Abstract:
The forgotten infrastructure in cities are seen
as sites which hold potential for rejuvenation.
Some of which consist of heritage buildings which
form important tangible links with the history
of the city. The integration of such buildings
with the city is crucial for sustainable development
and for the appreciation of the past
within the present. The project looks at the
Staatsmuseum in the Pretoria CBD as one such
example, of forgotten infrastructure within the
city which holds heritage significance. The old
museum sits in-between an oasis of natural wonder
on one side, and an oasis of urban city life
on the other. This positioning is highlighted
as a key feature of the project as it allows
the symbiotic relationship between built fabric
and nature to be explored and emphasised. Nature
forms a key driver for the programme. This
programme promotes the education of the natural
world. The current methods adopted to teaching
children about the natural world are challenged.
The project in turn aims to create a shared resource
facility for wider use by the Pretoria Zoo,
schools around the city, and the general public.
