Exploring solar energy design systems in peri-urban settlements for responsive architecture: towards the design of a multipurpose upcycling skills centre in Cato Manor.
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Date
2019
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Abstract
Presently, cities are faced with escalating global economic and social challenges in peri-urban
settlements. Despite the severity of these challenges, there remains an urgent need to incorporate
sustainable development approaches within urban and peri-urban municipal structural model.
Together with environmental concerns, sustainable development approaches also need to include
strategies to improve socio-economic issues. South African cities have inherited the burden of the
apartheid city dominance, as seen by the continued urban and spatial segregation. Since the South
African post-apartheid governance, the current approaches implemented towards urban and periurban
development have only aggravated the issues leading to the inefficiency of modern South
African cities. Within the context of the urban fabric, cities are filled with numerous socioeconomic
inequalities which prevent the accessibility of basics services for marginalized
communities. This is most prevalent in peri-urban areas.
This dissertation investigates the possibility of creating an architectural model for developing a
solar energy harvested upcycling centre which can contribute to the concept of Liveable Urbanism
and ultimately empower insurgent communities to resolving their energy crises, and addressing
the various socio-economic and waste pollution challenges they face. Sustainable development is
the primary strategy towards Liveable Urbanism, where it is understood as a process which
involves leading a society on a development pathway that is social, economic and environmentally
sustainable for self-sustenance. This dissertation will further examine how the specific socioeconomic
factors shape the vulnerability of the context in the Cato Manor District as an example
of a peri-urban area faced with these modern socio-economic challenges. The theoretical
framework of “Sustainable Development” will justify the concept of Liveable Urbanism and will
include a literature research to highlight the current socio-economic challenges within these
disadvantaged communities.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.