Architecture

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Adaptable architecture for an evolving educational system : the design of a facility for adult basic education and vocational training in the Greater Warwick Junction Precinct.
(2008) Hartl, Leigh.; Duncan-Brown, Alethea.; Mthethwa, Majahamahle Nene.
Currently in South Africa there are over 8 million people who have had little or no formal schooling. This has resulted in a large portion of the population that is unable to read and write or participate fully in society. The Adult Basic Education and Training Act of 2000 declares that access to education for adults is a basic human right, and it should therefore be readily available to the population. However, in KwaZulu-Natal there are only a few centres which offer ABET courses, and those that do have mostly not been designed specifically for this function, but are schools and community centres. This has meant that facilities are often inappropriate and inefficient in addressing the needs of the adult learner. It is in response to the current educational shortage that a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Training for Durban has been proposed. Through this study, key aspects relating to the design of a centre for adult education were examined. These included the response to an urban context, movement in the city and buildings, the quality of the learning environment, and the needs of the adult learner. In order to develop the architecture for a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training, these principles were analysed and understood in order to make a meaningful response. This research examines some of the complex factors which influence the design of a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training in Durban in order to provide a centre that provides all the necessary services in one building. Primary and secondary data collection methods were used, in the form of interviews, case studies, a literature review and precedent studies. The research was then used in order to draw up a design brief, resulting in the design of a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training.
Adaptive re-use of university buildings : a case study of four academic buildings on the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of Natal.
(2003) Howe, Peter R.; Peters, Walter Hermann.
This study investigates the capacity of buildings to be adapted when required by changing circumstances or situations. Furthermore it has special reference to buildings constructed for academic teaching and research purposes. At the outset the author reviews the reasons for buildings outlasting their original functions and identifying the various possible causes for the change . The ability to sustain modifications and the varying extent of the modification is established with examples being cited of both commercial and academic typologies. The thesis then explores some examples of early adaptions of buildings such as basilicas and the influence on the architecture of the early and later Christian churches. In later years cathedrals and monasteries became the precursor of the early universities that were born out of the evolution of secular teaching and education and the need for repositories for books. The architecture and form of these buildings was dictated largely by the development of the towns into cities and the concurrent need to expand these centres of learning . The history of the University of Natal is discussed from the years preceding its formal inception and subsequent interventions relating to the development of the Pietermaritzburg campus . A model upon which a measure may be made of four buildings of differing era's and occupancy are discussed identifying their original plan form and the changes that have ensued over three decades. These modifications are critically evaluated and tabulated graphically thereby indicating the comparative changes as a ratio of the area of the change against the area of the entire building. The notable Old Main Building was found to be a rigid building , built in load bearing brickwork and large high ceilinged spaces that sub-divide with ease while ensuring the retention of its integrity. Conversely the Main Science Building , a reinforced concrete framed structure with brick in-fill, is of an amorphous plan shape that lends itself to modification at the expense of its external character. The Rabie Sanders Building , a formal neo-classical building of framed reinforced concrete construction with face brickwork in-fill and a rigid facade does not, by virtue of its plan form and elevation , have the capacity for external alteration but has the potential for extensive internal. Finally the New Arts Building , a linear five storey precast reinforced concrete structure with free standing continuous modular window provides infinite variability of the interior whilst the exterior remains unaffected and there is no possibility of extending. The changes, varying in complexity and extent, clearly indicate that the buildings are indeed malleable and with creative planning, the changes can have an enhancing impact on the internal spaces. This information should considered as a working guide to provide the institution with pointers for the future design of campus buildings.
Adaptive reuse in context: towards sustainable mixed - use housing in Durban.
(2011) Dobrev, Dimitar Vladimirov.; Luckan, Yashaen.
