Theses and Dissertations (Architecture)

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Nana's living library : an outdoor South African floral library in Pretoria CBD
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Shand, Dayle; mariette.dekock01@gmail.com; De Kock, Maureen
Urbanisation increasingly diminishes the availability of open space in cities, creating a disconnect between people and nature, especially in the heart of the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD), along Nana Sita Street. Here, local communities are restricted to poorly maintained public parks and occasional visits to natural landscapes, outside of the city, for brief interactions with nature. Meanwhile a deep connection with natural elements like flora is an important part of people’s lives. A notable example of lack of engagement is that local floral knowledge is primarily restricted to botanical gardens and nature reserves on the city’s outskirts. This project addresses these challenges by proposing a spatial framework to reintegrate nature within Tshwane’s inner city, emphasising underrepresented floral knowledge exchange. Central to this initiative is exploring methods of knowledge sharing and translating it to landscape architectural elements. Nana Sita Street serves as the primary spine of the precinct development, with improved pedestrian conditions and pathways, creating a network of new and existing green spaces in the CBD as satellite floral gardens. These foster improved human-nature relationships, celebrating authentic interactions with locally indigenous plants by transforming current derelict open spaces into gardens with medicinal, edible, culturally significant and useful plant species. The proposal is further detailed on one site within Nana Sita Street, where leftover space is transformed into an outdoor floral library complete with a discussion pavilion, exhibition walls, herbarium, workshops and demonstration areas. Other proposed development includes the repurposing of a petrol station into a vegetated area, adding residences, play areas and shops. The owner of the site, FABA Properties Ltd is considered to be the primary client and collaborates with the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Future of the City Centres Network, which focuses on improving city centres. The proposal serves the diverse community, including working professionals, school children, theatre goers, families and visitors from surrounding areas. Overall, this proposal acts as a catalyst to highlight the importance of good quality urban green spaces, advocating for alternative representations of urban nature that integrate floral knowledge and its significance within local human-nature relationships.
Exploring opportunities and challenges in cultivating traditional African crops for sustainable urban agriculture : insights from the Melusi underprivileged community
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06) Botes, Karen; u29192910@tuks.co.za; Louw, Anrea
Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly recognised for its potential to enhance food security in cities, yet integrating Traditional African Crops (TACs) into Sustainable Urban agriculture (SUA) remains underexplored, particularly in underprivileged communities like Melusi in Tshwane, South Africa. This study explores the opportunities and challenges of TACs integration in Melusi's SUA to address severe food insecurity and improve environmental, social and economic spheres of sustainability exacerbated by financial constraints and limited access to nutritious food. This research employs a qualitative approach grounded in the interpretive paradigm. It employs semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with Melusi community members and stakeholders. Thematic analysis is conducted using ATLAS. Ti software to identify patterns and insights on SUA practices, community perceptions of TACs, and barriers to implementation. Themes explored include SUA's socio-economic impacts, TACs' cultural significance, and environmental sustainability in urban agriculture. Recommendations include tailored strategies for enhancing local food production, fostering community engagement, and effectively integrating TACs into SUA initiatives to improve food security and resilience in Melusi.
Informal adaptations : reworking informal trades connection to city public spaces and building interfaces
(University of Pretoria, 2025-01) Toffah, Tariq; u19111292@tuks.co.za; Dlamini, Lesedi
This project, titled "Informal Adaptations: Reworking informal trades connection to city public spaces and building interfaces," focuses on the design of a mixed-use development at 232 Boom St, Daspoort 319-Jr, Pretoria, 0001 (GPS coordinates: -25.738708, 28.189034), with the aim of integrating informal traders into the urban fabric. The project is situated within a context of urban neglect and underutilization of public spaces, specifically addressing the challenges faced by informal traders in accessing secure and serviced trading spaces. The Department of Architecture's research field on urban regeneration and social inclusion provides the theoretical framework for this project. While there is no specific client, the project serves the needs of the informal traders in Tshwane, aiming to improve their livelihoods and promote their integration into the city. The theoretical premise underpinning the project is the belief that informal trade plays a vital role in the urban economy and should be supported and integrated into the city's fabric rather than marginalized. The project aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant urban environment by providing informal traders with access to secure trading spaces, essential infrastructure, and opportunities for social interaction and economic growth.
