Theses and Dissertations (Architecture)

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Nana's living library : an outdoor South African floral library in Pretoria CBD
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Shand, Dayle; mariette.dekock01@gmail.com; De Kock, Maureen
Urbanisation increasingly diminishes the availability of open space in cities, creating a disconnect between people and nature, especially in the heart of the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD), along Nana Sita Street. Here, local communities are restricted to poorly maintained public parks and occasional visits to natural landscapes, outside of the city, for brief interactions with nature. Meanwhile a deep connection with natural elements like flora is an important part of people’s lives. A notable example of lack of engagement is that local floral knowledge is primarily restricted to botanical gardens and nature reserves on the city’s outskirts. This project addresses these challenges by proposing a spatial framework to reintegrate nature within Tshwane’s inner city, emphasising underrepresented floral knowledge exchange. Central to this initiative is exploring methods of knowledge sharing and translating it to landscape architectural elements. Nana Sita Street serves as the primary spine of the precinct development, with improved pedestrian conditions and pathways, creating a network of new and existing green spaces in the CBD as satellite floral gardens. These foster improved human-nature relationships, celebrating authentic interactions with locally indigenous plants by transforming current derelict open spaces into gardens with medicinal, edible, culturally significant and useful plant species. The proposal is further detailed on one site within Nana Sita Street, where leftover space is transformed into an outdoor floral library complete with a discussion pavilion, exhibition walls, herbarium, workshops and demonstration areas. Other proposed development includes the repurposing of a petrol station into a vegetated area, adding residences, play areas and shops. The owner of the site, FABA Properties Ltd is considered to be the primary client and collaborates with the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Future of the City Centres Network, which focuses on improving city centres. The proposal serves the diverse community, including working professionals, school children, theatre goers, families and visitors from surrounding areas. Overall, this proposal acts as a catalyst to highlight the importance of good quality urban green spaces, advocating for alternative representations of urban nature that integrate floral knowledge and its significance within local human-nature relationships.
The culinary rhizome : fostering community growth, economic growth, community inclusion and skills development within Melusi informal settlement
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Combrinck, Carin; Janri, Barker; bassonloune@gmail.com; Basson, Louné
The project The Culinary Rhizome is planted within Melusi informal settlement. The Rhizome is a culinary school fostering community growth, celebrating cooking as a participatory practice and aspires to allow for economic growth within Melusi. Its programs offer innovative cooking and recycling methods, inviting the Melusi community to participate in skills and knowledge exchange as well as business creation. The school also welcomes the general public join in on the experience. The Rhizome is a culinary school that facilitates a seminar kitchen, rentable kitchen for the community, restaurant for weekend visitors and market stalls. The Rhizome culinary ethos is based on food sovereignty, health and farm-to-fork cooking. The program aims to teach participants about farm-to fork cooking, food preservation, recycling and running a business through a restaurant and markets. Melusi informal settlement is located on the outskirts of Tshwane, in the industrial side of western Tshwane. The Rhizome is not a stand-alone facility but plants itself within an educational hub in Melusi. This node includes Melusi Youth Development Organization (MYDO), a skills and knowledge exchange facility, which the community takes great pride in, a children’s Creche and a clinic. The users include chefs from the community that will lead the culinary school, community members who wish to take part in the culinary school program or rent market stalls to sell produce. Other users include the public who would like to partake in the culinary school programme or who act as daily visitors to the hub. Through utilizing the Max-Neef Human Scale Development Framework, the first (tangible) and Second (intangible) order meaning was identified within the community. For meaning to be made within a place, the tangible and intangible must be in harmony. Through fieldwork it was found that the intangible programs allow for synergistic need satisfaction. However, the tangible was not able to support that. The project follows the concept of a Rhizome. Not only do rhizomes come forth within plants but also in the human body and city growth. The project aims to bridge the gap between the functional second order meaning and the shortcoming of first order meaning. This will be enabled by the design approach. The design approach is inspired by the innovative usage of reclaimed materials within Melusi and should make use of innovative ways to make small spaces functional through modularity, adaptability and low-tech high-design tangible implementation.
