Fort Commeline - From Ruins to Substance : an Untold Narrative of Magazine Hill

Abstract

English: This dissertation focuses on the re-interpretation of Fort Commeline, a former British fortification of the 1880’s guarding the “Skietpoort” (valley) of the southern entrance to Pretoria. In addition, it investigates and identifies the fragmented narrative among the historical landscapes of Magazine Hill, where it is situated on and poses to address the fragile connection that exists among the historical built fabric and cultural landscape that developed and transformed through the progression over time. The proposed program for the development of a Historical Performance Centre, forms part of the weathered continuum that aims to re-establish the relationship between the narration of heritage, architecture and time. Hereby the narrative of architecture is being portrayed towards the evolution, deterioration and revolution of the built fabric that progresses and deteriorates, or in the case of this study, is rehabilitated over time.

Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif fokus op die herinterpretasie van Fort Commeline, 'n voormalige Britse vesting van die 1880's, wat die Skietpoort van die suidelike ingang na Pretoria bewaak. Daarbenewens ondersoek en identifiseer dit die gefragmenteerde verhaal van die historiese landskap van Magasynheuwel waar dit geleë is en poog dit om die kwesbare verband wat bestaan tussen die geskiedkundige strukture en die kultuurlandskap, wat deur die verloop van tyd ontwikkel en verander het, aan te spreek. Die voorgestelde program vir die ontwikkeling van 'n Historiese Prestasiesentrum vorm deel van die verweerde kontinuum, wat daarop gemik is om die verhouding tussen die vertelling van erfenis, argitektuur en tyd te hervestig. Hierdeur word die geskiedenis van argitektuur uitgebeeld deur die evolusie, verwering en rewolusie van die materie, wat bevorder en verweer, of in die geval van hierdie studie, gerehabiliteer word deur tyd.