M.Arch (Prof) / The ideology of hospitality, symbolic of travel in a world filled with experiences is sought by us all. The notion of exploration as a result of our curiosity is deeply embedded in our makeup. A profound understanding of the world is one of our greatest endeavours as it is routed in the conception of cognitive thought. We are wired to settle in the most habitable parts of the planet and even then we feel the urge for discovery, we do this in the form of travel. From my own encounters as a young boy, nothing expresses this narrative better than the exhilaration and excitement I felt then I arrived in a new city. My experiences by their very nature were formulated from a multitude of sensory indulgences which were unfamiliar but most intriguing. Drawing comparison came naturally as the mind’s way of evaluating the surroundings and juxtaposing them with those of my home. This analogy was the core principle to interpreting foreign spaces and devising conclusive outlooks. During the time that one absorbs any foreign way of life, the hotel takes care of the traveler's basic needs and contributes significantly to the overall experience, lending to the enjoyment and relaxation of travel both of which are key components. The city itself encapsulates the principals of hospitality as it fundamentally offers the traveler, visitor and the local inhabitant, sustenance, safety, and shelter, essentials that are expected and in place from our early social development. These elements are the most basic necessities to sustain survival and are readily available in any city. In the past, cities were fortified against aggressors by defensive walls which enclosed the city and which apart from their utilitarian function, symbolized the status and sovereignty of the citizens and the grandeur of the city. The entrance to the city was through a befitting imposing gate which demarcated the place of arrival and entry and added to the city's standing. With the progression of time and the advent of rail travel, the city's railway station defined a place of arrival and was often among the grandest structures, designed to impress and declaring lavish opulence and wealth. This thesis investigates the possibilities of creating a place of arrival in Johannesburg both symbolically and factually. Our metropolis, known as the provincial capital of the Gauteng Province, has, due to its rapid expansion in its relatively short life, no recognizable place of arrival. The introduction of the Gautrain Station in the immediate vicinity of Park Station presented an opportunity to link the station to a hotel and creating a pedestrian throughway from the station that passes through the hotel and into the city. The passage way traverses an impressive square with features designed to create an ennobling introduction to the city. The design realizes all the criteria of arrival into the city. It combines the railway station which is the mode of travel, the squares form the introduction to the city, the symbolic entrance is the opening through the hotel building, the hotel structure acts as the city wall and the hotel is the traveler's destination offering all the comforts and sustenance. All this serves to create the right ambiance to encourage tourists to remain in the city rather than proceed elsewhere in the area. Johannesburg is unique and is irreplaceable, it has suffered abandonment and neglect but was once much loved and cherished, it is part of our identity, ours to regain and treasure and deserves a noteworthy place of arrival.

No abstract

Thesis. 1976. M.ArchAS--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Rotch. / Bibliography: leaves 94-97. / M.ArchAS

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / This study was done in relation to contextual levels; A general level of structural-methodical rationalization problems of the planning and design process. This general level was related mainly to the building types which respond to extreme external conditions (such as topography,climate or social economic conditions) The specific level of terrace houses as an example of buildings of that kind and their adaptation process and mechanisms to the external conditions as rational, systematic development process. The S.A.R. approach serves as a background reference for this study. Some proposals were made to adopt the S.A.R design methodology in the case of terrace houses. The 'Morphogical Box' method which was developed by F. Zwicky for the systematic generation of alternative planning solutions was modified and applied in the classification and analysis purposes as well as in structuring the planning and design process to accommodate different external conditions and changing design objectives. These two systematic approaches were applied in the proposals for the rationalization of terrace houses. / by Gabriel M. Nattel. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: p. 104-109. / There are two distinguishable parts to this thesis. Part I is a discourse on architectural representation. It defines the theoretical boundary for Part II, research on a particular spatial representation system, physical models, and their use as a design aid. In Part I, representation is discussed as it pertains to the design process. An opinion is built around the excessive 'visual' nature of the topic. The many types of representation systems are described. Finally, a brief historical survey, as well as two current design processes provide insight into applications of these systems. Part II is the documentation of a research project that attempts to visualize physical phenomena (energy behavior) as they act on physical models representative of architectural form. A statement is put forth postulating a design approach that addresses energy behavior in a 'qualitative' sense based on its comprehension through these established visualization techniques. A procedure for testing physical phenomena on models is described and finally, the documentation of such tests for wind, solar shading, convection and light are presented. A conclusion forecasts potential applications of this research. The multi-disciplinary exploration of visual communications and energy conscious design is addressed in the content, as well as the communicative technique and medium of this presentation. The author is responsible for reproducing all the images in this book. Reproductions from other sources were copied photographically. In its original form several pages were printed in offset. This process was completed entirely by the author, from original photograph to pasteup, printing preparation and running the press. An experimental video production is being prepared as well. / by Donald Alberto. / M.S.

Thesis. 1979. M.Arch--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Frank C. Miller. / M.Arch

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis. 1979. M.Arch--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 84-86. / M.Arch

Thesis. 1979. M.Arch--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: p. 255-260. / M.Arch