Inbetween : a modular, climate-responsive community hub for social cohesion and environmental resilience in Hotazel, South Africa
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Davey, Calayde; ebenwagner99@gmail.com; Wagner, Eben
InBetween is an architectural project designed to create a space for children, youth, and the broader community of Hotazel, a secluded mining town located in the Kalahari's Kathu Bushveld. The town’s remote location and harsh climate, characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations and scarce local resources, present unique challenges that the design seeks to address. The project primarily caters to children who rely on a limited shuttle service to travel from nearby villages and farms, leaving them with no opportunity to participate in afterschool or weekend activities. Additionally, the lack of adequate waiting areas and public recreation spaces exacerbates the social isolation of these youth. In response to these challenges, the design integrates four key programmatic elements: a bus stop and waiting area, an educational facility with study and tutoring spaces, short-term rotational residential units, and public recreational spaces. The project’s inclusive approach ensures accessibility for all members of the community, allowing children and families to use the space for various activities and fostering social cohesion across age groups. The design concept is anchored in the theme of "InBetween," aiming to create a space for people during the transitions between daily activities, while exploring the relationship between built and natural environments, public and private areas, and activity and rest. The architecture is composed of layered spaces that encourage movement through a series of transitions—shaded pergolas, open courtyards, permeable walkways, and reestablished natural landscapes—blurring the boundaries between nature and structure, and allowing users to move fluidly between function, circulation, and recreation. The project’s construction employs modularity, utilizing a "kit of parts" system with materials like Ferrock, timber, and steel. These materials are chosen for their sustainability, prefabrication potential, and capacity for deconstruction, minimizing environmental impact in a remote setting where resources are scarce. The use of passive rock-store cooling, thermal massing, and water collection systems further addresses the harsh local climate while ensuring energy efficiency. The modularity also facilitates community involvement in the construction process, promoting a sense of ownership and long-term adaptability. By focusing on adaptability and circularity, InBetween aims to provide a sustainable, functional, and integrated space that meets the diverse needs of Hotazel’s community, offering a vital and inclusive location for functional, educational, and recreational activities.
Exploring opportunities and challenges in cultivating traditional African crops for sustainable urban agriculture : insights from the Melusi underprivileged community
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06) Botes, Karen; u29192910@tuks.co.za; Louw, Anrea
Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly recognised for its potential to enhance food security in cities, yet integrating Traditional African Crops (TACs) into Sustainable Urban agriculture (SUA) remains underexplored, particularly in underprivileged communities like Melusi in Tshwane, South Africa. This study explores the opportunities and challenges of TACs integration in Melusi's SUA to address severe food insecurity and improve environmental, social and economic spheres of sustainability exacerbated by financial constraints and limited access to nutritious food. This research employs a qualitative approach grounded in the interpretive paradigm. It employs semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with Melusi community members and stakeholders. Thematic analysis is conducted using ATLAS. Ti software to identify patterns and insights on SUA practices, community perceptions of TACs, and barriers to implementation. Themes explored include SUA's socio-economic impacts, TACs' cultural significance, and environmental sustainability in urban agriculture. Recommendations include tailored strategies for enhancing local food production, fostering community engagement, and effectively integrating TACs into SUA initiatives to improve food security and resilience in Melusi.
A critical analysis of participatory design processes leading to the employment of low-tech emerging building technologies
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06) Bothma, Cobus; kaylap0906@gmail.com; Potgieter, Kayla
The study investigates the impact of industrialisation on an architects' roles, proposing a shift towards incorporating low-tech building technologies through participatory design processes. It critiques the shift from the architect as a master builder to a more fragmented role due to advances in industrial techniques. The research aims to re-establish architects as integral to the entire building process by emphasising sustainable, community-based, and culturally resonant construction methods. Modern design processes are linear and separated from the rest of the construction industry, where practitioners mainly use conventional technologies. This research report explores the use of low-tech emerging building technologies and participatory design processes in a South African context. The focus will primarily be on hand-based, local and indigenous building technologies and how these methods could positively influence the design and construction processes. The main questions of this study deal with how a participatory design process can lead to the employment of low-tech emerging building technologies. The study focuses on when and why South African practitioners who follow a participatory design process employ low-tech emerging building technologies. It also explores the value of employing low-tech building technologies and how they could aid in better understanding the value of indigenous building technologies. The methods used in this study to analyse data are as follows: Firstly, five themes were identified from the literature to assess different projects and practitioners in the South African context. These themes include unskilled and skilled participatory design and hand-based, local, and indigenous building technologies. Existing case studies in an emerging building technology catalogue format have been analysed according to the themes. The following practitioners who most resemble this specific study were chosen from the catalogue to be interviewed. Their feedback was analysed using the same categorisation tool for the themes. Finally, precedent studies were conducted on each interviewee's projects and analysed according to the themes. A better understanding of low-tech building technologies through the adoption of participatory design processes could lead to the adoption of it by more practitioners in the South African context. Thus leading to more cultural, economic, ecological, and socially sustainable design practices.