A posthumanist critique of PRASA’s Metrorail infrastructure and its contribution to perpetuated inequalities of the majority, Hatfield, Pretoria
(University of Pretoria, 2023-07) Devenish, Paul; Toffa, Tariq; chrisjt388@gmail.com; Thompson, Christopher
This research is contextualised in the post-apartheid urban environment railway infrastructure of PRASA’s Metrorail, which has inherited many stations with built forms, structures and operations informed by the apartheid era’s spatial planning policies, and practices. Apartheid adapted and applied modernist principles to spatial planning, which created built environments of mono-functionality, rationality, operational efficiency, and racial segregation. This resulted in spaces of austerity which currently limits social justice, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. PRASA’s Metrorail is currently experiencing infrastructure failure, vandalism, and crime, which has prompted the implementation of station revitalisation strategies as part of their modernisation programme. The modernisation programme aims to also reflect their values of ‘safety’, ‘fairness and integrity’, ‘teamwork’, ‘service excellence’, ‘communication’, and ‘performance driven’. This research investigates the recently revitalised Rissik Station as a case study for similar passenger railway station typologies, to uncover inherited apartheid rational non-human systems that may persist and perpetuate inequity for its users, through a posthuman critique. Applying the posthumanist critique to Rissik Station helps reveal nuanced interactions between the entangled human and non-human actors (hard and soft infrastructures) to understand and make explicit what is implicit about the station that others the human component.
Emthonjeni urban park : utilising landscape narratives as an informant for decolonized landscape design approaches
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11) Shand, Dayle; mabaso.siphiwe@gmail.com; Mabaso, Siphiwe
The City of Tshwane is largely devoid of formally provided Public Open Space for Afrocentric cultural activities related to nature and landscape – which at present often take place in rural landscapes. This has implications for identity making and feeling ‘at home’ in the city. The aim of this project is to create an urban park that gives the residents of Malusi informal settlement, (who are mostly from rural landscapes and urban settings outside of the highly urbanized province of Gauteng) a feeling of ‘home’ in the city. Simultaneously, the project aims to addressing the shortage of public spaces in the city, and specifically in informal peripheral areas, while also reinstating the City of Tshwane’s Nursery to a functional and meaningful landscape in the urban fabric. The South African landscape, and people’s relationships to it, are deeply scarred by the abhorrent and discriminatory planning of the apartheid and colonial governing systems, evident in the 1913 Natives Land Act (27 of 1913) and the Development Trust and Land Act (18 or 1936). The forceful removal of people from the land has impacted how people now use and relate to spaces, especially in urban environments. Spatial inequality is South Africa, resulting from past laws and race based spatial planning, excluded the needs of Africans in urban areas and persists today. This means that even today most African urban residents stay the furthest from the city due to the inherited apartheid spatial planning patterns, where parks and other natural resource-related services remain limited in light of the high population levels in these areas. The impact of this, is that there are limited spaces, which truly represent African use of space, and which could support the daily, and lifetime needs of urban residents, especially in light of the fact that urbanization remains an upward trend in South Africa and will ultimately further change people’s relationship to the landscape. The aim of the project is to use the concept of ‘biocultural diversity’ as a tool in designing public open space. Biocultural diversity is an approach that argues against the predominant worldview where culture and nature are in opposition, and instead promotes an argument that they are intertwined. The narratives, and experiences shared by participants in the research project undertaken earlier in the year, as well as the authors own personal understanding of African place-making and use, are used as informants to create an urban park where cultural activities can take place. The design approach also integrates current activities that are happening in an around the existing site, while upgrading the site to be a landscape that connects people from home through the provision of spaces to perform cultural activities, farm, and harvest medicinal plants, and to relate back nature.
