This project is a point of departure for re-thinking one of the major tools of interior design practice - the wall. Ubiquitous in nature, the wall has a seemingly straightforward and simplistic understanding. The focus of this project is to re-examine it’s typical understanding, and re-situate it’s poetic presence within the built environment through a designed intervention. Through investigating theoretical concepts such as boundary, interiority and threshold, along with memory, trace, and void; an evolution of wall into poché begins to ensue. Poché is an alternate term used here to regard the hidden depth and dimensionality of the wall. Through an adaptive reuse methodology, a new use for a derelict industrial building in North St. Boniface has been redesigned into a community center for members of that given neighbourhood. Overall, the study facilitated a fresh understanding of both terms - poché and wall - then subsequently translated those findings into a designed interior.

This project is a point of departure for re-thinking one of the major tools of interior design practice - the wall. Ubiquitous in nature, the wall has a seemingly straightforward and simplistic understanding. The focus of this project is to re-examine it’s typical understanding, and re-situate it’s poetic presence within the built environment through a designed intervention. Through investigating theoretical concepts such as boundary, interiority and threshold, along with memory, trace, and void; an evolution of wall into poché begins to ensue. Poché is an alternate term used here to regard the hidden depth and dimensionality of the wall. Through an adaptive reuse methodology, a new use for a derelict industrial building in North St. Boniface has been redesigned into a community center for members of that given neighbourhood. Overall, the study facilitated a fresh understanding of both terms - poché and wall - then subsequently translated those findings into a designed interior.

This practicum focuses on the issues of the overlapping boundaries between Student housing and downtown redevelopment. Can graduate students find a place in the downtown to meet their need for off-campus housing, and simultaneously help build a healthy, vibrant, downtown community; ensuring the housing facility represents a quality space for both graduate students and the local community? The following is an investigation of related issues including: Richard Florida’s notion of the Creative Class, multi-purpose development, the university as an urban catalyst, and adaptive reuse. The combination of graduate housing and the city’s downtown redevelopment will create new design typology that benefits both graduate students and downtown community. The practicum project consists of a live/work space for Winnipeg in the Waterfront area by adaptively reusing the James Ave Pumping Station building. The renovated building includes a bookstore, a coffee shop, a daycare, and an urban grocery store. However, the design focuses on the informal learning space and the quality of graduate students’ living experience through aspects such as accommodation, study space, meeting and casual spaces.

Bifurcated by a demilitarized United Nations Buffer Zone since 1974, Nicosia is the only divided capital city in Europe. In 1979, its dual municipalities devised a radical, bicommunal Master Plan to mitigate some of the buffer zone’s divisionary effects and to revitalize the city center. This thesis examines the role of historic preservation within the Nicosia Master Plan, investigating the development of the plan’s preservation element and evaluating how the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings on either side of the barrier have promoted peaceful interaction and spurred economic growth and resettlement in the central city. Population growth, the booming heritage tourism industry, and the proliferation of bicommunal cultural events all indicate the successful implementation of these strategies. Of interest to preservationists, planners, and policymakers faced with divisive and nontraditional planning challenges, this is a timely topic that reveals the potential for preservation strategies to effect lasting urban revitalization.