Informal adaptations : reworking informal trades connection to city public spaces and building interfaces
(University of Pretoria, 2025-01) Toffah, Tariq; u19111292@tuks.co.za; Dlamini, Lesedi
This project, titled "Informal Adaptations: Reworking informal trades connection to city public spaces and building interfaces," focuses on the design of a mixed-use development at 232 Boom St, Daspoort 319-Jr, Pretoria, 0001 (GPS coordinates: -25.738708, 28.189034), with the aim of integrating informal traders into the urban fabric. The project is situated within a context of urban neglect and underutilization of public spaces, specifically addressing the challenges faced by informal traders in accessing secure and serviced trading spaces. The Department of Architecture's research field on urban regeneration and social inclusion provides the theoretical framework for this project. While there is no specific client, the project serves the needs of the informal traders in Tshwane, aiming to improve their livelihoods and promote their integration into the city. The theoretical premise underpinning the project is the belief that informal trade plays a vital role in the urban economy and should be supported and integrated into the city's fabric rather than marginalized. The project aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant urban environment by providing informal traders with access to secure trading spaces, essential infrastructure, and opportunities for social interaction and economic growth.
Village of virtue psychiatric rehabilitation clinic in Westfort village
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Botes, Nico; Prinsloo, Johan; u18086358@tuks.co.za; Nyoka, David
The harsh reality for individuals in need of psychiatric help in South Africa is that appropriate medical care is reserved only for the worst cases. Patients who are admitted to long and short-term care experience symptoms of a deteriorating mental state before admission, yet there is no formalised method of treatment for them. This issue is exacerbated by the impact of the economy; the influence of the socio-economic reality on the prevalence of mental illness is not only real but also repetitive in its nature. Individuals living in poverty and with poor mental health are at an increased risk of remaining poor. In the late 1800’s the issue of leprosy demanded infrastructure to care for ill patients who were able to easliy transmit the disease. In 1898 the Pretoria Leprosy hospital was built in Pretoria West this hospital later was renamed Westfort Village. This precinct was demarcated as space for leprosy patients to be treated far away from the metropolis and in so doing limit the impact of the disease. The village was designed to be a self-propelling organism equiped with all the infrastructure needed to house the patients and the staff. The hospital was put out of commission in 1997. In the present moment much of what Westfort Village used to be has been taken over by informal settlements, with much of the existing infrastructure being taken over for residential use. This design project aims to restore the spirit of the village as a healthcare precinct. Introducing a psychiatric rehabilitation centre that is propelled by community engagement and auxillary programmes that encourage ownership and possession by the growing community in the village. The design makes use of Christopher Alexander’s theory of aliveness and how it manifests through well-informed spatial gestures. Ultimately the generated structure ought to aid in the rehabilitation of the patients while also participating in a community engaging language of space-making.
A posthumanist critique of PRASA’s Metrorail infrastructure and its contribution to perpetuated inequalities of the majority, Hatfield, Pretoria
(University of Pretoria, 2023-07) Devenish, Paul; Toffa, Tariq; chrisjt388@gmail.com; Thompson, Christopher
This research is contextualised in the post-apartheid urban environment railway infrastructure of PRASA’s Metrorail, which has inherited many stations with built forms, structures and operations informed by the apartheid era’s spatial planning policies, and practices. Apartheid adapted and applied modernist principles to spatial planning, which created built environments of mono-functionality, rationality, operational efficiency, and racial segregation. This resulted in spaces of austerity which currently limits social justice, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. PRASA’s Metrorail is currently experiencing infrastructure failure, vandalism, and crime, which has prompted the implementation of station revitalisation strategies as part of their modernisation programme. The modernisation programme aims to also reflect their values of ‘safety’, ‘fairness and integrity’, ‘teamwork’, ‘service excellence’, ‘communication’, and ‘performance driven’. This research investigates the recently revitalised Rissik Station as a case study for similar passenger railway station typologies, to uncover inherited apartheid rational non-human systems that may persist and perpetuate inequity for its users, through a posthuman critique. Applying the posthumanist critique to Rissik Station helps reveal nuanced interactions between the entangled human and non-human actors (hard and soft infrastructures) to understand and make explicit what is implicit about the station that others the human component.