In this dissertation the process of adaptive reuse – the recycling or rehabilitation of buildings – is analysed in terms of the tenets of sustainability and place theories as construed in the field of architecture, as well as within the context of architectural and urban theory and history. The dissertation demonstrates how different approaches to adaptive reuse result in a sustainable architecture that is responsive to its context. Adaptive reuse is the historically normal practice of recycling buildings. Initially, the research focused on the relationship between old and new buildings; how is the new synthesised with the old, and what are the values of this relationship? It soon became evident that by today’s definition of sustainability in architecture, the practice of recycling buildings, and indeed the partial modification of buildings, came very close to fulfilling the ‘ideologies’ of sustainability. This research paper reconciles the history and practice of adaptive reuse, with the currently popular theories of sustainability and Place Theory. The pursuit of sustainability (Chapter One), in terms of architecture and building, results in part from the forces of rapid urbanisation, impending and/or perceived food, water and resource shortages, and the linear metabolism of the modernist built environment. A detailed review of related concepts and theories in Chapter Two, aim at giving the reader a better understanding of the context of adaptive reuse in this paper. The author has used the concepts and theories as tools for research (in Part I - Dissertation) and analysis (in Part II - Design). Chapter Three looks at three approaches to adaptive reuse – conservation, preservation and demolition – and relates them to the tenets of sustainability, as well as the concepts and theories laid out in Chapter One and Two. Specifically, each approach to adaptive reuse is contextualised in terms of the economic, environmental and social agendas of sustainability, which include both quantitative and qualitative aspects such as eco-efficiency and Place theory respectively. Chapter Four is a case study of the Bartel Arts Trust (BAT) Centre, Durban, South Africa. The study provides the historic, cultural and climatic settings, or contexts, of the conservation project, and relates these contexts to the architect’s approach to adaptive reuse. A carefully designed questionnaire has been used to identify those qualitative aspects which are otherwise unattainable through interview, review or perceptual observation. The case study also integrates the concepts and theories which underpin the topic, thereby contextualising the study in terms of this paper.
Addressing adolescent healthcare environment through responsive architecture : a youth and community health centre for Durban.
(2018) Kajee, Aadila.; Cloete, Magdalena.
Architecture has the capacity to have either a positive or negative impact on its users. Designing architecture which is responsive to the needs of its users is therefore of import and is particularly relevant to healthcare environments which rely on the built environment to provide spaces which promote healing and foster spaces which cater for patients’ physical, psychological and social health needs. However, the importance which architecture holds beyond facilitating functional spaces is often overlooked which has implications on the patients who tend to feel more miserable and uncomfortable in these environments, thereby affecting their healing processes. This is of particular concern to adolescent patients as they fall into a transitional stage of development during which, they experience biological, psychological and social changes which impact their development, decision making and life trajectory. As adolescents may present needs which differ from the child or adult patient, providing healthcare environments which are responsive to their specific needs is therefore necessary to maximize healing and ensure quality healthcare. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore how architecture which is responsive to the adolescent patient can be fully utilised towards creating a healthcare environment which promotes holistic wellbeing. The theoretical framework is made up of socio-developmental theories, environmental psychology theories and place theories, which together with the literature, relevant precedents and case studies highlight the connection between the physical, spatial, social and personal environments of the adolescent patient and healing. A qualitative research methodology approach is taken from a phenomenological perspective, as the research focuses on the experiences and interpretations of participants. Participants include built environment professionals experienced in designing healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals who have provided care to adolescents and young adults and adolescents who have utilised healthcare facilities during their adolescence. Research instruments include interviews which use imagery to convey ideas and which allows for the adolescents to express their own ideas through illustrations. The analysis of research findings further cement ideas brought forward in the theoretical frameworks, literature, precedents and case studies, using the concept of healing and sub-concepts of symbiotic architecture, responsive architecture and generative architecture, as means to connect these aspects. Cumulatively, these inform design guidelines which present ways in which healthcare environments can consider the physical, social and psychological needs of the adolescent patient, towards a youth and community health centre.
Afrocentric placemaking and architecture in contemporary urban built form: a case of Bulawayo’s civic precinct, Zimbabwe.
