Current trends in South African architecture and the way to the future

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Steyn, Gerald

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Art Historical Work Group of South Africa

Abstract

Few countries have ever had the opportunity to rethink their architectural dogma as abruptly and radically as South Africa since the few years leading up to the democratic elections of 1994. With only a few exceptions, the pre-democratic South African architecture of the 20th century has always lacked a unique identity. But, coinciding with trends towards Critical-Regionalism and ‘green’ initiatives, the emergence of a new South Africa has inspired the profession as a whole to search for new directions.
Hedendaagse tendense in Suid-Afrikaanse argitektuur en die weg na die toekoms. Net enkele lande het ooit die geleentheid gehad om hul argitektoniese dogma so plotseling en radikaal te heroorweeg as Suid-Afrika in die paar jare voor die demokratiese verkiesing van 1994. Met slegs enkele uitsonderings het die voor-demokratiese Suid-Afrikaanse argitektuur nog altyd aan ’n unieke identiteit ontbreek. Maar saamvallend met tendense na ‘Critical-Regionalism’ en ‘groen’ inisiatiewe het die ontwaking van ’n ‘nuwe’ Suid-Afrika die professie as ’n geheel begeester om vir nuwe rigtings te soek.

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Keywords

Architecture, South African urbanism, Informal settlements, Regional identity, South African architecture, Critical Regionalism

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Steyn, G 2009, 'Current trends in South African architecture and the way to the future', South African Journal of Art History, vol. 24, no. 2, pp 41-64. [http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_sajah.html]