Emthonjeni urban park : utilising landscape narratives as an informant for decolonized landscape design approaches
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Shand, Dayle; mabaso.siphiwe@gmail.com; Mabaso, Siphiwe
The City of Tshwane is largely devoid of formally provided Public Open Space for Afrocentric cultural activities related to nature and landscape – which at present often take place in rural landscapes. This has implications for identity making and feeling ‘at home’ in the city. The aim of this project is to create an urban park that gives the residents of Malusi informal settlement, (who are mostly from rural landscapes and urban settings outside of the highly urbanized province of Gauteng) a feeling of ‘home’ in the city. Simultaneously, the project aims to addressing the shortage of public spaces in the city, and specifically in informal peripheral areas, while also reinstating the City of Tshwane’s Nursery to a functional and meaningful landscape in the urban fabric. The South African landscape, and people’s relationships to it, are deeply scarred by the abhorrent and discriminatory planning of the apartheid and colonial governing systems, evident in the 1913 Natives Land Act (27 of 1913) and the Development Trust and Land Act (18 or 1936). The forceful removal of people from the land has impacted how people now use and relate to spaces, especially in urban environments. Spatial inequality is South Africa, resulting from past laws and race based spatial planning, excluded the needs of Africans in urban areas and persists today. This means that even today most African urban residents stay the furthest from the city due to the inherited apartheid spatial planning patterns, where parks and other natural resource-related services remain limited in light of the high population levels in these areas. The impact of this, is that there are limited spaces, which truly represent African use of space, and which could support the daily, and lifetime needs of urban residents, especially in light of the fact that urbanization remains an upward trend in South Africa and will ultimately further change people’s relationship to the landscape. The aim of the project is to use the concept of ‘biocultural diversity’ as a tool in designing public open space. Biocultural diversity is an approach that argues against the predominant worldview where culture and nature are in opposition, and instead promotes an argument that they are intertwined. The narratives, and experiences shared by participants in the research project undertaken earlier in the year, as well as the authors own personal understanding of African place-making and use, are used as informants to create an urban park where cultural activities can take place. The design approach also integrates current activities that are happening in an around the existing site, while upgrading the site to be a landscape that connects people from home through the provision of spaces to perform cultural activities, farm, and harvest medicinal plants, and to relate back nature.
Reframing the ruin : reinterpreting a Bakoni site through experimental preservation
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Bothma, Cobus; celine34776@gmail.com; Nel, Celine
Located just south of Mashishing (Lydenburg), this project centres around a cluster of Late Iron Age ruins left by the Koni, who are a pre-colonial agro-pastoral society that shaped the Mpumalanga escarpment with extensive terraced landscapes and circular stone-walled settlements. Positioned on a site with varying degrees of stone ruin condition, this project aims to transform these remains into a productive interpretation centre and archive, narrating a story of harmonious interaction between people, landscape, and livestock. Currently, the general public remains unaware of the origins of these ruins, making this project a platform for public archaeology through collaboration between Mashishing community members, other locals, tourists and archaeologists to reframe their understanding and explore the significance of this heritage. Through its focus on the considered reactivation of these ruins, the project enhances Mashishing’s cultural identity while supporting sustainable ecotourism, responding to the disruption caused by a road that fragments one of the ruin homesteads, and subsequently aiding in the future protection of these historic sites. With an integrated program that includes an artefact archive, a small-scale dairy with traditional sour milk processing (amasi/mafi), an eatery, and a communal pottery workshop, the site embodies circularity as dairy products are created and fermented in locally crafted clay pots, connecting service and production in a closed loop, reflective of past site use. Importantly, this workshop provides members of the Mashishing community—some of whom are active potters—a dedicated space to share and showcase their craft with others, creating a cultural exchange that benefits heritage preservation. This space is designed to attract tourists, students, archaeologists, museum curators, farmers and members of the Mashishing community, creating a strong tourism node between major attractions like Dullstroom and the Kruger National Park. The architectural approach embraces three core concepts: memorialisation, re-signification, and reframing. Memorialisation subtly reinforces lower-significance ruins using earthen berms, paying homage to their historical context. Re-signification emphasises high-significance ruins with minimalist boundary markers, while reframing uses framed views and programmatic prompts to offer intimate, reflective engagement with selected ruins. By blending contemporary and traditional construction techniques with a focus on reversible construction, the project facilitates sensitive re-inhabitation, positioning Bakoni heritage as a driver of cultural and ecological development.