(2019) Mthethwa, Majahamahle Nene.; Adebayo, Ambrose Adeyemi.
Inspired by Afrocentrism ideologists such as Molefi Kete Asante (2007), the researcher advocates for non-dominance of one community by any other, as this has created problems across sub-Saharan Africa. The social phenomenon of internal colonialism thrives on cultural authoritarianism that the ruling elites or dominant social groups accentuate through the built environment. This study explored collectively accepted makings of Afrocentric sources that would inspire Afrocentric placemaking and architecture in contemporary urban built form and promote social equality, justice and a sense of belonging. The study of these Afrocentric sources would motivate architects to design contemporary local built environments that respond to African value systems. The study focused on the Mthwakazi Nation’s historic capital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A mixed method approach was adopted, with a qualitative method applied generally and a quantitative one locally. Special consideration was given to concerns such as African cosmological orientation, culture and identity that pivoted indigenous legal, political, governance and economic institutions. This enabled a narration of precolonial built forms. Various concepts and theories such as placemaking, social identity, symbolic interaction theory, Afrocentricity and existential theory were drawn on to explore the possibility of contemporary architectural design and urbanism that captures the African worldview. Given their ability to exhibit identity phenomena, the focus was civic spaces and buildings. International precedents such as the Sydney Opera House and its linkage to the Bennelong House in Australia, which demonstrate the extent to which Australia has taken on the mantle of European culture and the significance of historical events as a source of inspiration in urban placemaking. Symbolic interactionism evokes indigenous ecological features to encourage creation of locally responsive built Page | viii environments. The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature is presented in this study as a typical example. Built forms and parallel historical developments were examined from the precolonial, to the colonial and postcolonial periods to identify appropriate Afrocentric sources for contemporary placemaking. In Zimbabwe, Shona traditional built forms were anchored by Great Zimbabwe while King Lobengula’s historical settlement of koBulawayo reflects amaNdebele architectural developments that date back to KwaZulu. Both kinds of traditional settlements provide indicators to Afrocentric sources for envisaged strategies in placemaking and architecture in African cities. To the African mind circularity and movement capture what the cosmos represents. Movement is rhythmic, regular and seasonal. With respect to symbolic interactionism, circularity and movement is how the cosmos reflects itself to an African mind; hence the criticality of organic and rhythmic motion in his/her art and architecture. The study contends that the Collective Centred Afrocentric Placemaking (CCAP) knowledge model is to assist the conceptualisation of Afrocentric placemaking and architecture in contemporary urban built form and thus create an authentically existential sense of belonging in African cities.
AIDS and architecture : the study of an interaction : architectural responses to the development of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2008) Bingham, Kevin Gary.
AIDS has established itself over more than three decades as a major international pandemic3. While initial cases of the disease were documented in 1981 in the USA and Europe, cases in Africa became known at around the same time. It is however probable that the disease existed in Africa long before this time (Pratt, 1986:17). Due to the prominence of the AIDS epidemic and its related opportunistic diseases in South Africa and most acutely in KwaZulu-Natal (Smith, 2002 and South African Department of Health Report 2006) , the associated impact of the need for care of those living with and those affected by the virus has been brought to the fore. The accommodation of these persons occurs in a variety of building forms and types, and may vary depending on the stage within the individual’s health cycle related to the impact of the virus. With the advent of medication, termed anti-retroviral therapy, designed to retard the development of the virus, life expectancy has been extended, but with no confirmed cure and viral resistances, death is inevitable. While those living with the virus may continue to live productive lives for some time, the infirm largely seek care within medical facilities. Should access to formal health services be difficult due to remoteness or a lack of transport, such