Marginal praxis : facilitating the integration of migrants within the City of Tshwane

Abstract

The title "Marginal Praxis" in the context of facilitating refugee integration in The City of Tshwane implies a focus on an unconventional, innovative approach and actions to address the challenges and opportunities related to refugee integration within Southern Africa. It suggests a departure from traditional or mainstream practices to a nuanced approach in supporting marginalised groups, such as refugees, in the urban environment.

The term "marginal" is aimed at those on the fringes of society or facing social, economic, or cultural marginalisation. "Praxis" implies an active, practical approach that combines theory and action to create positive change. Therefore, "Marginal Praxis" signifies an approach that seeks to empower refugees through practical, hands-on initiatives and policies that address their unique needs and challenges.

The title “Marginal Praxis: Integrating refugees into the urban fabric of the city of Tshwane” focuses on providing a culture of welcome as a first point of contact for refugees regardless of their status, in the context of The City of Tshwane.

Public interest design becomes the foundational research to this project which informs the architectural approach. The project aims to see refugees and cultivate an architecture of welcome through investigating the potential of a distributed network of welcome centres in The City of Tshwane.

Situated in the diplomatic rich suburbs of Brooklyn, the project strives to offer tailored migrant services to refugee parents with children, encompassing rights and protections in humanitarian and development settings, to showcase and broaden understanding among Member States and partners about how migration interventions apply to national development across society.

Architecture manifests as a sequence of interconnected spaces the user explores on their journey in a new reality, following a guided path encouraging interaction. Materiality contributes to fostering a sense of safety amongst users, where excavated soil from site is used to create thick, stereotomic vertical planes, embracing the open, in between spaces.