Itireleng : community and climate resilience through multivalency
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-28) Hugo, Jan; cannongrant4@gmail.com; Cannon, Grant Daniel
In response to rapid urbanization and the apartheid scars of spatial segregation, this project proposes a multifunctional community centre in Itireleng, an informal settlement near Laudium, Gauteng. The design explores how architecture can catalyse socio-economic upliftment in marginalized communities by incorporating multivalency, flexibility, and resource efficiency. The project integrates sustainable design principles and incremental urban development, creating resilient, adaptive spaces that foster community engagement and growth in challenging environmental and social conditions. In the post-apartheid era, the city faces the challenge of reintegrating segregated and marginalised communities, which suffer from inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, insecure land tenure, and lack of access to essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation. The population of Region 4 in the City of Tshwane is growing at a rate of 4,6% per year, exceeding all other regions. The vulnerability of informal settlements like Itireleng is further exacerbated by climate change risks, with rising temperatures putting added stress on residents and infrastructure. This project addresses these pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges through architectural intervention. The proposed community centre will serve as a hub for socio-economic development, offering a multiple services and functions. Educational facilities such as an Early Childhood Development Centre, vocational and skills development training and workshop spaces, a library, and digital labs are integral parts of the design. Additionally, transport facilities, sports facilities, market areas, and workshops for mechanics and local traders create opportunities for skills development and economic growth. By addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the community. The programmes aim to foster social interaction, learning, and empowerment. The concept revolves around multivalency, where building elements serve multiple purposes to maximize efficiency and utility. Flexibility and modularity are central to the design, allowing spaces to adapt as community needs evolve. Bioclimatic façade responses enhance indoor climate control with minimal energy input, while incremental development ensures the project can expand in line with the future growth of the surrounding urban fabric.
Nudge for good : bridging choice architecture and co-creation for inclusive design
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-26) Barker, Janri; Combrinck, Carin; teixeira.monique48@gmail.com; Teixeira, Monique Alyssa
The Nudge for Good project, spearheaded by the Melusi Youth Development Organisation (MYDO), is a transformative community initiative designed to tackle critical socio-economic issues in Melusi, Pretoria West, South Africa. Situated on the Vincent Sports Ground in Melusi 3, this Regenerative Design Hub offers an inspiring, skill-building alternative to the pervasive tavern culture, engaging local youth—who face high rates of unemployment and substance use—in meaningful activities that foster personal growth and bolster community resilience. This dynamic hub functions as a creative incubator, featuring makerspaces, workshops, sports facilities, community events, and market days that promote social cohesion, economic empowerment, and self-reliance. Through these diverse offerings, the project nurtures a sense of belonging, well-being, and shared purpose among Melusi’s youth while fortifying the broader community. Supported by stakeholders including the Community-Oriented Substance Use Program (COSUP), the City of Tshwane, the University of Pretoria, and private investors, the initiative ensures sustained impact and alignment with community priorities. Motivated by the need to provide engaging, constructive alternatives to substance use, the hub integrates principles of Public Interest Design (PID), Human Scale Development (HSD)(Max-Neef 1991), and Choice Architecture to create a holistic, sustainable intervention. Prioritising reclaimed materials and active community participation, the design is co-created with residents to reflect evolving needs and foster a deep sense of ownership and pride. Through incremental and adaptive strategies, Nudge for Good builds socio-economic resilience and empowers the community to envision and shape their own future. Ultimately, the Nudge for Good project addresses Melusi’s immediate needs while laying the groundwork for long-term community empowerment. It demonstrates how strategic, inclusive design can spark transformative change in informal settlements, creating safe, enriching spaces that uplift youth and support a regenerative, self-sustaining future.
Sustainable rural heritage practices in a local context : the regeneration of rural heritage towns to mitigate the negative effects of gentrification
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-28) Barker, A; jeannievanzyl4@gmail.com; Van Zyl, Jeannie
Rural architectural regeneration lacks sufficient academic and professional focus. Rural towns face significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by population decline, unlike the rapid growth issues of urban areas. The deterioration of rural architectural heritage underscores the importance of this issue globally and locally. Rural areas are crucial parts of society, dealing with diverse challenges in demographics, environment and economy. While heritage regeneration is important, it can lead to gentrification. Therefore, intentional and sensible conservation methods are essential to sustainably regenerate rural heritage towns in South Africa. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods within the pragmatic paradigm to understand human behaviour and a regenerative paradigm to analyse and establish the relationship between architecture and its urban condition. Qualitative methods include historical analysis, case studies and grounded theory, while quantitative methods involve descriptive and correlational research. The study includes interviews with local architects and academics, and secondary case studies, referencing both South African and international conservation efforts. The main focus is on towns like Greyton, Tulbagh, Wupperthal and Genadendal in the Western Cape, placing the work in a global context. The analysis involved the consolidation of various themes, which were designed to address the primary research question: How can sustainable architectural heritage practices contribute to the regeneration of rural heritage towns while mitigating the negative effects of gentrification? Through investigation, understanding and thematic categorisation of the interviews and case studies, this dissertation offers insights into existing heritage approaches and practices in a local context. The relationship between conservation and preservation contributes to an overall understanding and approach towards sustainable regenerative heritage practice. These principles are discussed and theoretically implemented and recommended in Genadendal. This dissertation contributes to the overarching discourse on heritage practice in South Africa by bridging the gap between urban and rural heritage regeneration in South Africa. It argues that through a sustainable and regenerative heritage approach, the negative effects of gentrification can be mitigated and the sustainable conservation of rural mission towns can be fostered.
