This dissertation focuses on the re-conceptualization of Pretoria Central Business District (CBD), grounding the hypothesis within Paul Kruger Street. The author aims to provide a newfound approach to this historical connection, transforming the interpretative experience of the urban environment as a stage from where the city operates as a place of fantasy, covet, and imagination. The project will demonstrate how the inception of a Virtual Landscape can renew perceptions of the city and pave the way towards a new paradigm. Grounding the Virtual Landscape within a real world scenario, the final phase of the dissertation aims to position this ideology of the imagined landscape within a real world context. The Virtual Landscape aims to inform the grounded design proposal, adding to the experience of place and time. The user’s understanding of place cannot be separated from time. The motivation behind the dissertation exists as a critique on the city of Pretoria, where the in situ experience of place is thin, and the experience is swiftly forgotten. The findings from the investigation of the Virtual Landscape constructed the hypothesis as a contributor to the thickening of the place that extends beyond the veneer. The research question originates from the theory of the Virtual Landscape, questioning whether this theory can be applied within contemporary landscape architecture design. The hypothesis is introduced on five sites in Pretoria on a framework level as representations of the Virtual Landscape. One site is selected and tested against the process of the Virtual Landscape from its influences, the Virtual Landscape, representations of the Virtual Landscape and the material landscape (design proposal). The final stage of the dissertation investigates the technical resolution of the design proposal. / Dissertaion ML(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / ML(Prof) / Unrestricted

The city of Pretoria can be likened to a blanket stretched thin, where previously urban programs shift to the expanding periphery leaving gaps in the city fabric. It is essential to investigate ways in which these urban “left overs” can be re-imagined within the contemporary context. This complex urban condition is investigated with the focus on conservation of abandoned buildings of heritage significance. In South Africa, state funding cannot be relied upon for conservation of individual buildings. Thus the conservation of leftover and abandoned heritage buildings should happen not through singular museum projects but through the everyday usefulness of the building. The role of art and the artist has long been linked to the reuse of buildings which have become difficult to inhabit in conventional ways. Thus the introduction of cultural programs to derelict heritage sites and “left over” spaces is pertinent to their reuse. One such site is the Capitol theatre in the Pretoria CBD. It is undoubtedly a place of cultural richness and expression, having been a place of daily gathering as well as formal entertainment throughout its history. It is a natural point in which to reintroduce culture into an extended public realm at the heart of the city. Originally a space of introverted and exclusive cultural expression, curated cultural artifacts (films and occasional shows) were displayed to a limited audience in a highly internalised experience. However, it is proposed that this condition be inverted through external display of the processes of cultural production on the exterior of the theatre. The intention is to broaden the sphere of cultural influence into the public realm of the city and simultaneously invite the existing communities to engage with the building. Thus the focus shifts from internal event space to external production space which becomes part of the public everyday experience. Reviving the Capitol The Capitol Theatre complex was never completed and no exterior facade was ever design for the auditorium. This creates the opportunity for a new inhabitable facade to be designed which fulfills the role of both a supportive and expressive element. The new element incorporates spaces where people and processes of cultural production are expressed externally while curated cultural artifacts and events remain housed in the auditorium. Ultimately the concept is one of support. The physical support of a failing structure being the starting point which necessitates an intervention; the functional support which allows the building to become useful again in a contemporary context with new cultural meaning; and the social support of the everyday rituals which make up the daily cultural experiences through the extension of the sphere of cultural influence of the Capitol Theatre. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

The aim of the work is to design the completion of the block in the historic center of Ostrava in a place called Kostelní náměstí. The work deals with the topic of appropriate integration of contemporary architecture into the historic city center with the choice of the right functions to revitalize this locality. The problem of the city center is quantity of gaps in the historical city core, a few attractive features for people, shifting the focus of interest to the shopping center Nova Karolina and problematic relations between private owners and the city council.

This diploma thesis deals with the urban study on the revitalization of the barracks in Brno, the Black Fields. In the defined area a new residential complex is designed to integrate the area into the surrounding area. The proposal also envisages the creation of development areas for Mendel University, where within these areas will be created a sports hall, accommodation facilities for students library and a representative building. An interesting element is the creation of a public space shielded from traffic.

Changes of physical, functional and social structure of the city as a result of the group of variously interrelated changes and events that are fundamentally participate in the formation of the image of the urban development. This doctoral thesis is based on research of the historical city center - squared. First part is focuses on the historical development of urban texture of the inner city of Brno and its squares. We are talking about Square of Freedom, Vegetable Market, Dominican square, Jacobs square, Capuchins square and Šilingrovo square. Based on individual characteristics, describing the emergence of morphological and functional changes in Brno square was created urban classification of basic types of square. City of Brno, as the capital city of region has a significant position in the structure of settlements. This fact has become one of the key aspects for the selection of examples of European cities and their squares. The second part of the thesis is based on comparative studies of different types of historical squares. In order to define the value of public spaces, it is necessary to look at the public places of historical perspective and deal with the causes that led to the decline of the importance and role of public spaces. Austrian capital cities of region (Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt and Salzburg) will be examined with regard to similar climatic conditions and a common cultural and historical context of the city. Based on urban patterns and graphic diagrams of each square are observed inner relationships between shapes of square, form, function and location of the position of an artwork. Research areas are also focused on comparing aspects of transport, green space, functional use, visual unit and social activities. The public space is shaped by a set of characteristics that promote diversity and interdependence of functions. For a better interpretation of the results have been established two benchmarks - symbol of identification with the place and the Magnet (function and filling space). The objective of the thesis is to define an aspects and elements of space which were involved in square use.