Private rituals, public selves : reclaiming urban public space through celebrating the ritual of washing

Abstract

The thesis explores the existing urban landscape of Jeppestown, specifically with regard to the consequences of the hijacking of inner-city buildings for residential purposes. The aim is to reclaim public space from the post-industrial landscape and reconfigure the existing fabric, by means of a fragile intervention so as to connect the social realm with the built fabric. The project accepts the hijacked typology of urban living as part of the context. It is viewed as an existing and ongoing condition, which far exceeds the current capacity of state-funded housing. From this stance, the project aims to provide public services that celebrate the rituals of washing in a meaningful and accessible way. The project endeavours to utilise theories related to African space to address local contemporary urban issues contextually. It uses the rituals of the everyday as a muse for creating eventful public space, an amenity which is becoming increasingly important with the growing densities of South Africa’s cities.