Conference Papers and Presentations (African Perspectives)

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African Perspectives Conference, 2009 Table of Contents
Front matter

Conference Themes

Keynote Addresses (The (historical) identity of the African City Centre)
AbdouMaliq, Simone	Economic heterogeneity and the return of the central city

Keynote Addresses (The African City Centre in a contemporary global context)
Addo, Joe	The City Centre – An introduction to the video entitled 'Mapping Accra'

Keynote Addresses (The future life of the African City Centre)
Wolff, Heinrich	Imagining Urban Futures

Refereed papers
Selection and referee process
By Theme

Theme - The (historical) identity of the African City Centre

De Boeck, F., Cassiman, A. & Van Wolputte, S.	Recentering the City: An Anthropology of Secondary Cities in Africa

Gantner, G.	The urban market: Social and Spatial Configurations in the African City

Gruffydd,Jones B.	‘Cities Without Slums’? Global architectures of power and the African city

Ogbu, L.	A Search for Specificity: Learning from Africa

Theme - The African City Centre in a contemporary global context

Andersen, J.	Meanings and perceptions of the built environment in peri-urban areas of Maputo, Mozambique

Jenkins, P.	Xilunguine, Lourenço Marques, Maputo - structure and agency in urban form: past, present and future

Newton, C.	UniverCity-Centre: the university as an anchor and its capacity for democratizing urban space

Beeckmans, L.	Agency in an African City. The various trajectories through time and space of the public market of Kinshasa

Githua, B.	Anatomy of Exclusion in an African City: On Ambivalence

Matos M.C., Ramos, T.B. & Costa, L.P.	Planned and unplanned towns in former Portuguese colonies in Sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of Silveira’s ‘Iconografia

Osasona, C., Ogunshakin, L. & Jiboye, D.	Ile-Ife: A Cultural Phenomenon in the Throes of Transformation

Theme - The future life of the African City Centre

Baumeister, J. & Knebel, N.	The Indigenous Urban Tissue of Addis Ababa – A City Model for the Future Growth of African Metropoliseferee process

Geurts, E.	Working on Cities: an Experience from Kumasi, Ghana – A Design Studio for Architects and Urban Management Studentse

Olweny, M.R.O. & Olweny, C.L.M.	Ethical Positions in Built Environment Education

Viana, D.	African City: towards a new paradigm – ‘chameleonic’ urbanism for hybrid cities

Afram, S.O. & Olympio, G.F.A.	The woes of a ‘’Straight-jacketed’ Central Business District’: The case study of Odum, Kumasi

Le Roux, H.	Coffeemanifesto: sampling instant and slow spaces in the African city

Müller, B.	Narrating Urban Acupuncture[s]

Musa, A. & Van Kats, R.H.C.	Diagnoses on Cairo City. Reflective Analyses of Ramses Square

Nawangwe, B.	The Evolution of the Kibuga into Kampala’s City Centre – Analysis of the transformation of an African cityeme

Refereed Multimedia Presentation
Coralli, M. & Palumbo, M.A	Territories in Motion. From Cotonou, an audiovisual approach for an African perspective on city centre futures

Invited Speaker: Introduction to the locale of the Conference
Hansen, L.C.	Urban interventions: approach to urban regeneration in South Africa since 1994

Refereed Poster Presentations

Gantner, G.	Garden city settlements: The lingering effects of urban design policy in Lusaka.

Martusewicz, C. & Cumberbatch, T.	Learning from earth: An exploration and reinterpretation of vernacular building.

Moreira, P.	Modernism vs Capitalism in the city of red sand and black gold: Contemporary paradoxes in Luanda, Angola.

Sirron-Kakpor, I.	Working on cities: An experience from Kumasi, Ghana.

Vio, G.	Between land and water: Elements for a city centre.

Poster Presentations

Imhoff, J.H. et al.	The Royal Trees: The true garden city; an ecologically sound city for the present and future generations.

Sirron-Kakpor, I. et al.	Sub-Center Commerce Corridor.

Waijer, P. et al.	Stretching social structures: Adapt the urban compound to present living.

Oosterwaal, A. et al.	Ayigya works: Creating opportunities for the self-employed women of Ayigya.