Reframing the ruin : reinterpreting a Bakoni site through experimental preservation
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Bothma, Cobus; celine34776@gmail.com; Nel, Celine
Located just south of Mashishing (Lydenburg), this project centres around a cluster of Late Iron Age ruins left by the Koni, who are a pre-colonial agro-pastoral society that shaped the Mpumalanga escarpment with extensive terraced landscapes and circular stone-walled settlements. Positioned on a site with varying degrees of stone ruin condition, this project aims to transform these remains into a productive interpretation centre and archive, narrating a story of harmonious interaction between people, landscape, and livestock. Currently, the general public remains unaware of the origins of these ruins, making this project a platform for public archaeology through collaboration between Mashishing community members, other locals, tourists and archaeologists to reframe their understanding and explore the significance of this heritage. Through its focus on the considered reactivation of these ruins, the project enhances Mashishing’s cultural identity while supporting sustainable ecotourism, responding to the disruption caused by a road that fragments one of the ruin homesteads, and subsequently aiding in the future protection of these historic sites. With an integrated program that includes an artefact archive, a small-scale dairy with traditional sour milk processing (amasi/mafi), an eatery, and a communal pottery workshop, the site embodies circularity as dairy products are created and fermented in locally crafted clay pots, connecting service and production in a closed loop, reflective of past site use. Importantly, this workshop provides members of the Mashishing community—some of whom are active potters—a dedicated space to share and showcase their craft with others, creating a cultural exchange that benefits heritage preservation. This space is designed to attract tourists, students, archaeologists, museum curators, farmers and members of the Mashishing community, creating a strong tourism node between major attractions like Dullstroom and the Kruger National Park. The architectural approach embraces three core concepts: memorialisation, re-signification, and reframing. Memorialisation subtly reinforces lower-significance ruins using earthen berms, paying homage to their historical context. Re-signification emphasises high-significance ruins with minimalist boundary markers, while reframing uses framed views and programmatic prompts to offer intimate, reflective engagement with selected ruins. By blending contemporary and traditional construction techniques with a focus on reversible construction, the project facilitates sensitive re-inhabitation, positioning Bakoni heritage as a driver of cultural and ecological development.
Itireleng : community and climate resilience through multivalency
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-28) Hugo, Jan; cannongrant4@gmail.com; Cannon, Grant Daniel
In response to rapid urbanization and the apartheid scars of spatial segregation, this project proposes a multifunctional community centre in Itireleng, an informal settlement near Laudium, Gauteng. The design explores how architecture can catalyse socio-economic upliftment in marginalized communities by incorporating multivalency, flexibility, and resource efficiency. The project integrates sustainable design principles and incremental urban development, creating resilient, adaptive spaces that foster community engagement and growth in challenging environmental and social conditions. In the post-apartheid era, the city faces the challenge of reintegrating segregated and marginalised communities, which suffer from inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, insecure land tenure, and lack of access to essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation. The population of Region 4 in the City of Tshwane is growing at a rate of 4,6% per year, exceeding all other regions. The vulnerability of informal settlements like Itireleng is further exacerbated by climate change risks, with rising temperatures putting added stress on residents and infrastructure. This project addresses these pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges through architectural intervention. The proposed community centre will serve as a hub for socio-economic development, offering a multiple services and functions. Educational facilities such as an Early Childhood Development Centre, vocational and skills development training and workshop spaces, a library, and digital labs are integral parts of the design. Additionally, transport facilities, sports facilities, market areas, and workshops for mechanics and local traders create opportunities for skills development and economic growth. By addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the community. The programmes aim to foster social interaction, learning, and empowerment. The concept revolves around multivalency, where building elements serve multiple purposes to maximize efficiency and utility. Flexibility and modularity are central to the design, allowing spaces to adapt as community needs evolve. Bioclimatic façade responses enhance indoor climate control with minimal energy input, while incremental development ensures the project can expand in line with the future growth of the surrounding urban fabric.
Nudge for good : bridging choice architecture and co-creation for inclusive design
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-26) Barker, Janri; Combrinck, Carin; teixeira.monique48@gmail.com; Teixeira, Monique Alyssa
The Nudge for Good project, spearheaded by the Melusi Youth Development Organisation (MYDO), is a transformative community initiative designed to tackle critical socio-economic issues in Melusi, Pretoria West, South Africa. Situated on the Vincent Sports Ground in Melusi 3, this Regenerative Design Hub offers an inspiring, skill-building alternative to the pervasive tavern culture, engaging local youth—who face high rates of unemployment and substance use—in meaningful activities that foster personal growth and bolster community resilience. This dynamic hub functions as a creative incubator, featuring makerspaces, workshops, sports facilities, community events, and market days that promote social cohesion, economic empowerment, and self-reliance. Through these diverse offerings, the project nurtures a sense of belonging, well-being, and shared purpose among Melusi’s youth while fortifying the broader community. Supported by stakeholders including the Community-Oriented Substance Use Program (COSUP), the City of Tshwane, the University of Pretoria, and private investors, the initiative ensures sustained impact and alignment with community priorities. Motivated by the need to provide engaging, constructive alternatives to substance use, the hub integrates principles of Public Interest Design (PID), Human Scale Development (HSD)(Max-Neef 1991), and Choice Architecture to create a holistic, sustainable intervention. Prioritising reclaimed materials and active community participation, the design is co-created with residents to reflect evolving needs and foster a deep sense of ownership and pride. Through incremental and adaptive strategies, Nudge for Good builds socio-economic resilience and empowers the community to envision and shape their own future. Ultimately, the Nudge for Good project addresses Melusi’s immediate needs while laying the groundwork for long-term community empowerment. It demonstrates how strategic, inclusive design can spark transformative change in informal settlements, creating safe, enriching spaces that uplift youth and support a regenerative, self-sustaining future.
