The Construct of an Urban Toolhouse

Abstract

This dissertation responds to the current economic issues in Mamelodi West within the South African economic climate and how it is enforced by the respective spatial legacies. Currently the informal trade sector contributes to approximately half of the GDP of the South African economy (Fioramonti, 2017). Through the investment of social infrastructure on an urban scale, these entrepreneurial activities that have recently been recognised by the South African government could be nurtured into reliable enterprises. The dissertation will investigate how architecture could function as catalyst for economic growth in public spaces. Therefore the relationships of public space to include production spaces that is focussed on skills development in a sustainable manner. In general the extension of existing networks play a vital role. How can an architectural intervention generate sufficient appropriation of public space that would encourage economic growth? On an urban scale the architecture could provide permanence to Mamelodi West and counter the effects of dormitory migration. But also create the opportunity to harness one of humanities greatest resource of all time that is creativity. Creativity can be seen in the everyday appropriation by traders who currently occupy the public, green and open spaces in Mamelodi.