High street abattoir : a new interface for architecture of industry mediated through a public abattoir

Abstract

The dissertation investigates an interface between industrial architecture, the public realm and formal and informal programmatic functions mediated through an urban abattoir. Further, the dissertation examines the occupation of a deserted industrial site and revival thereof through new light industrial programming. The proposal focusses on the rejuvenation of the abattoir as a ritualistic and cognisant process and the contemporary application of the industrial typology mediated through regenerative architectural principles and sustainable technologies. A new public interface is explored to reconnect industrial architecture and industry to the “urban surface”, avoiding the mistakes of the past and preserving the future of the site and its surrounding context. The final design ameliorates the deserted wasteland condition by connecting the new abattoir to the industrial heritage of the site. The resultant design is an urban abattoir which interacts and expresses itself at various scales whilst always representative of the processes housed. The design creates a dialogue between the public and the abattoir by adopting the methodology of reclaiming the entire animal carcass as done in South African ritual slaughter. The design incorporates numerous sustainable systems to reduce the waste found in abattoirs. The project reconnects the contemporary abattoir to the productive urban network and emphasises the importance of architecture in the regeneration of a building typology. Copyright 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Nieuwoudt, JH 2011, High street abattoir : a new interface for architecture of industry mediated through a public abattoir, MArch(Prof) dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01052012-134038 / > C12/4/56/gm