Menlyn’s melting pot : revitalising fluid food trade at the Menlyn Junction
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-25) Barker, Janri; nnmabasa15@gmail.com; Mabasa, Neo
The Menlyn Melting Pot design proposal aims to transform Pretoria's Menlyn Piazza into a cohesive and adaptable space that supports local entrepreneurs, fluid food vendors, and the broader community. Currently, congestion and competition for space between taxis, pedestrians, and fluid food vendors along the sidewalk on Lois Avenue—situated between Menlyn Park and Menlyn Maine—create an unstructured setting that leads to persistent conflicts, lack of infrastructure, and safety risks. The absence of designated zones for storage, preparation, or trading forces vendors to work under precarious conditions, often resulting in inefficient methods and repeated removals by local authorities. This project focuses on resolving these spatial and social conflicts by reimagining the public space to better accommodate all users. The plan introduces modular vendor stalls, communal seating areas, and a redesigned sidewalk that designates zones for vendors, pedestrians, cyclists, and taxis to ensure smooth flow and reduce congestion. By creating a well-organized, inviting urban environment, the design empowers fluid food vendors through adaptable stalls that can be tailored to their specific needs, supported by a shared prep kitchen and vendor support services like the culinary workshop and entrepreneurship learning hub. These services provide vital infrastructure for safe food preparation and offer opportunities for skill development and business growth. The framework connects Menlyn Park to Menlyn Maine, positioning Menlyn Piazza as a central hub that bridges these retail areas. Additionally, the incorporation of regenerative farming and green spaces enhances the project's sustainability, aesthetics, and environmental impact, promoting local food production and community engagement. The Menlyn Melting Pot proposal seeks to create a vibrant public space that supports social and economic inclusion while ensuring the sustainable growth and recognition of fluid food vendors within the urban fabric.
Re-habilitating Booysens : exploring alternative methods for informal settlement development
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-27) Combrinck, Carin; darren.franciscus@gmail.com; Franciscus, Darren
The United Nations often defines informal settlements as areas of scarcity, framing them as problem zones with limited positive aspects. This project challenges that view, proposing that informal settlements hold the potential to address the shortage of accessible housing in rapidly urbanizing cities. Research by the Unit for Urban Citizenship highlights Melusi as an example of how social networks and grassroots construction practices can help solve urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aligned with Max-Neef’s (1991) Human Scale Development Framework and public interest design principles, the project focuses on transforming the Booysens Nursery into a multi-use vocational training and community center. This space will teach residents to work with bamboo, empowering self-sustaining development strategies for future projects. Repurposing much of the site for public use and urban agriculture, the initiative seeks to reconnect Melusi with the city, fostering a collaborative approach to urban renewal. The use of bamboo introduces a sustainable building material for Melusi residents, setting a precedent for the broader South African construction industry. Designed through extensive community engagement, the center’s dynamic program aims to meet residents’ needs, creating a hopeful model for informal settlements. This project underscores the critical role architects can play in transforming these areas into thriving, sustainable communities, proving that thoughtful design can bring lasting, positive change.
