Thesis (M.Arch. (Professional))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning, 2013. / The current perception that engulfs borders and their posts is one of fear, apprehension and hostility. The essay seeks to formulate a new approach through which to view a border. Borders are places of cultural collision and richness, forming a type of hybrid, described best through the metaphor of theatre. This exploration is divided into three topics, namely security, immigration and the human experience, and culture and the border as theatre. Conceptual architectural projects by Lebbeus Woods, Office KGDVS and Rem Koolhaas are examples of how this thinking can be realised through architectural possibilities. It is therefore the intention of this thesis to express these ideas through the proposal of a new border post at Beitbridge, situated between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The development of no man’s land, or the ‘Space of Cultural Possibilities’ provides an opportunity to create a platform where the random encounters between travellers is encouraged. The transition from one country to another becomes a vibrant an unanticipated experience that seeks to shift the negative perception, built on fear, illegality and the questioning of one’s identity, to one that exposes the cultural richness of a place where multitudes of nationalities are filtered through a single gateway.

M. E. R. Mathivha Centre for African Languages, Arts and Culture / MAAS