Sustainable rural heritage practices in a local context : the regeneration of rural heritage towns to mitigate the negative effects of gentrification
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-28) Barker, A; jeannievanzyl4@gmail.com; Van Zyl, Jeannie
Rural architectural regeneration lacks sufficient academic and professional focus. Rural towns face significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by population decline, unlike the rapid growth issues of urban areas. The deterioration of rural architectural heritage underscores the importance of this issue globally and locally. Rural areas are crucial parts of society, dealing with diverse challenges in demographics, environment and economy. While heritage regeneration is important, it can lead to gentrification. Therefore, intentional and sensible conservation methods are essential to sustainably regenerate rural heritage towns in South Africa. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods within the pragmatic paradigm to understand human behaviour and a regenerative paradigm to analyse and establish the relationship between architecture and its urban condition. Qualitative methods include historical analysis, case studies and grounded theory, while quantitative methods involve descriptive and correlational research. The study includes interviews with local architects and academics, and secondary case studies, referencing both South African and international conservation efforts. The main focus is on towns like Greyton, Tulbagh, Wupperthal and Genadendal in the Western Cape, placing the work in a global context. The analysis involved the consolidation of various themes, which were designed to address the primary research question: How can sustainable architectural heritage practices contribute to the regeneration of rural heritage towns while mitigating the negative effects of gentrification? Through investigation, understanding and thematic categorisation of the interviews and case studies, this dissertation offers insights into existing heritage approaches and practices in a local context. The relationship between conservation and preservation contributes to an overall understanding and approach towards sustainable regenerative heritage practice. These principles are discussed and theoretically implemented and recommended in Genadendal. This dissertation contributes to the overarching discourse on heritage practice in South Africa by bridging the gap between urban and rural heritage regeneration in South Africa. It argues that through a sustainable and regenerative heritage approach, the negative effects of gentrification can be mitigated and the sustainable conservation of rural mission towns can be fostered.
Menlyn’s melting pot : revitalising fluid food trade at the Menlyn Junction
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-25) Barker, Janri; nnmabasa15@gmail.com; Mabasa, Neo
The Menlyn Melting Pot design proposal aims to transform Pretoria's Menlyn Piazza into a cohesive and adaptable space that supports local entrepreneurs, fluid food vendors, and the broader community. Currently, congestion and competition for space between taxis, pedestrians, and fluid food vendors along the sidewalk on Lois Avenue—situated between Menlyn Park and Menlyn Maine—create an unstructured setting that leads to persistent conflicts, lack of infrastructure, and safety risks. The absence of designated zones for storage, preparation, or trading forces vendors to work under precarious conditions, often resulting in inefficient methods and repeated removals by local authorities. This project focuses on resolving these spatial and social conflicts by reimagining the public space to better accommodate all users. The plan introduces modular vendor stalls, communal seating areas, and a redesigned sidewalk that designates zones for vendors, pedestrians, cyclists, and taxis to ensure smooth flow and reduce congestion. By creating a well-organized, inviting urban environment, the design empowers fluid food vendors through adaptable stalls that can be tailored to their specific needs, supported by a shared prep kitchen and vendor support services like the culinary workshop and entrepreneurship learning hub. These services provide vital infrastructure for safe food preparation and offer opportunities for skill development and business growth. The framework connects Menlyn Park to Menlyn Maine, positioning Menlyn Piazza as a central hub that bridges these retail areas. Additionally, the incorporation of regenerative farming and green spaces enhances the project's sustainability, aesthetics, and environmental impact, promoting local food production and community engagement. The Menlyn Melting Pot proposal seeks to create a vibrant public space that supports social and economic inclusion while ensuring the sustainable growth and recognition of fluid food vendors within the urban fabric.
