Choreographing for the Nomad - a dance typology for the transient spaces of taxi ranks

Abstract

Transient spaces, understood as in-between spaces, are often characterised as ‘placeless’ by virtue of not being destinations, and as such meaning is negated by both everyday users as well as designers.

This dissertation addresses the prevalence of taxi ranks as transient spaces within the South African context, in marginalised regions, whether in the city or urban peripheries, that are still bereaved of the necessary infrastructure, resources and architectural permance, because of segregated and unjust spatial planning legacies of the past. An investigation is made into the understanding of these systemic issues that South Africa is still facing today, the spatial structure of this country, that led to the growth and sporadic development of the ubiquitous minibus taxi industry, that has now become an iconic part of the South African urban landscape. The Boom Street taxi rank is one such case where the trope of ‘placeless’ transient spaces is manifested in urban form. It is argued that taxi-rank facilities in conjunction with contextually appropriate architecture, can be used as a catalyst to not only improve the quality of life for industry stakeholders, but also create a “people’s place” for the community members in the greater surrounding Boom Street area.

Narrative is used as a communication tool to explore the empathetic nuances of the Boom Street site, from which the multi-programmatic function of a Transitionary Haven, that comprises a medical clinic, counselling centre and transitionary supportive housing units, as well as the enhancement of the current taxi rank infrastructure and inclusion of an informal vendor marketplace, was extrapolated. This programmatic recommendation holds the potential of establishing a sense of place in a setting that is characterised by ‘placelessness’.

To mitigate the underlying misconception that denies the significance of this transient node, an analogy is drawn between the choreographing of dances and the construction of building form, in that this encapsulates both the permanence of form, yet the dynamic quality associated with human movement, and as such could provide pace, orientation and identity, elements that are necessary in instilling a sense of place within its users.

The architecture explores the use of hard-wearing, low maintenance materials and a modest construction typology, that provides a sense of permanence and a human-scale quality to the intervention, and subsequently the site, with the aim of creating an inclusive and human-centred building.