A rite of passage : an exploration of cultural catalytic spaces in the urban context

Abstract

A rite of passage is the exploration of cultural catalytic spaces in the urban context. A space where The traditional ritual is celebrated. The project is an exploration that addresses a grand narrative of what happens as generations of African people move from the rural context into the Peri-urban township of Mamelodi. The narrative explores the loss of traditional practices experienced as people find themselves in Mamelodi due to limitations imposed by geographical constraints through narrative as a generator of design. Generations of Women in this context have kept the fabric of the township in tact and have created strong social networks that have helped them survive the harsh conditions found here. The women of Mamelodi are the breadwinners, the mothers, the custodians and by mobilising the women an entire community is empowered. The project draws inspiration from the collective cultural memory of the central cattle pattern of traditional Bantu settlements found in the rural areas,where the women come from. The project looks at an Architecture of inversion by placing the women at the center of this layout using the central cattle pattern as a template, through the design of a Kgotla designated for women. A social space dedicated for the women of Mamelodi, a space that reclaims public space for those that keep the fabric of this township in tact. A beacon that celebrates traditional practices in the township of Mamelodi. The project looks at how architecture can help in the preservation of traditional cultural practices. A celebration of Traditional ritual enhanced by the daily ritual of the women of Mamelodi through the design of The: Lekhuleni Initiation School for Girls.