Cultural landscapes as a catalyst for social development : a case for Westfort Village, Pretoria

Abstract

Westfort Village, in Pretoria West, is a previous leprosy institution isolated from the rest of Pretoria, soon to be consumed in the urban fabric of a developing Pretoria West. The Westfort Leprosy Institution has since ceased to exist, leaving the site abandoned. The site is now home to occupants who have appropriated the abandoned buildings. Westfort Village is a site of heritage value and social issues. The research presented here uses heritage as a catalyst for social development (to combat social issues). Spatial justice and heritage preservation are used as theoretical frameworks to read and intepret Westfort Village. These readings result in an acknowledgment of the precinct as well as site-specific heritage, while adding a new layer to the site that both respects and contrasts with the existing built fabric. Addressing social injustices through the provision of public amenities may provide innovative ways of engaging with built heritage. Furthermore, the adaptive re-use of heritage residential buildings for public amenities provides an alternative way of adding to the architecture of Westfort Village.