Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Our CBDs are developing continuously and urban sprawl is growing at a rapid rate. Without sufficient upgrades to infrastructure and public transport networks, how long will it take before the struggle of everyday commuting becomes near impossible and transport costs become too high for most South Africans? Simply moving back to the Cities and CBDs is not an option for the majority of our population because as these areas become denser, the price of property and rentals increase. We need a solution for our current situation, to regain the control of the road networks in and around these areas. The aim of this thesis is to propose an alternative, hybridised transport system. To reduce the reliance on privately owned, single passenger motor vehicles by encouraging the use of public, semiprivate and non-motorised forms of transport in order to alleviate traffic congestion from major CBDs, aid in social cohesion and promote a healthier lifestyle by making use of bicycles. The Sandton CBD will be the area of focus affected by the study with the site located on the fringe, at the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Republic Road. The proposal introduces a system which would couple onto existing urban design framework proposals as well as transport networks such as, the Rea Vaya (BRT), Gautrain (Train and Bus networks) and the privately owned mini-bus taxi and bus industry. Adjacent to the site is the Braamfontein Spruit cycle path which will aid in the process of gathering and promoting an interest in cycling as a means of everyday transport. The building put forward in this thesis will act as a knuckle and point of convergence where people will be able to utilise different means of transport. It will also serve as a new social and active lifestyle hub comprising of a gym (connected to a research centre), social and recreational spaces, retail facilities, transport information offices, mass parking and accommodation. / GR2017

My thesis addresses the many issues that today’s youth face and aims to rethink the youth centre as a place that combines youth culture and architecture to create a space that not only provides adequate recreational and vocational opportunities but which is also representative of youth. Theoretically, I focus on notions around finding identity within the city, whilst questioning the stigmatisms around various youth subcultures. I look in more depth at how certain youth appropriate space within the city and by analyzing their process of appropriation, whilst noting the significance the stages of appropriation have in the pursuit for one’s identity, parallels are drawn from various theorists. Particular reference to theories by Iain Borden, Jeffrey Hou, Andy Bennett, Dick Hebdige and others, explore the notions around the insurgent use of public space, youth culture, street culture, and the meaning of style and expression among youth. Through research into various subcultures of youth and activities that youth are actively involved in in and around the city, it aims to explore the youth centre as a programmatic model for reaching young people in South Africa. By appropriating the language and influences of youth as key design ingredients, it aims to create an architectural intervention, called The 3rd Place Youth Centre, in Newtown North, through which youth can reconnect to their surroundings thus giving youngsters a much-needed sense of place and identity within their ever-changing city.

This document is submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional ) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, school of Architecture and planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / The Judicial system has existed in society since ancient civilization. It resides in our subconscious and plays a part in our decision making process taking the form of a moral conscience. Furthermore, the judicial system is realized spatially through the visualization of the Court. These institutions are located across all our major cities and suburbs often occupying prime territory. The judicial court is a public building which should promote civic pride and identity, however, it is a building type which has become highly restricted and walled off from society. It was once a space of public and community participation. It is an integral institution in a democratic society. It has now become associated with crime and violation of law. It is a space perceived by many to be avoided. Through this research and design report I wish to challenge the current court typology and explore the potential of the judicial court and the significant impact it can have on society as a great public building which promotes civic pride. Themes of identity, jurisprudence, conscience and boundaries are explored to develop a new court type and a precedent for future judicial buildings. The design proposes a Magistrates Court of a multi-disciplinary nature for the city of Kliptown and the greater Soweto. It is a hybrid of program interlaced together in response to the context and the broader network age we find ourselves in. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Urban Design, Johannesburg 2016 / The public realm is continually under pressure as the container of constant urban change. Streets and public spaces function as connectors between public / private transport and the built urban form. The public realm is also responsible for hosting public activity that includes commuting, socialising, trading and governing. In the context of ever changing urban form due to accelerated urban sprawl, suburban growth, complicated politics and the increasing demand for vehicular transport, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and develop quality public urban environments throughout our polycentric cities. The concept of relinking transport and public space to mixeduse urban form originates from theory of Transport Orientated Development (TOD) and the densification of our cities in order to be more sustainable and to control urban sprawl. The importance of good quality public space, public transport and supporting urban form cannot be underestimated in the drive towards a densified sustainable city. Together the city transport network and supporting public spaces need to stitch all urban form and more important need to be attractive for all types of people living in the city. The assumption is that this will encourage people to move towards these densified areas that are supported by public transport nodes. The aim of this research is to identify possible scenarios for repairing urban fabric in order to improve the link between the community and the public urban realm. Key concepts that will be investigated are public transport, public spaces, urban form, suburban densification and non-motorised transport. The design initiative will be to repair a specific suburban neighbourhood by means of public space creation, urban densification and mixing uses within built form. The heart of the intervention is to create a lively sustainable dense neighbourhood by activating publicness through a humanist urban design approach. / XL2018