Thesis (MTech (Interior Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / This research is about the spaces between places in urban settings, also referred to as "Interiorscapes", a term coined by Paul Cooper (2003). These spaces are often overlooked by developers and urban planners in their vision of the bigger scheme yet they function as extensions of the habitable spaces in buildings and contribute to the overall structure and understanding of a place. If disregarded these spaces can potentially become neglected and derelict inadvertently sanctioning opportunities for crime. In Cape Town, the proposed developments at the Two Rivers Urban Park in partnership with the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town, offer an opportunity to explore the inclusion of Interiorscapes in adaptive reuse projects aimed at creating sustainable commercial urban spaces in Cape Town. This interpretive qualitative research was conducted by exploring proposals made for two of the districts within the Two Rivers Urban Park area; (1) Oude Molen Ecovillage, currently a mixed-use sustainable neighborhood, and (2) the River Club where planning is currently underway to develop a commercialised recreational hub and tourist attraction. These sites were identified as study areas as they offer the potential for the implementation of Interiorscapes in adaptive reuse projects. Using a Grounded Theory approach, data was collected by interviewing the stakeholders, reviewing the proposals drawn up for these developments and through observations made when visiting the sites. Using the principles of New Urbanism, data has been analysed and the findings are presented as a narrative. The findings of this research indicate that ultimately the inclusion of Interiorscapes and all they represent is tied up in politics and economic processes monopolised by developers. The construct of Interiorscapes becomes a metaphor for the wellconsidered, well planned, user centered, ‘bottom-up’ design solutions which in the current context may present as a challenging problem which has no apparent solution. Recommendations are made for sustainable design alternatives to the current building and planning practices in Cape Town for adaptive reuse projects through the introduction of Interiorscapes.

How do we introduce new buildings in complex urban environments? Urbanist Jan Gehl (2010:97) argues that rapid developments in building technologies, social and economical sciences have resulted in an unprecedented amount of urban areas transforming into stand alone buildings. This phenomenon describes the shifting focus of architectural ideals from masterfully detailed buildings nested in an urban context to monstrous rapidly-erected ‘visionary’ districts. The voids of the city, generally disregarded and under appreciated in the greater context of Pretoria CBD, are taken as the containers of contextually relevant informants which can be extracted and utilised in a contextual response to site. Due to the vague nature of these empty spaces, they provide opportunities for new processes to unfold. By treating unprogrammed and ancillary space with the same importance as programmed space, the architecture does not stand alone, but exists in a symbiotic relationship with its surroundings, achieving a truly contextual response. The objective of the thesis is to identify the emergent processes which are occurring on the site on the corner of Paul Kruger and Struben Street - a void rooted in the gaps of existing institutions. Once identified, these processes are then extrapolated and transformed to be utilised as tools for catalytic changes, resisting a strategic approach to regeneration. The result of the contextual understanding is realised in the design of an urban place of education, borrowing from existing processes and providing an enriching layer to the urban environment. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / Unrestricted

Though constructed less than 60 years ago, the Berrals building, situated in the Tshwane Inner City has been identified as a place of historical and national significance. Its importance can be attributed to the designer, Wynand Smit of the architectural firm Smit and Viljoen, who contributed to the establishment of Pretoria Regionalism in the Transvaal (Gerneke 1998:216) and the fact that the building is one of only a few remaining examples of the Brazilian influence on Pretoria Regionalism during the 1950’s. At this point in time the structure is in dire need of an intervention due to its deteriorating state. The strong modern heritage of the building required recognition in the proposed intervention and a study of modern principles and its regional mutations became paramount in determining a suitable design intervention. The study functions as a tool to determine which components of the building, as a modern icon, requires preserving, as well as what the design approach will need to consider in terms of interacting with the modern structure when a suitable new program is inserted into the building. Copyright 2008, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bezuidenhout, L 2008, Urban [i]scape : information centre, MInt(Prof) dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11262008-222534 / > C137/eo / Dissertation (MInt(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted

The thesis challenges how the existing fabric can be adapted and transformed to generate similar benefits to that of a new construction. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted

The methodologies of Modernism and Industrialization and the rigorous application thereof, in isolation, led to a condition where space and place is fragmented, segregated and disconnected by lost, decayed and left over space. It separated the spatial and experiential whole from the human user who inhabits; depends on and experience the space, and failed to contribute to a meaningful livable public realm. The loss in character; uniqueness and indigenous meaningfulness have led to a condition where humans are alienated from their original invention for community: the city. The inter-relational connection between ecological-; anthropological- and technological systems are disconnected resulting in a condition where resource consumption and availability are no longer in relational proportion to one another and where revolutionary intervention is needed to ensure the continuation of the current living standard and requirements of humanity without degrading the quality for future generations. This dissertation focuses on the reintegration of anthropological; ecological and technological systems into a holistic, co-habitational intervention on urban; building and detail scale and the establishment of a human and nature centric spatially orientated framework. Attempting to reconsolidate lost; fragmented; left over; mechanistic&decayed space and structure along the ecological corridor of Hammanskraal Industrial zone. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