people are often cared for within the homes of surviving family members – often by children - or by their community. With the largest impact on the population being found within the 20 – 29 age bracket in the late 1990's (Smith, 1999: HIV Positive Results, June 1998), shifting to the 25 – 34 age bracket from 2003 onwards (South African Department of Health Report 2006), tertiary education institutions, through their clinics, have increasingly dealt with the management of student and staff health. Other building types affected by the AIDS epidemic4 include prisons and mortuaries, while care for those remaining behind after the death of family members to AIDS is usually within children’s homes or street shelters. The impact of AIDS on the built environment professions will permeate its way to all involved. Through selected case studies one will observe the impact of the epidemic on existing facilities and examine current methods employed to accommodate the problem. Architects, through the modification of existing structures or through the design of new facilities, are assisting in the struggle. New methods of dealing with the care of patients are being considered as well as alternative and innovative design approaches. This includes the need for flexibility of building layouts and universal design. Most proposals in the researched context require cost effective and workable solutions. Hope for the future lies with the management of the virus through medication, enabling the extension of life expectancies. Architects need to adapt to the incumbent problem while medical researchers develop a workable vaccine to confine HIV/ AIDS to the history books with the likes of Bubonic Plague, Smallpox and Typhus. It is through good architectural design and detailing that Architects can assist in the AIDS fight. This can be achieved firstly through research – gaining an understanding of the AIDS Brief – then designing for the specific needs for the infected and affected. These needs will include comfort, accessibility, anthropometrics, ease of maintenance, affordability, ventilation and illumination conducive to good health, and sustainability. Architects therefore have a major role to play within this epidemic.
An architectural response to holistic healing principles: towards a natural healing retreat in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Ramjiawan, Nirdosh Hemraj.; Solis-Arias, Juan Ignacio.
Cancer patients often face stress and anxiety due to the uncertainty of their treatment and the severity of their illness. The built-form environment can have a positive impact on their physiological well-being and their natural healing process, but many modern healthcare facilities are designed mainly for functionality and efficiency, neglecting the empathy and care that patients need. The experience of place and patient emotion is frequently ignored, resulting in healthcare environments that are sterile and homogenous. This thesis inquiry explores the architectural problem of designing oncology treatment facilities that incorporate the principles of holistic healing and stimulate natural healing for cancer patients. The research explores how the built-form environment can influence not only the physiological well-being, but also the emotional and psychological comfort of cancer patients and investigates patient-centred holistic healing environments that are stimulating and supportive. The research methodology is qualitative from an interpretivist approach, focusing on the experiences and interpretations of participants. Data collection was done through observation, semi-structured interviews, precedent analysis, and a critical review of published literature. The research highlights the need for healing environments that prioritize patients' holistic health and additionally their stress and anxiety reduction. Design principles are derived from topical inquiry and architectural investigation, considering the patient-centred experience and psychological well-being of oncology patients. The analysis of these findings develops strategies for improving the patient experience and supporting their emotional and mental well-being in healthcare settings.
An architectural response to homelessness: a proposed transitional shelter in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.
(2022) Chetty , Lawrence; Govender, Viloshin
Abstract available in PDF.
An exploration of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder through architecture: towards an inclusive education facility in greater Durban.
(2023) Calvert , Gareth Michael; Cloete , Magdalena Catharina
Abstract available in PDF.
An exploration of social interaction through the built environment environment: towards a recreational center in KwaDukuza.
(2022) Naidoo, Preben.; Ogunsanya, Lawrence Babatunde.