Re-habilitating Booysens : exploring alternative methods for informal settlement development
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-27) Combrinck, Carin; darren.franciscus@gmail.com; Franciscus, Darren
The United Nations often defines informal settlements as areas of scarcity, framing them as problem zones with limited positive aspects. This project challenges that view, proposing that informal settlements hold the potential to address the shortage of accessible housing in rapidly urbanizing cities. Research by the Unit for Urban Citizenship highlights Melusi as an example of how social networks and grassroots construction practices can help solve urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aligned with Max-Neef’s (1991) Human Scale Development Framework and public interest design principles, the project focuses on transforming the Booysens Nursery into a multi-use vocational training and community center. This space will teach residents to work with bamboo, empowering self-sustaining development strategies for future projects. Repurposing much of the site for public use and urban agriculture, the initiative seeks to reconnect Melusi with the city, fostering a collaborative approach to urban renewal. The use of bamboo introduces a sustainable building material for Melusi residents, setting a precedent for the broader South African construction industry. Designed through extensive community engagement, the center’s dynamic program aims to meet residents’ needs, creating a hopeful model for informal settlements. This project underscores the critical role architects can play in transforming these areas into thriving, sustainable communities, proving that thoughtful design can bring lasting, positive change.
Katleho Healing Centre : an architectural strategy for the design integration of Traditional and Modern Healing for GBV survivors through food production in the city of Pretoria, South Africa
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-27) Schoulund, Darío; sam_moola@icloud.com; Moola, Sameeya
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and pervasive issue in South Africa, affecting nearly every aspect of life. It is systemic and deeply entrenched in the country’s institutions, cultures, and traditions. Historically, women’s roles in society have shifted dramatically—from being complementary in pre-historic times to becoming patriarchal and limiting in post-apartheid South Africa. This patriarchal society, especially prevalent in disadvantaged areas, has created environments that are unsafe, unjust, and lacking in opportunities for growth. The focus of this project is on the rehabilitation of survivors of GBV. Western approaches to healing typically follow an egocentric perspective, viewing trauma as a mental issue and relying heavily on scientific methods. This often marginalizes generational indigenous knowledge, offering a one-size-fits-all solution to psychological suffering that is widely adopted across the world. In contrast, the traditional African worldview emphasizes culture and socio-centric perspectives, seeing individuals as part of a larger whole. In this view, the community shapes and supports the individual, with any personal pain and stress perceived as communal problems. This creates networks of social relationships that foster self-worth, self-control, a sense of belonging, and security. Research on current shelters for abused women in South Africa reveals a predominant focus on Western trauma healing methods, neglecting the crucial cultural and communal aspects of traditional methods. This gap highlights the need for integrated approaches that harness culture and community for healing, aiding survivors in reintegrating into society and empowering them to gain independence. This project proposes a facility for medium to long-term healing, integrated into the urban fabric of Pretoria. It aims to channel the healing power of space and time, focusing on three main components of post-trauma healing: Self (adapting cognition), Others (improving coping style) and World (facilitating social support). To facilitate these stages of healing, the project utilises the food production process as a framework, drawing parallels between healing and the stages of production, post-production, and consumption. This approach becomes the core programmatic strategy of the proposal. The facility champions fundamental symbolic aspects of traditional healing as a touchstone. Situating the project in the heart of Pretoria allows it to integrate into the existing systems and eliminates physical barriers that women face when seeking help, such as location and lack of transport. The urban vision addresses two dominant issues in Pretoria CBD: oversized city blocks and vehicular dominance. The project acts as a prototype for a pedestrianised city by puncturing current city blocks and redefining latent spaces through a network of systems centred around education, food, and green public spaces.