Religious architecture has historically played a primary role in both the study and the development of architectural practices and theories. Undoubtedly, this influence is tied to the position which religious institutions have historically held in shaping cultural values. However, American culture has transitioned into a position where religious organizations are often no longer the primary authority for determining cultural, social, and interpersonal values for many Americans. Additionally many individuals have, for one reason or another, become uncomfortable or feel unwelcome in traditional church structures due to the historical hierarchies associated with them, the innate formality of the spaces, the perceptions of expected behaviors, or discomfort with language and interpretations of spirituality or religion. These changes have had a major impact on the economic and functional dynamics to which religious institutions must now adhere. While churches remain a venue for architectural expression, they no longer hold the position as the primary source for considering architectural culture; which has, for the most part, transitioned to museums, cultural, commercial, or office buildings. It is clear that the manner in which religious organizations operate and conduct themselves must therefore evolve in order to respond to these new forces, and so must the architecture which houses them. Only by adapting to these new pressures can these religious organizations hope to remain relevant and active in the changing cultural climate where religious institutions and religious individuals are often greeted with skepticism and suspicion. Many religious institutions have already recognized this need for change. The manner in which they hold their services and reach out to the community has changed in response to new cultural mores and trends. Architecture, as the structure which houses these changing religious organizations, must adapt to these new situations as well. The architecture houses, and therefore must adapt to, the new processes and practices which must function within these institutions. Architecture however, must also take into account other facets of the organization beyond just these functions. It has the ability to achieve many other objectives which can support the ongoing goals of these contemporary religious institutions. Since architecture acts as one of the fundamental outward faces of these organizations, it has a major and fundamental influence upon how the public perceive a religious institution. It is the intent of this thesis to investigate how church architecture may facilitate community oriented goals. These goals include, but are not limited to: creating an environment where individual exploration of spirituality becomes an accepted part of community activities, promoting localized economic development, instilling within the community a sense of value and ownership to generate community pride and stakeholdership, increasing community outreach, and the development of other programs which activate and benefit the local area. With regards to the architectural exploration, the intention is to approach this by addressing questions concerning perception, style, outward appearance, proximity, and operation. This includes consideration of programmatic functions which, while they may not be inherent to churches, may be useful in generating community interaction and intersection. Additionally, architecture has certain psychological capabilities which may be utilized to address personal reservations regarding churches. By considering what architectural elements are symbolic of religious organizations and strategically employing or eliminating them, one can build upon or counter the impressions which may exist about what a church is or should be. The examination of these issues within the context of an abandoned local mill building expands the richness and potential for this type of investigation by exploring its fundamental contributions to the historic development of the community. By introducing a spiritual component to this historically secular building one alters associations and defuses potential misgivings, as well as highlights a more welcoming avenue for promoting spiritual exploration within the community. By promoting adjacency and proximity of everyday activities and beneficial programs to hospitable spiritual activities, the architecture has the potential to meld different uses together. Additionally, the community aspect of this project may have the capacity to expand, specifically when considering how architecture may have the potential to promote a spiritually open community. Furthermore, by considering these goals in the context of an abandoned mill building, it is hoped that parallels can be made between the historical significance of the structure, and that of religion; and that by studying the two in tandem one can elevate the status of both. The focus here is not upon elevating religion or history for their own sake but rather in lifting them up as symbols of the communities which they serve and using them to lead development and revitalization in their locations.