Back Matter

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 39

Learning from earth : an exploration and reinterpretation of vernacular building.
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Martusewicz, C.; Cumberbatch, T.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
A poster presentation by Martusewicz, C. & Cumberbatch, T. about 'Learning from earth: An exploration and reinterpretation of vernacular building'.
Imagining urban futures
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Wolff, H.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Within the time allowed for this presentation I can hardly address a balanced range of issues dealing with the ‘Future Life of the African City Centre’. I will introduce four topics that have been close to my heart that have bearing on the theme of the conference. My ideas about the city are influenced by the fact that I am an architect and academic working in Cape Town. As a practitioner I try to cultivate an eye for opportunity rather than a tongue paralysing critique. I hope that the issues raised will also have relevance for people from elsewhere and of different professional backgrounds. I will draw no distinction between the city centre and any other parts of the city, since the problems and opportunities about which I will speak, have the same effect right across the city.
Stretching social structures : adapt the urban compound to present living
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Waijer, P.; Van der Heijde, A.; Afrianti, D.; Siek, T.; Martha, D.; Amugi, D.; Opoku, B.; Mensah, D.A.; Agyiri, E.G.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Adapting the urban compound house to present living. This paper consists of building plans and drawings.
Between land and water : elements for a city centre
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Vio, G.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
The water of Venice protects the city, sets the boundaries, and connects the city to the sea. The same importance can be given to water in many urban cultures around Africa.
African cities : towards a new paradigm - 'chameleonic' urbanism for hybrid cities
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Viana, D.L.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
African cities demand growing a network-type articulation between their formal centres and the vast, informal polymorphic suburban housing areas surrounding them. A new urban paradigm should be proclaimed: urban proposals that aim to consolidate an improved and adapted adjustment between regular patterns (attached to macro scale planning) and plural configurations of a self-organized city, based on micro stratagems that are developed by indigent citizens in their everyday life. This new urban paradigm relies on nature and collective/public spaces as major elements in the reassembly of fragmented African urban spaces: [re]develop wide, and [re]distribute social services, public services and civic infrastructure in the extension of African City – urban progress, articulated through improvement of human living conditions, needs to be combined with overall sustainability. The new urban paradigm points to flexible and regenerative morphologies in urban space, that are sensible and capable of adapting to multi-contexts – a ‘chameleonic’ urbanism, that is based on multiple – and mixed – visions of micro-units inherent to the African City, that propose derivate forms from themselves.
Economic heterogeneity and the return of the central city
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Simone, A.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Notions of the ‘central’ – as a dense core – have dominated the sense that urbanisation is replete with the possibilities of accessibility, concentration, efficiency, and productive power. The city was thought to culminate in a centre, an almost mystical gravitational pull that would pull materials and bodies into its regard. If there were any doubt as to the existence of such an overarching organizational force, its location was marked with excess – as the physical dimension of the built environment and valuations of all kinds would inflate. In some respects the affirmation of a centre as far as cities are concerned would prove somewhat counter-intuitive to urbanization processes seemingly more inclined to disperse, multiply and fragment rather than gather up. Distinctions between a clearly discernible centre and periphery, and other such gradations, historically have proven ambiguous as indicators of a capacity to make things happen. Centres have always seemed unduly aided by various administrative sleights of hand, things that would seem to slow down rather than quicken urbanized relations (Pacione 2009; Parker 2006; Soja 2000).
Refereed papers by theme, African Perspectives Conference Proceedings, 2009
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Refereed papers, selection process, African Perspectives Conference Proceedings, 2009
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria © 2010, 2010) Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
The Conference Proceedings is a scientific document. Apart from the Refereed Papers, it contains contributions from the keynote speakers as well as Poster Presentations (where authors had to discuss their work with conference delegates in a Poster session). Non-refereed contributions were presented at the Conference, but are not included in the proceedings. The keynote speakers were chosen by the Scientific Committee Chairs with the members of the Scientific Committee.
Ile lfe : a cultural phenomenon in the Throes of transformation
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Osasona, C.O.; Ogunshakin, L.O.; Jiboye, D.A.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Every city has its own history which expresses an identity, a symbol and an image. The ancient city of Ile-Ife, in south-western Nigeria, presents several paradoxes. Till date, its significance vis-à-vis the totality of the culture of the Yoruba race, continues to conflict with many of the requirements of a modernizing city. The traditional city centre is atypical in its development as, rather than epitomizing urban city-centre rejuvenation, it has steadily ceded commercializing activities to another part of the town. Also, the recent internecine war between Ifes and neighbouring Modakekes has created environmental scarification, schisms in physical alignments and influenced aberrations in both the process and actual fabric of the city’s urbanization. Three main foci have been identified as virile urbanizing-activity zones: the city centre, the Sabo-Mayfair commercial spine and the Obafemi Awolowo University campus. These areas are critiqued in the light of their history, peculiarities and ‘re-sourcing’ potentials.