This abstract looks at social interaction when referring to the constructed environment, particularly emphasising a recreation facility in KwaDukuza. The study aims to investigate how social dynamics and community involvement affect built environment design. Inclusion and diversity will be emphasized in the design of the recreation facility, which will provide a range of recreational opportunities and amenities to accommodate a range of age groups, interests, and abilities. The design and layout will be carefully considered to promote chance encounters, teamwork, and visitor socialization. A qualitative method approach was used to conduct an exhaustive review of relevant information, enabling a thorough comprehension of the topic. Qualitative interviews were held to learn more about a smaller group of participants' experiences and viewpoints. The study and triangulation of the results from the data provided an in-depth and complete grasp of the research issue. This method ensured a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the exploration issues by permitting an in-depth exploration of social interaction in the built environment. It will become clear from the study's findings that the recreational center is crucial for promoting social cohesiveness and neighbourhood ties. It can be a focal point for various social events, such as sporting events, cultural gatherings, and educational courses. The centre aims to give locals a venue for meaningful interaction, connection, and relationshipbuilding, ultimately enhancing the KwaDukuza community's social fabric. The center's effectiveness as a gathering place will also be aided by its advantageous location, accessible infrastructure, and eco-friendly features. Green areas, seating areas, and gathering places were incorporated to promote social interaction and community among the visitors. Overall, studying social interaction in KwaDukuza's built environment will emphasize the value of well-designed recreation areas as engines for civic participation and cohesiveness. Future urban planning projects will be informed by the study's findings, which highlight the importance of including social interaction components in the design of public places to build stronger communities.
Applying staff experiences and expectations of an optimum environment for psychiatric care toward a holistic design of an inpatient psychiatric facility in KZN.
(2016) Goosen, Angela.; Ramlall, Suvira.; Horner, Bridget Marian.
This research paper consists of three key time lines within the evolution of the inpatient psychiatric facilities: the past (local and international), the present (within Kwa-Zulu Natal), and a move toward an improved design model for KwaZulu Natal which considers therapeutic milieu and the end-user needs. This approach seeks to provide valuable insight toward the development of the built form, and how it has impacted the quality of life of the healthcare users who are detained within these facilities, and those who provide their care and treatment. Throughout history, and still evident today in South Africa, the predominant style of psychiatric institutions, is the asylum style of architecture. The historical asylum model, used the built form as a measure to control, detain and confine the mentally ill who were believed to be deviant individuals who, as Markus (1993:95) describes, brought “chaos into the social order of normal society”. During the 17th and 18th centuries, various architectural models were established, based on different beliefs and ideas of how to treat and house the mentally ill. Based on these differing ideas, the design of psychiatric institutions “occupies an unstable space between prison and hospital” (Markus (1993:130). Towards the 21st century, there has been growing trends toward community based care and therapeutic environments however inpatient facilities within KwaZulu Natal still resemble highly institutional-like environments, which are not conducive to the care and recovery of patients, and the working environment of the staff. The primary research therefore focuses on creating an optimum environment for therapeutic care and patient rehabilitation, based on an understanding of care-giver experiences and expectations of inpatient psychiatric facilities. Based on the theory of salutogenesis and therapeutic environment theory, core themes including one’s functional, social, and psychological needs, have been used to assess the evolution of the built form, and how this can be used to inform future architectural design of Psychiatric Inpatient facilities for acutely mentally ill adult male and female patients.
Architectural approach that facilitates traditional medicine and biomedicine integration towards a design for an UNAIDS Research Institute in the Valley of a Thousand Hills - Bothas Hill, KZN.
(2014) Danisa, Linda Mimi Precious.; Ojo-Aromokudu, Judith Tinuke.
The purpose of this research document is to determine an appropriate architectural approach for the design of an UNAIDS Research Institute, in Valley of a Thousand Hills, Bothas Hill, KZN. Medical research is essential in the pursuit to discover new diagnostic procedures and treatment to advance the quality of people‘s lives. Biomedical research has always dominated the South African medical practice and pharmaceuticals although other medicinal systems such as traditional medicine practice existed first in the country (WHO 2001). After being demoralized and being inferior to biomedicine for a long time, in 2008 10th of July, the Department of Health (DoH) presented a draft policy to institutionalize African traditional medicine in the healthcare system of the country (DoH 2008). Since then, the main challenge that is facing both traditional medicine and biomedicine practices has been the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Furthermore, up to 90% of people living with HIV/AIDS consult traditional health practitioners first before visiting biomedical practitioners (Morris 2001). The South African Medical Research Council (MRC SA)‘s concern regarding several uncertified traditional medicine products on the market has led them to propose the validation of the traditional medicines using sound scientific methods acceptable to international standards through their Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Health Lead Programme (IKS Lead Programme) (MRC SA 2013) . Consequently, this research‘s aim is to study the processes and environment for traditional medicine and biomedicine research in order to integrate them in one built-form for further investigation. Additionally, this research investigates the design tools for suitable builtenvironment approaches through the exploration of the theories of Biophilia, Genius loci and Critical Regionalism with the aim of creating built-form that respects its environment, improves user‘s wellbeing and enhances the research of both traditional medicine and biomedicine. Furthermore this research studies the existing research facilities precedents based on chosen theories principles. Finally, this research studies the local case studies that facilitate traditional medicine preparation in non-scientific method: KwaZihlahla Zemithi Pharmacy, scientific traditional medicine research: UKZN Traditional Medicine Laboratory and strictly biomedical research K- Rith Tower Building.