This thesis is based on a community called Kwena Malapo near Lanseria. It is a group of people that sit between the threat of relocation and the opportunity to develop along with the new proposed development of Cradle City. The land on which the informal settlement exists sits on the border of this development and the community are fighting to stay where they are. They lack basic services and infrastructure have poor education and no skills investment which makes them vulnerable. The aim of this thesis is to put forward the design of a community hub that will serve the community, give them an opportunity for learning and contribution as well as the ability to develop with the new economic growth, instead of facing relocation. Along with skills development and business opportunity the hub aims to serve the 13 informal settlements that surround Kwena Malapo.

Th is document is submitted in partial fulfi lment for the degree: Master of Architecture [Professional] at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in the year 2013. / A child’s world is one of imagination; of toys, play and stories. A child’s world is a world of its own with specific needs, which, if not met, will have long-lasting consequences into adult life. This is the unfortunate reality of children growing up in Hillbrow and Berea without opportunities for proper development and learning. It is through play that a child develops and learns to cope with his environment. This project therefore takes as its subject matter the place of play for city children. It constructs an argument for the ‘playscape’ which encompasses both, the spaces in which children (and adults) are invited to play as well as the idea of landscape which, from the start has been central to child design. This thesis proposes a ‘toy library’ within a larger park of play. It is a design of a child’s world and a world of play, characterised architecturally by playfulness and functionally serving the children, teachers and parents of Berea and Hillbrow.

Thesis (M.Arch. (Professional))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, 2016. / “People love escapism and there should be a place for it” (Hiddleston, n.d.) There are two primary states that constitute our human experiences. On the one side, there is the known, the real, the concrete, the everyday, the routine, normal and banal aspects of human life and on the other, the imagined, the alternative, the exploratory, unknown, abstract and fantastical elements that arguably make us feel alive. Although these two phenomena are preconceived as separate entities, they are interdependent and as humans, we need both. In the midst of these two extremities lies a world of in-between spaces known as ‘middle landscapes’. These are the places that allow us to transition between two states that make up our human experiences. Herein lies the bridge from the known to the unknown and the connection between reality and retreat. In a world where the demands of work are taking an increasing toll on our time and energy, the middle landscapes constitute our means of escape; the process that enables us to retreat from reality. The city of Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal is a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis with a large array of places focused on diversion from reality. Its enviable connection with the sea and expansion of the tourist industry are the bones of its potential to become a 21st century escapist city; a place where people are encouraged to retreat. The exploration and adventure found on the edges of the ocean attract many to its shorelines, seeking distraction, diversion, retreat and escape. There is something about the mystery of the sea, the unquantifiable majesty of its waters that lures us in, allowing us to be drawn away from our everyday lives and to give in to rest, relaxation and holiday before the grasp of the real pulls us back. How can architecture provide a transition between everyday life and retreat, between land and sea? This thesis seeks to explore the role of architecture in connecting people to the ultimate place of escape, the sea, through a seaport at Durban Harbour. The building, sited in the Point Area of Durban Harbour, will provide a connection with the sea and the retreat it embodies at a variety of different scales. It will reconnect the CBD with the Point, the beachfront with the harbour and give the citizens of Durban a refuge from the real while meeting an urgent need for a new cruise passenger terminal and activating the Point Waterfront Development. The building will become the middle landscape, sited on the boundary between land and sea, meeting the practical needs of the city and the tourist industry while providing for the leisure needs of Durban’s people. Whilst displaying sensitivity to the existing harbour architecture and context, the building will become a recognisable beacon for the city, visible from shoreline and sea. / EM2017