Ayigya works : creating opportunities for the self-employed women of Ayigya
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Oosterwaal, A.; Limburg, R.; Tukker, E.; Mwinlanaah, Y.; Hidayah, S.; Angnayeli, E.J.; Woyome, A.M.; Azantilow, R.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
This project is for the improvement of living conditions of the people of Ayigya, by improving trading and services environment.
Ethical positions in built environment education
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Olweney, M.R.O.; Olweney, C.L.M.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Architecture has among its goals, to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of society. It is therefore inevitable that ethical decisions are made in the process making architecture. The perceived value of the product, ‘shelter’ is often, taken for granted – until something goes wrong. It is only then that questions arise about quality of the product, the values of practitioners, and as a matter of course, to discussions about ethical positions forged as part of the education process. Contrary to common belief, ethical positions are not intrinsically inherent in society, but are learned as pat of the formal and/or informal education process. As part of the five or six year architecture programme, students are exposed to a multitude of ethical positions, from basic value judgements related to beauty and aesthetics - good and bad; to investigations of historical attempts to portray truth and purity; to the more pragmatic and contemporary issues dealing with context, sustainability and social equality. This paper looks at educational context within which architecture education is situated in Uganda, and how this may have an impact on the eventual ethical positions taken by professionals.
A search for specificity : learning from Africa
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Ogbu, L.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
As we seek to position ourselves within this new century, the notion of defining an African urban architecture is both complex and compelling. Contemporary African cities are dynamic environments that have an ongoing and complicated evolution. Current realities such as rapid urbanization and globalization have accelerated development and profoundly affected political, social, and economic systems. These realities present an enormous challenge not only to architects seeking to practice within African urban environments but also to those who seek to understand its implications beyond the continent’s borders. This paper seeks not so much to define an African urban architecture, but to suggest a framework through which to examine African cities, to discuss means by which architects can engage these environments, and to postulate ways in which that framework of understanding can provide insight for practice beyond the continent.
UniverCity-centre : the university as an anchor and its capacity foe democratizing urban space
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Newton, C.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
The capitalistic growth of the City of Cape Town, more specifically its expansion to the north, foreshadows the absorption of Bellville and its surroundings, including the Campus of the University of the Western Cape, consequently putting the University in the centre of the new Cape Town metropole. Despite of apartheid’s fierce oppression, cultural and social life flourished in this previously peripheral areas and the University was one of the leaders in the historical changes the nation went through. They actively engaged themselves in working together with, as well as within, the local communities, thus building an accessible and more just higher education centre. The aim of this contribution is to explore theoretical concepts that are of importance if the university wants to uphold his role as an urban anchor, an active linchpin able to guide the ambitious redevelopment the area will undergo. As such not only preserving the important historical meaning of the University but also safeguarding the identities of the historically deprived communities which surround it.
The evolution of the Kibuga into Kampala's city centre - analysis of the transformation of an African city
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Nawangwe, B.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
The Kibuga was the capital of the Buganda Kingdom at the time the British declared a protectorate over this very well organised kingdom in 1900. The Kibuga comprised of the king’s palace at the centre of the settlement, surrounded by the villas of the chiefs and other members of the royal family. The Kibuga was very well structured, with radial and concentric streets in relation to the king’s palace, all organically set in the natural environment. This paper seeks to disprove the common belief that African cities have developed as transplants of architectural and planning styles from Europe. The paper is based on a study that was carried out through the study of archival documents, literature reviews and physical observation involving photography and sketching. The study revealed the overwhelming influence of urban concepts from the Kibuga on the development of Kampala’s city centre.
Diagnoses on Cairo city reflective analysis of Rameses Square
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Musa, A.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings; van Kats, R.H.C.
Cairo, a 20 million megapolis, is characterized by the absence of a logical urban design. For most people, chaos is the most characterizing element of the traffic situation in Cairo like Ramses Square, the busiest intersection of Cairo. We focus on the pedestrian. How can an increasing number of pedestrians and an increasing number of motorized vehicles use the city simultaneously in a comfortable way? How to improve the comfort of all people who use the square? Not only pedestrians and motorized traffic are everyday users of the square, but also small vendors. Diversity of users characterizes public space. To fulfil the conflicting needs of different groups, it is essential to hear what the users need and want of the spaces they interact with. In our research we started by accepting the physical environment and the social stratification of the area. Our open interpretation of the Ramses Square includes a literal intention for more sustainability: an improvement of users comfort, the local environment and an impulse to reach a change of outlook with the people and government. In our opinion sustainability is a state of mind to increase the comfort of life, urban and green space. This will be achieved through an anthropological approach of architecture and town planning. With this study and its focus on Ramses Square, one of the most polluted and traffic wise overcrowded intersections of Africa, we believe that the vital points mentioned have to be considered when working on African cities.