An architectural interventionist approach to urban revitilisation : a proposed hotel for Durban's waterfront.
(2011) McTavish, Gordon.; Mthethwa, Majahamahle Nene.
Having been founded on the basis of trade through its port, Durban has progressively evolved and grown. However, as a result of the dependence on the port, a physical and intangible disconnection has developed between the city fabric and *water’s edge. This has manifested itself in the road and rail connection along the Margaret Mncadi Avenue (formerly the Victoria Embankment) creating a barrier between the city and its edge. As a result of this lack of integration, another issue has arisen: ‘lost space’. This space is undesirable and not conducive to a good city image for the central business district. It becomes apparent that with these factors, there is due cause for an investigation for revitalisation and as Richard Marshall suggests in ‘Waterfronts in Post Industrial Cities’, that using the highly visible urban environment of the waterfront as a tool for revitalisation of the area (Waterfront’s in Post Industrial Cities: 2001, 2) and, in the long term - the revitalisation of the city. Studies of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Baltimore’s Inner Harbour and Seattle’s waterfront provide insight as to how these interventions uplifted and revitalised these respective cities. Key outcomes of these precedent studies include the mixed-use nature at the waterfront, connections to the city fabric, promenade, open space and a pavilion-like architecture. Most integral to the findings are the inclusion of all dynamics of people who inhabit the surrounding areas utilising the waterfront, making it both an attractive urban locality and a safe urban environment. The inclusion of the cross-section of city dwellers amounts in the mixed-use nature of the waterfront. It is therefore apparent that on the micro scale, the urban intervention should be of a mixed-use nature, further to which, the dire need for hotels in the region of the waterfront, as well as Durban as a whole, point to an intervention by virtue of a mixed-use hotel. From the investigation into the case studies, the design parameters further outline where the intervention needs to address the street edge and public realm, creating a precedent for waterfront design with the intention of the urban design linking the city and water’s edge. The end consequence of such design parameters would be to make the waterfront physically accessible for the purposes of leisure, recreation and commerce for tourists and Durbanites alike. *water’s edge specifically refers to the edge along Margaret Mncadi avenue strecthing between Wilson’s Wharf and the Bat centre, including the Yacht Basin.
An architectural plan for preventative care of the aged : addressing the need for a holistic centre for the aged, merging rehabilitation and well-being, in South Africa.
(2010) Haynes, Anthony Robert.; Githitu, Mahinda.
The purpose of this research document is to understand the social issues that are generated from a globally ageing demographic, which relate to the aged identity and the current care environments available to them. Research will be conducted under the hypothesis that the design of a strategically sited care facility which, grouped with facilities that pertain to the care of the aged, could improve the quality of life for the elderly whilst promoting intergenerational connectivity. It is also hoped that ageist stereotypes could be abridged by lowering the dependency of the elderly on care providers by providing preventative and post operative rehabilitative care. The scope of the work is limited to the urban context of South Africa's ageing population primarily based on the current trend of mass urbanisation, after the abolition of the Apartheid government, which is creating a new family dynamic within South Africa where the care of the elderly is shifting onto medical institutions and care facilities. The demand for aged care facilities and the lack of resources in the field of aged care potentially create a situation where medical facilities are unnecessarily overburdened. An architectural response was generated through an investigation of current literature, case studies, precedent studies and personally conducted interviews with a number of aged care professionals. The research was conducted from a global standpoint and then focused towards issues that affect the aged individuals identity and care. The goal of this research was ultimately to inform the design of a care facility within Pietermaritzburg that is responsive to the needs of the elderly whilst being innovative towards its approach of aged care within a community.