Katleho Healing Centre : an architectural strategy for the design integration of Traditional and Modern Healing for GBV survivors through food production in the city of Pretoria, South Africa
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-27) Schoulund, Darío; sam_moola@icloud.com; Moola, Sameeya
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and pervasive issue in South Africa, affecting nearly every aspect of life. It is systemic and deeply entrenched in the country’s institutions, cultures, and traditions. Historically, women’s roles in society have shifted dramatically—from being complementary in pre-historic times to becoming patriarchal and limiting in post-apartheid South Africa. This patriarchal society, especially prevalent in disadvantaged areas, has created environments that are unsafe, unjust, and lacking in opportunities for growth. The focus of this project is on the rehabilitation of survivors of GBV. Western approaches to healing typically follow an egocentric perspective, viewing trauma as a mental issue and relying heavily on scientific methods. This often marginalizes generational indigenous knowledge, offering a one-size-fits-all solution to psychological suffering that is widely adopted across the world. In contrast, the traditional African worldview emphasizes culture and socio-centric perspectives, seeing individuals as part of a larger whole. In this view, the community shapes and supports the individual, with any personal pain and stress perceived as communal problems. This creates networks of social relationships that foster self-worth, self-control, a sense of belonging, and security. Research on current shelters for abused women in South Africa reveals a predominant focus on Western trauma healing methods, neglecting the crucial cultural and communal aspects of traditional methods. This gap highlights the need for integrated approaches that harness culture and community for healing, aiding survivors in reintegrating into society and empowering them to gain independence. This project proposes a facility for medium to long-term healing, integrated into the urban fabric of Pretoria. It aims to channel the healing power of space and time, focusing on three main components of post-trauma healing: Self (adapting cognition), Others (improving coping style) and World (facilitating social support). To facilitate these stages of healing, the project utilises the food production process as a framework, drawing parallels between healing and the stages of production, post-production, and consumption. This approach becomes the core programmatic strategy of the proposal. The facility champions fundamental symbolic aspects of traditional healing as a touchstone. Situating the project in the heart of Pretoria allows it to integrate into the existing systems and eliminates physical barriers that women face when seeking help, such as location and lack of transport. The urban vision addresses two dominant issues in Pretoria CBD: oversized city blocks and vehicular dominance. The project acts as a prototype for a pedestrianised city by puncturing current city blocks and redefining latent spaces through a network of systems centred around education, food, and green public spaces.
The architects Atelier : rethinking boukunde's interior spaces
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-25) Barker, Janri; bothajessica99@gmail.com; Botha, Jessica
Architecture schools hold a pivotal role in shaping both the future of the profession and the identities of aspiring architects. However, schools often fall short in adapting to the ever-evolving demands of the field. While these schools should be spaces that inspire architectural thinking, many remain rooted in outdated spatial typologies. Historically, South African architecture schools have borrowed from international models like the Beaux-Arts and Bauhaus, which were designed for hand-drawing and traditional design practices. Yet, as the profession has shifted toward digital tools and collaborative workflows, where these spaces no longer accommodate the realities of modern architectural education. This disconnect between learning environments and contemporary architectural practice raises the question of whether these schools are equipped to inspire and educate future architects effectively—and if not, how they can be adapted to better suit the student needs. This project seeks to arrange the learning environment to better foster architectural thinking and knowledge exchange. To meet the needs of today’s architecture students, learning environments must be adaptable, technologically integrated and conducive to both individual and group work. With the rise of digital technologies and design software, traditional workspaces dominated by large-format desks are no longer sufficient. Architecture schools should reflect this shift by offering dynamic, power-accessible spaces that support the fluidity of modern workflows. Additionally, these environments must cater to diverse student preferences and ways of learning, embracing diverse sets of knowledge. Incorporating a connection to nature through views to the outside is crucial, as it enhances creativity, wellbeing and productivity. Furthermore, by applying sustainable strategies, such as optimising daylight and thermal comfort, schools can support a healthy learning environment. Through adaptive reuse and reprogramming, existing schools can evolve to inspire students, enabling them to engage with architectural principles while preparing them for practice. In this way, crafting learning architecturally ensures that schools not only meet educational demands but also empower students to think critically and creatively about their future roles as architects. Keywords: Adaptive reuse, transformative learning, architectural education, progressive learning environments, student-centered spaces
The sunnier side : designing safer spaces for vulnerable groups in Sunnyside in the City of Tshwane
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-25) Botes, Nico; Barker, Janri; robyn.wolmarans@gmail.com; Wolmarans, Robyn
