The NZASM Tourist Precinct : Tourism Interventions as Catalyst to re-Establish the Cultural Significance of Historic Railway Housing in Pretoria CBD

Abstract

The number of single-family residences in the Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg- Maatschappij (NZASM) heritage area, to the east of the Pretoria Train Station, has decreased over recent years. Due to the pressures of the Tshwane Compaction and Densification Strategy (2005) and the addition of high rise apartment blocks positioned between the houses, the area’s density is certain to increase further and the future of these heritage structures are in jeopardy. A fragmented urban environment has resulted, which is further emphasised by the discrepancy in scale and density of the built structures.

The few remaining houses have been altered in varying degrees to suit the needs of their occupants, with no regard to their heritage value in most cases. An approach to maintain the cultural and historical value of the area would be to introduce a new function which would attract diverse visitors in a bid to regenerate the area. As a catalyst to generate interest, tourist interventions are proposed in and around selected houses, with the intention of stitching the fragmented urban fabric from the interior outwards. The vision for the site is to create the NZASM Tourist Precinct, with different amenities and accommodation options for tourists.