Thesis (M.Arch (Professional)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, 2016 / ABSTRACT The basis of this study pivots around the notion that cultural knowledge holds a certain value and aims to demonstrate that the diversity of cultures within South Africa is the fingerprint of the nation and that this is worth storing. With each passing generation, coupled with inter-cultural relationships, the future of the single cultural practice is gradually dissolving and finding itself transforming into a hybrid culture. I have therefore engaged in a narrative around building meets culture and what spacial requirements it pertains to. The theoretical review hosts a discussion around the surfacing of hybrid cultures in place of the existing Pure Cultures which hold an important intricacy and identity. An analysis of the discussion points towards the necessity of cultural preservation while simultaneously addressing the reality of a surfacing hybrid culture brought about through the post-apartheid ‘born-free’ generation. In order to productively complete the research element of this dissertation, I engaged in a qualitative data collection approach which allowed for insights into problems surrounding the development of possible design ideas. A secondary data collection technique was the visual site analysis conducted by myself and stored in the form of extensive mapping exercises. The combination of these two techniques aided the design extensively allowing for a clear forward-moving design strategy. Finally, the discussions, recommendations and deductions of this thesis point unswervingly towards the construction of a proposed Cultural Knowledge and Research Centre in the Vilakazi Precinct of Orlando West, Soweto. The design of this Center addresses the aims of the study by using the research to govern in which ways architecture can be used as a storage device for the (declining) passing down of cultural knowledge. The performance of this building strives to create a platform whereby the cultures within the city of Johannesburg can be successfully showcased and accessed by the public in an interactive and commemorative manner. / NM (2016)

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / This research report is to investigate the physical realm of online content creation as well as the effects content creation and social media has in a South African context. The objective of this research report is to identify the areas in which Architecture can better support the new generation of online content developers. With the fast paced development of the Internet and digital technology, Architecture needs to form new ideologies, typologies and tectonics in order to stay relevant. A space that’s is the pivoting point between two worlds: online and offline. The result of this study is to create a new typology to fit within the Internet industry within South Africa and to be able to leapfrog the country and it’s specific design site in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, into the Internet territory. A space is needed that will be the intersection of the physical and the online world, a space that becomes a connection node with a presence in both worlds. The Content Creator Hub, which is an architectural space that not only facilitates the creation of online content but also the sharing of skills, collaborative efforts, exposure to business practises, business people and business opportunities, access to tools and equipment as well as access to a conducive space. The formation of an actual place where a new form of creative artists exist and are able to create, learn, share, connect, collaborate and help innovate. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to take the philosophical ideas and approaches of The Content Creator Hub to implement them into an urban scheme and in a Southern African context. Architecture plays an important role not only by generating content but also by accelerating the action. / MT2017

This document is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree Master of Architecture (Professional) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa , in the year 2015. / Shack fires in townships have been a prevalent issue within Johannesburg, especially as the Emergency Management Services are under strain due to a lack of fi re service amenities. A significant cause of these fires includes utilizing paraffin stoves for cooking in a high dense population. This is specifically relevant to the Soweto Township in Johannesburg and results in a large number of vulnerable residents. Research aims and objectives include uncovering a new typology for Johannesburg fire stations. This typology will aim to successfully integrate the community in order to simultaneously support the community in the event of shack fires as well as educate the community in terms of safe cooking, fire prevention and fire management. This typology might become a step in the right direc on in order for fire stations to evolve into non-bureaucratic architecture which blurs with functions that will create a 24-hour opera onal mixed-use building. Furthermore this will provide a sense of security to the surrounding community. Numerous fire stations in Johannesburg were visited in order to investigate how the current and conventional fire station typology integrates into the Johannesburg context, if at all. These visits included interviewing firefighters and volunteers who are employed at the stations by means of semi-structured informal interviews. It was discovered that the architectural typology of a fire station is in essence fluid and not fixed, it evolves with society. This is evident as the various fire stations studied in Johannesburg as well as international precedents have been blurred with educational, commercial, hospitality, cultural and even private upmarket residential programmes. In Soweto it was discovered that the three existing fire stations are all small and isolated from the community. Furthermore there is no centralized or main fire station in Soweto. This is needed for training facilities but more importantly to have a centralized control room which in turn will optimize response mes to all emergencies in the en re Soweto. Fire sta ons which created a sense of awareness and belonging to the community generally had lower fi re incident rates as ci zens were aware of the dangers of fi re (CSIR & DPSA, 2012). Fire policy initiatives within Soweto and the City of Johannesburg should thus engage all stakeholders. This especially includes educating and training community members in order to potentially have a network within the community which will fight fires in conjunction with the Johannesburg fire brigade. The proposed fi re sta on in Orlando West in Soweto thus includes a public market in a public park which sells equipment and fuel for safe cooking at discounted rates should you a end the educa onal seminars in the outdoor amphitheater which doubles up as a mul -functional space. Other areas of the park will be a food market. This will result in the inversion of the current bureaucratic architecture that we often encounter with fire stations. / EM2017