Narrating urban acupuncture[s]
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Muller, B.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Cities like Accra or Kinshasa, Kumasi or Kisangani, can – despite all large-scale transformations – still be characterized by the presence of small-scale appropriations of urban space. These ‘points’ / ’waypoints’ / ‘acupuncture points’ exist in time and space. They operate relationally and reactively, and induce radiating effects with minimal gestures. Thereby, they create networks of characteristic energy levels with catalytic effects on the urban fabric. Primarily of a commercial nature, they are located in the programmatic field between production and consumption. Artists and architects increasingly conceptualize and apply corresponding strategies, not for commercial purposes, but in order to generate new social and artistic space(s). They either leave behind the institutional framework for political, economic, and ideological reasons, or create a new framework where there has been no place for (contemporary) art and urban culture thus far. By means of (mostly small-scale) spatial, temporal, and programmatic interventions, urban space is activated and transformed. Urban actors – artists, audiences, and residents, respectively – are stimulated and empowered to experience and reflect their city differently. Negotiations on urban space and urban culture of this kind can have a lasting impact on both a discursive and physical level. Due to their contextual and net-like nature, they can even be read as tools for creating new platforms and hybrids of local and translocal activities. These approaches can also take dynamic phenomena into account, which is so relevant to capturing the essence of the African city – and which architecture, in the conventional sense, as well as the Western model of the art institution, can hardly accomplish. This presentation will not have the format of an academic paper; it is rather navigation through and narration of imagined, existing, and future urban acupuncture[s]. The focus will be on the analysis of the work of Studios Kabako / Faustin Linyekula in Kisangani, DR Congo.
Modernism vs capitalism in the city of red sand and black gold : contemporary paradoxes in Luanda, Angola
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Moreira, P.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Anglo suffered from armed conflicts for four decades. During this period, the territory had been "forcibly urbanised." In fact, an estimated sixty percent of the population is now living in cities. These informal settlements of social and economic misery were built by internally displaced people who had been attracted by the capital during the war years, mainly because it promised stability and economic security after the colonial war began in 1961.
Planned and unplanned towns in former Portuguese colonies in Sub-Sahara Africa : an analysis of Silveira's 'Iconografia'
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Matos, M.C.; Ramos, T.B.; Costa, L.P.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Luis Silveira’s ‘Ensaio de Iconografia das Cidades Portuguesas do Ultramar’, published in the 50’s, is a fundamental source for the study of urban form in former Portuguese colonies. This is an often cited work and its images have been abundantly used. Nonetheless, it has not been analysed and considered in itself, as a unique and essential collection of images representing the most important Portuguese settlements outside Europe as well as noteworthy places connected to the Portuguese expansion or colonization periods. It presents a wealth of graphical information on the settlements which can be understood as town or future town centres. More than a thousand figures depict nearly two hundred towns. The second volume is dedicated to occidental and oriental Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper addresses form and content of this fundamental resource for the study of citycentres in the Portuguese ex-colonies – as seen through the eyes of a public official in the eve of the colonial wars.
Coffeemanifesto : sampling instant and slow spaces in the African city
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Le Roux, H.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
In the inner city of Johannesburg, Ethiopian traders and their landlords have occupied and redefined empty modernist buildings, creating a rich and dense urban market area. The fabric of the existing buildings and open spaces allows an arrangement of spaces and functions that support a community in transformation, allowing dynamic changes while also evoking stable images of home in a series of safe and networked social spaces. This rich urbanism is proposed as a positive alternative to its tough surroundings, and to the sterility of developer led urban renewal. The paper describes a process of designerly research in the area, including performative work, that intends to represent and advocate for official recognition of the ambivalent nature of these spaces, and their transformative potentials.
Sub-center commerce corridor
(Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, 2010) Kakpor, I.S.; Jansen, R.; Van Dijk, S.; Razali, M.; Hosale, L.C.; Putra, I.N.G.M.; Odarley, H.N.; Asiedu, E.; Asaber, E.F.; Bakker, Karel A.; African Perspectives Conference Proceedings
Vision: A vibrant sub-center that supports the potential for all people to develop adequate housing and business opportunities, regardless of their income levels. Mission: Transform the main street of Ayiga into a Corridor that will stimulate community development by providing a new framework of infrastructure, public services, transportation, open space that is of new housing and business development.

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