This Dissertation Project is concerned with the meeting of Gender and Landscape Architectural theory, and aims to populate this (as yet) rare interface that requires urgent attention in discourse and practice. The Study is a research paper supporting the Dissertation Project by locating landscape architecture within the discourse on gender, and draws on Cultural Geography, Sociology, Intersectional, De-colonial and Feminist theory to argue that spatial design and the fields that engage with the production of public open space are key in understanding and addressing gender inequality. This is important because the gendered reproduction of space (and specifically, landscape) has tangible and pervasive effects on the access to, activity in, and safety of our public realm. Landscape positionality, the Nature/Culture dualism, Ecofeminism and Landscape theory are aligned in this Study, that engages with a topic that warrants a great deal of further research and development. The gendered experience, most often taking the form of various manifestations of rape culture, is particularly severe and restrictive in South Africa. Public open space is especially important to the struggle for equality and recognition across the hierarchies of privilege and power that stratify our society. Due to the unique intersections of violent constructions of masculinity, heteronormative and cisnormative socio-cultural codes, patriarchal social order, racial and racialised spatial and economic inequality and rape culture, women and gender minorities' movement, autonomy and potentials are severely limited. These spatial realities and socio-cultural inequalities are experienced every day, and they are gaining increased attention worldwide as social movements that include LGBTQI rights, the #MeToo Campaign, 16Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence bring the power and privilege of intersecting systems of oppression to light, where they can be understood, undermined, transformed and dismantled. Fear and the socio-cultural reproductions of the spatial exclusions that patriarchy imposes upon those it "others", is studied through the interviewing of participants about their perceptions of safety, access and activity in public open space. The Study also gives attention to the dearth of landscape architectural theory that recognises gender as a fundamental informant in the practice and theory of the landscape architectural profession. Feminist Landscape architectural theorists are few and far between, and the study argues that the last 50 years of development in the field has functioned in service of the dominant socio-cultural paradigms by knowingly or unknowingly excluding the extremely relevant advances in the fields mentioned above. By polarising the understandings of 'sustainability' and 'ecology' away from the deeply interrelated realms of sociology, philosophy, cultural geography and anthropology, the construction of Landscape architecture as a profession loses its ideological soul - humans. Whether we like it or not, we are architects and designers of spatial realities - both tangible and intangible, as landscape is not just physical elements, but also 'paysage'. As architects we design with nature for the sake and benefit of the whole. And that whole includes homo sapiens - our processes are natural processes, our artefacts are no less valid in Nature than the weathering of a mountain into stones and sand. The distinct forms and the experiences curated within landscape architectural artefacts evoke not only emotional response, but have the ability to transcribe attitudes. What then, is gender-conscious landscape architecture? The Enquiry phase answers this question by using Cristophe Girot's Trace Concepts (Landing, Grounding, Finding) to engage with a process. The literature shows that feminist architecture and landscape architecture is not a style, but a kind of activity - deeply dependent on the agenda that the designer must be constantly aware of - dependent on positionality. There are rather "…feminist ways of looking at and making architecture, but these are based on a certain approach, not a 'recipe'. This approach stems initially from an understanding that our surroundings are not neutral, that there is a relationship between the content of architecture and our … social structure. The Enquiry phase recognizes this way of knowing as a complex and reflexive condition that includes consideration of a multitude of factors, to approach a design with a gender-sensitive lens is to include a much wider range of considerations than gender alone. Attention to the cultural reproduction of space by virtue of a sensitivity to proxemics, by embracing subjectivity as a design strategy, by embarking on site analysis that involves much more that one view or the layering activity from one vantage point (thereby avoiding the danger of a single story) characterises the enquiry phase, that was continuously informed by the theoretical underpinnings of the Study which was written simultaneously. Enquiry involves the grounding of the design process in a site, and the Tafelberg road is chosen for its positionality and unique patterns of use. This site is visited periodically, documented, experienced, consulted and slowly revealed to be a landscape physically and ideologically continuous with its various contexts - geomorphic, historic, ecological, hydrological etc.. The Founding phase has no discernable beginning point, as it includes the spatialisation of the conceptual development in both written/drawn and idea/ imagery form. It involves spatial investigations in model-making, revisiting the site to test ideas, spatial imaginings and experiential design that is guided by concepts such as Contextualising, Sequencing, Conceal and Reveal, Pause and Program and Opening.

