of good urban fabric and character. While vacant erven within the city are scarce, the city’s density is far less than is planned due to many existing buildings having a lower bulk than is allowed. Simply put, there is a vast amount of airspace above the existing city which is being underutilised and underdeveloped. This dissertation explores a method of placemaking less dependent on the ground plane, and able to occupy the underutilised airspace above existing blocks and erven; densifying the city, and expanding its capacity, while maintaining the unique sense of character and rich urban fabric which is a product of generations of small steps in development. The dissertation attempts to cover, as a narrative, the process of unpacking ideas as pragmatic as zoning and as poetic as what it means to contribute to the rich architectural palimpsest, and everything in between.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHenstra, S. (2014). <i>Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13129en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHenstra, Simon. <i>"Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13129en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHenstra, S. 2014. Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Henstra, Simon AB - This dissertation emerged from a fascination with the rich urban and architectural fabric of dense inner-cities, the layered palimpsest, and strong sense of character as a result of the piecemeal evolution of the city over time. Retaining this character is at odds with the phenomenon of a market-driven, developer-led method of place ‘un-making’ within the city which aims to maximise utility and scale, removes large portions of the existing urban fabric in the process, but adds much needed density to the city. The dissertation attempts to understand the paradox between the positive addition of density, and the nega- tive destruction of good urban fabric and character. While vacant erven within the city are scarce, the city’s density is far less than is planned due to many existing buildings having a lower bulk than is allowed. Simply put, there is a vast amount of airspace above the existing city which is being underutilised and underdeveloped. This dissertation explores a method of placemaking less dependent on the ground plane, and able to occupy the underutilised airspace above existing blocks and erven; densifying the city, and expanding its capacity, while maintaining the unique sense of character and rich urban fabric which is a product of generations of small steps in development. The dissertation attempts to cover, as a narrative, the process of unpacking ideas as pragmatic as zoning and as poetic as what it means to contribute to the rich architectural palimpsest, and everything in between. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city TI - Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13129 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13129
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHenstra S. Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13129en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Architecture, Planning and Geomaticsen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherArchitecture, Planning and Geomaticsen_ZA
dc.titleInner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the cityen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMArchen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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