The architects Atelier : rethinking boukunde's interior spaces
(University of Pretoria, 2024-11-25) Barker, Janri; bothajessica99@gmail.com; Botha, Jessica
Architecture schools hold a pivotal role in shaping both the future of the profession and the identities of aspiring architects. However, schools often fall short in adapting to the ever-evolving demands of the field. While these schools should be spaces that inspire architectural thinking, many remain rooted in outdated spatial typologies. Historically, South African architecture schools have borrowed from international models like the Beaux-Arts and Bauhaus, which were designed for hand-drawing and traditional design practices. Yet, as the profession has shifted toward digital tools and collaborative workflows, where these spaces no longer accommodate the realities of modern architectural education. This disconnect between learning environments and contemporary architectural practice raises the question of whether these schools are equipped to inspire and educate future architects effectively—and if not, how they can be adapted to better suit the student needs. This project seeks to arrange the learning environment to better foster architectural thinking and knowledge exchange. To meet the needs of today’s architecture students, learning environments must be adaptable, technologically integrated and conducive to both individual and group work. With the rise of digital technologies and design software, traditional workspaces dominated by large-format desks are no longer sufficient. Architecture schools should reflect this shift by offering dynamic, power-accessible spaces that support the fluidity of modern workflows. Additionally, these environments must cater to diverse student preferences and ways of learning, embracing diverse sets of knowledge. Incorporating a connection to nature through views to the outside is crucial, as it enhances creativity, wellbeing and productivity. Furthermore, by applying sustainable strategies, such as optimising daylight and thermal comfort, schools can support a healthy learning environment. Through adaptive reuse and reprogramming, existing schools can evolve to inspire students, enabling them to engage with architectural principles while preparing them for practice. In this way, crafting learning architecturally ensures that schools not only meet educational demands but also empower students to think critically and creatively about their future roles as architects. Keywords: Adaptive reuse, transformative learning, architectural education, progressive learning environments, student-centered spaces
Empowering communities : the role of public interest design architects in addressing fundamental human needs through alternative building technologies in Melusi
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Combrinck, Carin; darren.franciscus@gmail.com; Franciscus, Darren
South African cities largely continue to exhibit the enduring scars of apartheid which due to discriminatory housing policies have left stark socio-economic divides in their wake. This is evidenced by the perpetual growth of the national housing backlog, as national supply of low-cost housing has failed to meet the demand of those who need it most. In response to this, government has explored the use of alternative building technologies (ABTs) in the delivery of low-cost housing to meet this growing demand. However, these ABTs have faced low rates of adoption in emerging developments where such solutions have been proposed. Furthermore, national housing policies concerned with the development of informal settlements have yet to acknowledge the role of the architectural profession role in the engagement and upgrading process involving these communities. Public interest design (PID) looks to provide a theoretical underpinning for architects understanding the needs of a project’s end-user to provide work that is socially responsive to its wider environment. Through this understanding of PID, this study applies the human scale development (HSD) framework of Manfred Max-Neef to analysis the needs, satisfiers, and impediments of Melusi’s residents surrounding the building technologies present within the settlement. This is done to expand the discussions surrounding ABTs by recognising the different forms of grassroots design practice (GDP) present within the settlement. This research followed a pragmatic approach through narrative inquiry which featured the use of both quantitative and quantitative data in the form of documented experiences of residents and observations made within the settlement of Melusi. Methods such as surveys and participatory games as research tools formed part of an intensive community engagement process spanning two years alongside a transdisciplinary team of researchers. Key findings noted the opportunities for architects to operate within informal settlement upgrading policies through PID practice models such as GDP. Additionally, the study noted that the needs of subsistence, creation, and understanding were currently being actualised through Melusi’s own forms of localised building technologies. Furthermore, it found that this improved understanding of existent forms of building technologies within the settlement may further expand the definition of ABTs suggesting a modification of the term itself.
Interiors in flux : the coexistence of existing building stock and mass timber through adaptive reuse for environmental sustainability and user well-being
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Van der Hoven, Christo; cilliersmagdalena@gmail.com; Cilliers, Magdalena
People spend the majority of their time indoors. People, nature and buildings constantly change. People grow tired of their everyday routine and environment, resulting in periodical spatial changes within the spaces they occupy. Cyclical renovations of interiors occur frequently, responsible for the cumulation of extensive greenhouse gas emissions, a high carbon footprint and concerning amount of construction and demolition waste. This results in prematurely discarded structures, skins, services, space plans and stuffs, as per Stewart Brand’s six shearing layers of change and longevity. Sustainable alternative materials should be sought to replace carbon-intensive and extractive materials like concrete and steel, especially during deep renovations to decarbonise existing building stock. Mass engineered timber renders a viable sustainable alternative to not only reduce the anthropogenic impact on the environment by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon. Mass timber also presents the potential to improve indoor environmental quality, indoor air quality, human health and well-being. Adaptive reuse can function as implementation tool for mass timber integration in internal applications. The environmental impact of cyclical interiors was investigated through a case study conducted by industry professionals. Comparisons were made between the Global Warming Potential (kg-CO2e) of different materials to display the potential benefits of mass timber on indoor environmental quality and well-being.