Includes bibliographical references. / A memory is inherently subjective and personal; contained within but not confined to the mind. The recollection of any memory unveils individual and collective identity attributed to a familiar space. Subsequently, retrieving an identity from a space converts that space into 'place'; a consequence of attaching significant experiential quality against a space. The body, and thus the mind, continuously interact with the immediate surrounding spatial environment. When encountering a space of familiarity, the mind is prompted with specific memories linked to that space. Prompted memories are memories of recollection. The theory of 'Re-collective memory' is drawn upon to substantiate the interactive process between memory and space. This theory outlines personal and collective memory as an association with a particular experience, bringing oneself into direct contact with past events or places. Therefore a non-physical memory no longer remains contained within the mind but is manifested into the physical world; collective and individual identity is obtained and space is transfigured into 'place'. The research conducted is an investigation into the relationship between space and memory; how a physical, tangible space manifests a non-physical, intangible memory. Underlying aspects of memory are uncovered to establish its value as a significant design tool in landscape architecture for the acquisition of individual and collective identity in a place. My understanding of memory begins at a personal level. As a child I grew up observing the memories of my mother pertaining to a very specific town; Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This small town will serve as the case study for investigating the relationship between memory and space. As a methodological approach, a series of ethnographic interviews were conducted with my family and community members in Cathcart. Key memory locations were then identified, exhibiting significant positive and negative place-making characteristics. An analysis of the memories led to an understanding that Cathcart is currently socially and physically divided. This is rooted in apartheid planning, where major emphasis had been placed on social and spatial segregation according to race. Post-apartheid however, the separation between spaces is still highly prevalent and discourages integration. Consequentially, precarious socio-economic issues are revealed including sanitation, housing, education and job security which continually threaten the town's existence. A weakened sense of belonging and a fervent desire for identity becomes apparent. This is perpetuated through a loss of economy and inadequate service delivery resulting from a lack of spatial and social connectedness throughout the town. These issues are typical phenomena widespread across similar small towns in South Africa. However, one observation of significant importance is that of timber collection by the local Xhosa people of Cathcart who rely on the wood for cooking, warming their homes and for constructing new dwellings. This process provides an opportunity to link memory locations aimed at decreasing socio-spatial disconnect while providing spaces with amenity to stimulate socio-economic growth. As an overarching framework, the process of timber collection will utilise strategic memory locations as spaces for design implementation. Woven together along an experiential route, these memory locations will be transformed into celebrated spectacle moments. The route seeks to reunite the town, providing opportunities to re-establish individual and collective identity. In this way, memory is used to facilitate spaces for place creation while simultaneously providing a platform upon which new memories can be created. As a model, such an approach for design could be applied to other small towns in South Africa that display similar conditions.

Since the mid-1800's the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) has been of agricultural significance to Cape Town, producing food for the city. The Area also forms part of the remnant floodplain, and is essential in maintaining the recharge of the Cape Flats Aquifer, an important water source for Cape Town. Conflicting land use agendas are the major threat to resources in the PHA. Besides agriculture, there is an increasing demand on the City of Cape Town to provide housing in close proximity to the city centre. In light of this, re-zoning land in the PHA is being considered. While rezoning will address the demand for housing, it will put even further pressure on the current natural systems and water resources, as well as the historic presence of agriculture in the PHA. A new approach is required using landscape-based urban design to tackle what would usually be a planning predicament. Densification and development could be viable if they do not impact or encroach on the natural systems and agricultural land in the area, but rather help to sustain them. This requires introducing development typologies that work within the existing landscape and reconfiguring urban form to facilitate positive interfaces with both natural and agricultural systems. This project investigates integrating land use and experimentation with landscape and urban morphology as design tools in reconciling agendas, securing the agricultural and water resources in the PHA. The structuring land uses utilised are the urban fabric, agricultural land, natural systems and public open space. These are explored through a combination of geo-spatial mapping, collages, and a series of typologies that interrogate land use relationships in the PHA. Experimentation at multiple scales was used, a smaller area being used as a prototype for the larger area. Property lines significantly inform the framework for development, with consolidation and subdivision being the main tools for intervention. The project will re-organise the PHA in a way that enables mutually supportive land-use relationships, to secure the natural resources and function of the PHA while facilitating necessary development.

