Exploring the potential of latent space in the inner city of Pretoria

Abstract

This dissertation explores the potential of latent space in the inner city of Pretoria. The exploration is guided by the intention of finding architectural remedies for regenerating and weaving urban fabric. Urban morphology refers to the study of change in built fabric over time and focusses on the patterns of growth. The unique urban morphology of Pretoria produced an opportunity within the blocks, where fragmented spaces are locked away. These ill-defined in-between spaces in blocks are referred to as latent spaces, so-called due to their hidden potential. The overarching intention of the architectural solution is to delineate a new relationship between the inner city user, buildings, and latent space, to create off-street user-relief spaces, through the application of palimpsetic strategies developed from urban, architectural, heritage, contextual, programmatic and technological investigations. These strategies were conceptualised as the design approach, consisting of additions and alterations to the existing built fabric as well as new infill through connections, insertions, extensions, and appropriations. The strategies are further developed to form structural components used in combination to intervene with the existing. The components generate the technological response, and it is here that the freestanding strategy is included, which refers to new infill separate from the existing buildings.

A programmatic framework of low, middle and high-end functions is outlined to further enable the activation of latent spaces. The intervention is nestled within the geometry, history and current needs of the site, morphing from the context. Through using a palimpsetic approach to design with old buildings, a new layer is added to the built fabric whilst adapting and transforming the old to be improved. This approach weaves the fragmented internal and external latent spaces together to form a threshold dialogue where the inner city fabric is regenerated. Furthermore, the dissertation reimagines a building from a single element to a thread of spaces. This action leads to an architecture of dispersed internal spaces, interwoven with open, external communal space, where the realm of the citizen is extended past the existing buildings, in-between the new architecture and up-onto new raised public accessible platforms. Complexity and diversity occur by encouraging brief encounters, greetings and interactions through the diverse programme that mixes multiple stakeholders and activities in the same spaces.