To Inherit : persistence and the continual remaking of the DPWP Workshops

Abstract

The dissertation investigates the potential of a fragile approach to industrial heritage in the City of Tshwane with the aim of revitalising the industrial legacy of the DPWI Workshops. Over the past century, the DPWI Workshops have been altered and adapted to suit the ever-changing context of the city. The site has directly contributed to the making of many of the buildings in the city, both by manufacturing essential parts of buildings and by honing the skills of artisans. Since 2018, the site has haltered all activities and the site has fallen into disrepair. The site is considered redundant in its context as industrial space. The buildings are underutilised, yet valuable as unique examples of the industrial history of the city. The dissertation aims to reintroduce the DPWI workshops as an active contributor to the making of the city through providing technical training opportunities. Additionally, the goal is to continue the narrative of change evident on the site, as an extension of industrial heritage in the city. By using fragile architecture, the intent is to prioritise items associated with memory as a continuation of the past.