This project aims to enhance the physical, emotional, and financial safety of women, children and vulnerable groups in Sunnyside by transforming the Sunnyside Galleries, a mixed-use building on Robert Sobukwe Street. This area, characterised by high-density residential areas and socio-economic disparities, faces significant crime rates and exclusionary spatial measures that negatively impact the community. Women and children, in particular, suffer from a lack of safe social gathering spaces, forcing them into retail areas (atypical social spaces) while men dominate social spaces linked to liquor and incidents of crime. Addressing these disparities, the project reimagines the Sunnyside Galleries as a central node for safety and inclusivity. Built in 1961 in the Late Brazil Modernist style, the Sunnyside Galleries has both historical and social significance but is currently underutilised and poorly maintained. Its revitalisation offers an opportunity to create a safe, inclusive urban oasis. The Sunnier Side employs principles of adaptive reuse to renovate the building to foster physical safety through improved infrastructure and various spatial strategies identified to promote user comfort, well-being and security such as those based on trauma-informed design. By recovering the heritage building and enhancing green spaces the project aims to create a welcoming environment that encourages community interaction and deters crime. Emotionally, the project aims to provide safe spaces where women and children can gather without fear. Incorporating salutogenic and holistic design principles, the building features accessible and inclusive areas such as a library, health clinic, skills-building workshop and transitional housing. These spaces offer a sense of security and support, addressing the emotional needs of vulnerable groups. Financial safety is addressed through the inclusion of retail spaces, a green-grocer and service providers, creating opportunities for local entrepreneurship and job creation. Informal vendors will be integrated into the design, promoting economic activities that benefit the broader community. Overall, the project leverages the architectural, historical and social significance of the Sunnyside Galleries to create a beacon of safety and inclusivity. By enhancing physical infrastructure, providing emotional support spaces and fostering economic opportunities, this project aims to transform Robert Sobukwe Street into a safer, more equitable environment for all residents. Keywords: Safety and Security, Inclusive Environments, Salutogenesis, Health and Well-being, User Experience, Urban Oasis, Beacon, Nested Layers
Empowering communities : the role of public interest design architects in addressing fundamental human needs through alternative building technologies in Melusi
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Combrinck, Carin; darren.franciscus@gmail.com; Franciscus, Darren
South African cities largely continue to exhibit the enduring scars of apartheid which due to discriminatory housing policies have left stark socio-economic divides in their wake. This is evidenced by the perpetual growth of the national housing backlog, as national supply of low-cost housing has failed to meet the demand of those who need it most. In response to this, government has explored the use of alternative building technologies (ABTs) in the delivery of low-cost housing to meet this growing demand. However, these ABTs have faced low rates of adoption in emerging developments where such solutions have been proposed. Furthermore, national housing policies concerned with the development of informal settlements have yet to acknowledge the role of the architectural profession role in the engagement and upgrading process involving these communities. Public interest design (PID) looks to provide a theoretical underpinning for architects understanding the needs of a project’s end-user to provide work that is socially responsive to its wider environment. Through this understanding of PID, this study applies the human scale development (HSD) framework of Manfred Max-Neef to analysis the needs, satisfiers, and impediments of Melusi’s residents surrounding the building technologies present within the settlement. This is done to expand the discussions surrounding ABTs by recognising the different forms of grassroots design practice (GDP) present within the settlement. This research followed a pragmatic approach through narrative inquiry which featured the use of both quantitative and quantitative data in the form of documented experiences of residents and observations made within the settlement of Melusi. Methods such as surveys and participatory games as research tools formed part of an intensive community engagement process spanning two years alongside a transdisciplinary team of researchers. Key findings noted the opportunities for architects to operate within informal settlement upgrading policies through PID practice models such as GDP. Additionally, the study noted that the needs of subsistence, creation, and understanding were currently being actualised through Melusi’s own forms of localised building technologies. Furthermore, it found that this improved understanding of existent forms of building technologies within the settlement may further expand the definition of ABTs suggesting a modification of the term itself.
Utilising mass timber to unlock the potential of adaptive reuse projects for subsidised human settlements
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Van Reenen, Coralie; Van der Hoven, Christo; Mishau.Azar@gmail.com; Azar, Mishau
This mini-dissertation explores the transformative potential of mass timber (MT) in adaptive reuse (AR) projects to address South Africa’s housing crisis in Pretoria's Central Business District (CBD). The research examines perceptions and experiences of construction professionals—engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and construction managers—regarding MT and AR through detailed questionnaires and interviews. By leveraging the inherent strengths of MT, such as its sustainability, strength, lightweight properties, and rapid construction capabilities, this study aims to present MT as a viable solution to overcome the challenges of AR projects. The literature review investigates the pressing need for centralised social housing, highlighting the potential of repurposing obsolete buildings in the Pretoria CBD for low-income housing as part of urban renewal strategies. The study also addresses the complexities and benefits of AR, proposing strategies to revitalise dormant structures and integrate MT to create sustainable, efficient, and socially inclusive urban environments. Key findings indicate that MT facilitates faster construction, reduces environmental impact, and allows vertical extensions of additional stories in high-density urban areas. Despite some challenges, such as the initial cost and limited awareness among industry professionals, the successful implementation of MT in AR projects can significantly contribute to meeting the demand for centralised social housing. The study concludes that strategic collaboration, financial incentives, education initiatives, and industry guidelines are essential to overcoming barriers and promoting the widespread adoption of MT in AR projects.

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