Reducing heat stress exposure : retrofit shading strategies for informal dwellings in Tshwane, South Africa
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06) Hugo, Jan; locatingemile@gmail.com; Roux, Emile
The average temperature in South Africa is increasing at nearly twice the global rate. South Africa also has a large population living in informal settlements characterised by inadequate housing with poor thermal regulation. This population is consequently particularly vulnerable to the risks of increased heat stress exposure, underscoring the need to develop well informed, contextually appropriate heat stress adaptation strategies. One of such is the use of solar shading devices that block solar radiation, which after a literature review prove to have an increased potential in reducing indoor dwelling temperatures. The study therefore investigated the performance effectiveness of static and adaptive shading strategies. This was achieved by digitally simulating fourteen static shading strategies applied to a prototypical informal dwelling in Tshwane. An adaptive shading strategy with rotatable louvres was developed based on the synthesised results and was further tested in both virtual and in situ environments. The results of each were comparatively discussed using a control dwelling, and the accuracy of the digitally simulated data was compared to in situ measured data. The findings indicate that the performance of solar shading strategies is not directly proportional to the material surface area, suggesting that the availability of resources should be the first informant when developing shading strategies in informal contexts. The findings also present built environment professionals and informal settlement inhabitants with a practical guide to optimise shading performance. The roof is the most important building envelope surface to shade on an annual time scale, yet seasonal adaptive shading proves to reduce heat stress exposure significantly. This is accomplished by prioritising shading devices based on available resources and applying them to the surface with the highest thermal gain, while using optimal fin orientation. The results finally indicate that despite observed differences in absolute values, digital simulation is an effective method to verify design choices and optimise solar shading strategies. This study provides data and evidence to support a limited field encompassing locally appropriate heat stress adaptation strategies within informal contexts.
A critical analysis of the value of prototyping as part of a circular design process in the South African built environment
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Bothma, Cobus; celine34776@gmail.com; Nel, Celine
It is clear that within the architectural profession, a linear design process is generally employed, resulting in a lack of adoption of innovative technologies and design processes. However, some architectural firms and research and design initiatives are challenging this notion as well as the architect’s role through more circular design processes. By incorporating digital fabrication and manufacturing, alongside a reintegration of indigenous knowledge systems in architecture, innovation is able to be re-introduced into architectural practice. The integration of these newer technological approaches and design methodologies, as well as alternative building technologies, despite their potential value, are not widely accepted due to the uncertainty regarding their appropriateness. It is proposed in this paper that prototyping is a step in the design and fabrication process that may be a tool for creating more circular design processes that, in turn, generate appropriate innovation. Prototyping may aid in risk mitigation as it is involved in and based on experience and observation of technology, which ultimately assists in the acceptance of innovation on a variety of scales. A mixed-method approach will be employed, incorporating data from literature reviews, interviews, and an existing case study catalogue. Practitioners who actively adopt prototyping in their design process will be interviewed, alongside in-depth case studies of their respective projects, to critically analyse their use and value of prototyping within their specific circular design process and how it is able to extend the role of the architect, in order to aid in appropriate innovation that is valuable for the growth of the construction industry. The expected contribution of the study is to provide a comprehensive framework that highlights the importance of prototyping in circular design processes, demonstrating its potential to foster appropriate innovation and risk mitigation. By offering practical insights and detailed case studies, this research aims to influence current architectural practices and encourage the broader adoption of prototyping as a standard approach within the industry, particularly in the South African context.
