An Economic Enablement hub : an exploration through architecture as an enabling device

Abstract

The question of context in architecture theory has become more complex and controversial as globalization, urbanisation and resource scarcity have added yet more layers to the debate (O’Donnell 2016:380). As these aspects increasingly enter every facet of our lives, its effect on architecture has resulted in a development approach that is exploitative of people, nature and culture (Fioramonti 2017:3). This study argues that working with scarcity in a productive manner could lead to an alternative approach for development. A critical look at the continuum of architectural discourse and its engagement with issues of context will place the debate in a broad historical context which ranges from theories posed by Vitruvius to current theories on the vernacular, to establish the role of the architect as an enabler of social space. An in-depth context analysis of the spatial logics found in Mamelodi East (City of Tshwane, South Africa) will consider the spatial relationship and rules of engagement that allow certain patterns of living and public exchange to emerge. This paper argues that there are key lessons to be learnt from this logic because of the way in which people are resolving daily problems under the construction of scarcity. Till (2014:9) argues that scarcity will become an inevitable feature of modern life. However, these limits will not lead to the end of design or an emasculated version of it, but will rather open up new fields in which the designer may operate. The strength thus lies in defining a response to a vernacular through its understanding of scarcity and the rules of engagement in which new roles and opportunities through architecture can emerge.

Konteks in argitektuurteorie word meer kompleks en kontroversieel soos globalisering, verstedeliking en hulpbronskaarste meer lae by die debat voeg (O’Donnell 2016: 380). Namate hierdie aspekte elke faset van ons lewe betree, lei dit tot ‘n ontwikkelingsbenadering wat die uitbuiting van mense, natuur en kultuur tot gevolg het (Fioramonti 2017: 3). Hierdie studie is van mening dat die produktiewe omgang met skaarste, ‘n alternatiewe benadering tot ontwikkeling kan wees. ‘n Kritiese ontleding van argitektoniese diskoers en die dissipline se betrokkenheid by kontekstuele kwessies plaas die debat in ‘n breë historiese konteks - van Vitrivius tot die hedendaagse teorieë - om sodoende die rol van die argitek as ‘n fasiliteerder van sosiale ruimte te identifiseer. ‘n In-diepte konteksanalise van die ruimtelike logika van Mamelodi- Oos (Tshwane, Suid-Afrika), sal die verhouding en onderliggende reëls vir sosiale en ruimtelike interaksie ontleed. Dit is hierdie verhouding wat sekere lewenstylpatrone en sosiale interaksie moontlik maak. Hierdie studie beweer dat daar belangrike lesse uit hierdie logika geleer kan word, omdat mense, temidde van die skaarste aan hulpbronne, hulle daaglikse probleme oplos. Till (2014:9) beweer dat skaarsheid ‘n onvermydelike aspek van die moderne lewe sal word. Hierdie beperkinge sal nie noodwendig tot die einde van ontwerp of ‘n magtelose weergawe daarvan lei nie, maar sal eerder nuwe uitdagings vir die ontwerper bied. Die waarde lê daarin om deur ‘n studie van die volkstaalargitektuur wat op die skaarsheid van hulpbronne en die reëls vir sosiale interaksie gebasseer is, nuwe rolle en geleenthede vir formele argitektuur te skep.