Architectural psychology and its impact on child development : a proposed educational facility for physically disabled children.
(2011) Mistrey, Mitasha.; Mthethwa, Majahamahle Nene.
The modern world is rapidly advancing towards a technological age where every aspect of people’s lives revolves around scientific innovations and consumerism. These advancements have allowed architects to traverse many boundaries and the design of buildings almost seems limitless. However, this has also caused a shift in architecture to focus on the visual aspects of buildings. Most human beings are born with the use of all of their senses and it is through this that we use, understand and appreciate the built environment. However, if a building fails to entice one’s sense of touch or even smell, then architecture has lost its true meaning; that of designing for people and not solely for consumerism. More often than not, children are also avid users of buildings and architecture, which has lost its essence of appealing to all of our senses, also loses its fascination to children as well. Early childhood is the stage in life where people use their senses to the fullest capacity and it is through the perception of our surroundings that we learn, form meanings and identities. This dissertation thus aims to understand how the built environment psychologically affects children and how also, children perceive their surroundings. With that in mind, the purpose of this dissertation is twofold. Firstly, it sets out to investigate aspects of architectural psychology/perception and its relation to children and secondly, it will seek to understand how physical disabilities such as blindness and mobility impairments impact upon the design of buildings. This will set the brief for the design of an Educational Facility for Physically Disabled children, where all of these characteristics will be considered. Through this study, specific characteristics of architectural psychology will be investigated. These include the following: understanding the human senses, sensory emotions and experiences, the effects of colour and light, legibility, wayfinding, place identity related to personal identity and thus critical regionalism and phenomenology. Lastly, the importance of creating sustainable environments and the importance of nature to children will also be looked into, as well as creating safety for children in any type of environment. This research will study the multi – faceted aspects that comprise architecture for the disabled. Therefore, the research will encompass both primary and secondary sources, including relevant precedent and case studies. This research will ultimately provide a design brief, which will inform the eventual outcome for the design of an Educational Facility for Physically Disabled Children.
An architectural response to Durban's existing car culture to promote social and economic development: towards the design of a multi-purpose motor sport facility.
(2018) Chetty, Priyen.; Govender, Viloshin.
Owing to the non-existence of a dedicated automotive facility in Durban, car enthusiasts have been forced to use spaces which are not designed for the purpose of facilitating related activities, such as drag racing, drifting and car shows. These uncontrolled, social, „third‟ spaces have become notorious for illegal racing activities and social issues which include violence, motor vehicle accidents and the consumption of alcohol in public spaces. Conversely, twenty four years into democracy, South Africa is still one of the most unequal societies in the world. It is argued that poverty and unemployment levels are in a state of crisis and could disrupt the socio-economic stability of the country. The lack of skilled personnel is one of the major contributors to social immobility and poverty in South Africa. Education and skills development have been identified as the key to alleviate poverty and create employment opportunities. Skilled entrepreneurs create job opportunities, which employ skilled employees, which in turn create sustainable livelihoods. Therefore, this study will explore Durban‟s car culture and identify the social and economic development opportunities in order to empower society through architectural spaces. The literature, precedent and case studies explored are underpinned by social and architectural theories. The research herein will inform the design of a multi-purpose motorsport facility in Durban.
Architectural response to environmental conflicts caused by pollution: towards a waste incineration and eco-educational facility in the South Durban Basin.