Sustainable futures through the use of climate adaptive building technologies
(University of Pretoria, 2024-06-28) Vermeulen, Abrie; stormtylersibisi@gmail.com; Sibisi, Storm
There is a serious environmental catastrophe occurring right now that needs to be addressed. It is quite concerning how quickly the climate is changing across the globe. While global leadership on climate change will require an amalgamation of policy solutions, there are concerns that extreme weather shifts will disproportionately affect the developing world. Urban areas in South Africa must adjust to a changing climate and the resulting heat stresses that come with it. It is necessary to modify existing structures to meet these new needs and lessen their negative environmental impacts, highlighting the importance of adaptation rather than mitigation. Architecture plays a pivotal role in addressing environmental concerns. This study will investigate how we can enhance our existing building technology to achieve optimal building thermal efficiency while infusing innovation into our architectural thinking. This research paper forms part of a larger study that explores architectural building technologies that can be implemented as climate change adaptive strategies in multi-storey residential buildings in the city of Tshwane. The study follows a pragmatic approach and uses a desktop research method. The study aims to assess and comprehend the potential for thermal amelioration in both the current and projected climate conditions in Tshwane through the comparison of case studies and will draw conclusions on formulating a sustainable response to future climate changes.
Building resilience in urban areas : exploring climate change adaptation strategies for buildings in urban areas of Tshwane, South Africa
(University of Pretoria, 2024) Vermeulen, Abrie; Breed, Ida; mcclaymt@gmail.com; Thikusho, McClay
The issues pertaining to the changing climatic conditions on the landscape demand urgent measures to enhance resilience of new building infrastructure and already existing buildings, particularly in Tshwane, South Africa, which are vulnerable to extreme weather events. This research focuses on investigating building technologies as climate adaptation strategies for multi-story apartment buildings in Tshwane, South Africa, where regular and severe heat surges create substantial challenges. By addressing the research problem of enhancing thermal adaptive capacity, the study intends to recognize technologies and strategies that can serve as interventions towards adapting to the changes in climatic conditions. Through a thorough analysis of selected case studies, the research examines how these building technologies aid in local climate adaptation strategies, specifically targeting their potential for improving thermal amelioration. The study examines the methods used to evaluate the thermal adaptive capacity of these technologies, analyses their reported outcomes, efficiencies, benefits, and shortcomings, and examines material and technical considerations associated with their implementation. The findings from this investigation aim to provide valuable guidance for enhancing the resilience of multi-story residential buildings in South African urban areas, particularly within the context of Tshwane's climate conditions.
Evaluating the curriculum validity of architectural studios : how can the research methods of the Urban Citizen Studio inform the design brief for a master's thesis to address the socio-spatial needs of a marginalised community?
(University of Pretoria, 2024-10-30) Combrinck, Carin; lanecornelius@icloud.com; Cornelius, Lané
Many South Africans are faced with the challenges of a segregated urban landscape and spatial inequalities. In the realm of architectural education, there is a need to evaluate how initiatives such as architecture studios can address the complex issues of spatial inequalities. The discourse of Public Interest Design (PID) emphasises an architect’s ethical responsibility to serve societal needs through community-driven initiatives. However, understanding the integration of PID into architectural curricula and its impact on student learning remains limited. This research paper evaluates PID's application within architectural pedagogy, particularly its role in addressing socio-economic challenges of marginalised communities. The study evaluates the curriculum validity in facilitating architecture master's students in developing design proposals for their thesis projects. Instruments such as Miro™ and Zotero™ were utilised for the literature review research on architecture pedagogy, both on a global and national scale. The focus is on the Urban Citizen Studio within the Department of Architecture University of Pretoria. The studio served as a qualitative case study by assessing student engagement within the marginalised community of Melusi, an informal settlement located West in the City of Tshwane. Max-Neef's (1991) Human Scale Development model is the theoretical framework for identifying the fundamental needs of the Melusi community within a pragmatic paradigm. Action research was followed through the qualitative research methods of game play and focus groups to collect relevant data. The data is then analysed inductively using the ATLAS.ti™ software platform. The findings of the data revealed that the research methods of game play and focus groups led to a wide variety of topics, subjects and areas of concern in the community. The results offer firsthand insights into the community's most pressing needs, ultimately guiding the development of a design brief of an architecture project, focused on addressing the socio-spatial needs of the community. The conclusion is that master's students are equipped with the necessary data to address the socio-spatial needs of marginalised communities in their project proposals. This is validated by examining previous thesis projects through the frameworks of Nawawi et al. (2014) and the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF).

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