(2018) Sewraj, Kiyara.; Solis-Arias, Juan Ignacio.
This research considers the South Durban Basin area in KwaZulu-Natal as an industrial city. It highlights the framework that moulds the city’s infrastructure, including changes that could be implemented from an ecological perspective. By responding effectively to challenges that the city faces, and essentially changing how it functions in relation to the pollution and environmental issues encountered, it can become a more sustainable city. Government, business and society alike need to gravitate towards an approach of creating environments which are adaptive to change. The concept of sustainability, Theory of Perception and the New Urban Agenda will be investigated in this research, which will help to inform the foundation for a sustainable framework for this nature of urban infrastructure. The study will also exclusively explore the South Durban Basin as a whole, and the effects of apartheid that has led to the city’s appalling environmental capacity being where it is today. Through a holistic approach, it will lead the research to accomplish a great environmental initiative through architectural design development, as well as economic and social impact.
An architectural response to lost urban and contested post-apartheid spaces: a social housing scheme for Greyville.
(2020) Sirbadhoo, Neshay.; Ogunsanya, Lawrence Babatunde.
Land is currently a hotly contested topic within South Africa, with the essential notion being that land is a right. However, within the South African context, due to the legacy of apartheid, land is not simply just a commodity, but also an emotional issue. Existing literature suggests that land is a historical and social right, in which all members of society should have access, irrespective of their financial status. However in the postapartheid city, this does not reflect. The apartheid legislature and spatial planning principles fostered the creation of lost urban and contested spaces through methods such as exploitation, expropriation and segregation through the forced removal.
An architectural response to social cohesion : towards the design of a cultural interchange center in Durban.
(2016) Kasule, Sophie Tandokazi.; Mthethwa, Majahamahle Nene.
Social cohesion has become an important construct in post-Apartheid South African society (Department of Art and Culture, 2012). But its roots lie beyond the history and borders of South Africa. This dissertation will discuss how international concepts of social cohesion first emerged from the literature of social capital and were later implemented as strategies to promote unity within neighborhood communities. Thereafter, this dissertation discusses how this concept was adopted by the department of Art and Culture as part of National Development Plan for 2030, and was consequently linked to the concept of Nation Building (Palmary, 2015: 32). A review of recent literature and speeches on social cohesion in South Africa further explore that if the strategy were fully facilitated by all aspects of society, it could unite South Africa’s disintegrated nation. During this review, however, specific focus is to be placed on the fact that very little research exists to show how the concept can be used in an architectural response – particularly within a South African context. Initially, this dissertation argues that a society currently built on racial division, economic inequality and classism, needs active interventions which feed into the lived experiences of society. Thereafter, utilizing the current literature, several case studies, precedent studies and key interviews, this dissertation highlight that an architectural response instigated by social cohesion is one that shapes the interface between diverse groups. The discussion ultimately illustrates that providing a platform for a range of possibilities for the co-existence of a heterogenic society through economic empowerment and cultural acknowledgment (Gri, 2010: 862) can only be fully realized through the built environment. Integrated with this discussion, a proposed method will set the discourse of both the primary and secondary research into three components: social, economic and the built environment components enhancing INTERACTION, INTERCHANGE and INTEGRATION, respectively. This discussion will be further facilitated through the incorporation of the concepts of spatial solidarity, the theory of sense of place, and human perception and semiology. The research will culminate in the design of a Cultural Interchange Center in Durban. Based on a comprehensive review of the recent literature, several precedent studies and case studies, and qualitative interviews with informed participants, the design process for this Cultural Interchange Center will serve as a reaction to the defined social problems faced by South Africa. The end design consequentially becomes a center of cultural and skills interchange generating social cohesion through economic empowerment – thereby fully expressing the concept of social cohesion (and its inherent roots) in the built form.
An architectural response to traditional and contemporary display of art : a case study for Durban.
(2007) Van Soelen, Kyria.; Wilson, Anthony.; Van Heerden, Derek.
See abstract in full text document.

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