Within an. urban context, if multiple level thinking associated with landscape architectural design principles are applied to roof spaces, these can be activated for specific purposes. The space on top of roofs has the potential to be converted into areas for production, recreation , socializing and even for healing. Today, in the urban context it is difficult to find spare spaces that can be actively used by people; most public squares focus on improving the micro-economy, leaving almost no space for recreation. Also, within the urban context many buildings are designed in an "unfriendly manner" creating dark and damp spaces on ground level where people are not willing to stay. These kinds of dark, damp and "un-friendly" environments are not beneficial to people. Because people are looking for recreational spaces in an urban environment, the recreational, multi-purpose use of roof spaces is becoming necessary. There are many examples within the urban context of people trying to use roof space for the growing of vegetables, or creating gardens for biodiversity purposes. Currently many green roofs only focus on increasing the ecological value of the space, a seemingly simple function , causing many people to lose interest in the concept. Landscape architects should not only work on ground level but on multiple levels within the urban environment. James Corner who designed the "High Line Project" worked on an abandoned bridge, activating the dead space and thus allowing the space to be used for human activity and at the same time improving the urban ecology. Urban hospitals require a comfortable environment for their patients, who can benefit from the right kind of healing environment. Roof spaces have the potential to be used for this purpose. When designing a roof space, landscape architects should not only focus on the ecological and cultural aspects, but also focus on space making for a specific group of people (patients). Creative ways of re thinking the healing landscape environment and bringing healing landscape principles and ideas while applying them to a completely artificial environment is the challenge.

Spatial inequality is the development of public space that selects and benefits certain constituencies over others, with direct effects on how space is used, and by whom. Over time it can contribute to social and political conflict and unrest. In Cape Town, spatial inequality originated largely through apartheid-era strategic planning. Then, as in contemporary Cape Town, this planning typically focused on large-scale infrastructure projects, requiring massive amounts of capital, and was tasked with economic generation in areas that were already yielding returns. Thomas Piketty's definition of inequality as an economic system that favours capital growth over economic growth demonstrates how spatial inequality is essentially the development of spatial capital in areas that already see spatial growth and improvement. Enter tactical urbanism. Mike Lydon, one of its proponents, defines it as a "deliberate, phased approach to instigating change", where local, short-term solutions are found that manage expectations & risk while building social capital. This approach is commonly referred to as "bottom-up", differing from the "top-down" strategic approach of most private and public institutions. Tactical urbanism has the potential to solve spatial inequality by offering a low capital intervention that operates on a small scale with maximum public participation and limited bureaucratic interference. This paper concludes with a discussion on how intervention may exist within Cape Town, specifically in the areas of Woodstock and Salt River. By considering tactical urbanism along with informality, the common characteristics of these two can be utilised to encourage further initiatives, especially ones that accommodate adjacency and counter-gentrification movements.

The Groote Schuur Menagerie, commonly known as the 'Rhodes' Zoo', is located next to the University of Cape Town on the foothills of Table Mountain. A deserted display of historical relics, this site can be seen as a tangible and perceived symbol of colonisation. Despite not being a focus of the #RhodesMustFall movement to date, the Groote Schuur menagerie was also established by Cecil John Rhodes' and was part of his imperial agenda. Abandonment, physical change over time and immersion of the zoo structures in spontaneous vegetation growth, has blurred the distinction between the architectural objects and the original topography, creating a new hybrid landscape with a particular microclimate and ambiance. This study presents the argument that theories on Site Specificity, as a model of site interrogation and design, is the most appropriate to the discourse of decolonization as it is inherently a de-colonized method of reading the site. Through conducting a site specific analysis on the Groote Schuur Menagerie site, in addition to consulting archived material. I will argue that the current site conditions are a manifestation of the colonial and decolonial, suggestion that the landscape is essential 'new' in its current condition, and therefore appropriate for new identity.

Cape Town's solitary fired power station was commissioned in 1961 and opened in 1962 and demolished on the 22 February 2010. A landmark to the city that was not protected under the Heritage Act as it was 48 years old. The power station is the last coalfired power station still standing in Cape Town. The site is well located between movement routes and local communities, large buildings and structures are present on site. The site offers an exciting redevelopment opportunity that can result in a variety of land uses for local and visitors, residential commercial, retail and community facilities. Although site is well located within movement routes these are boundaries, which are barriers between three distinct yet historical neighbourhoods Athlone, Pinelands and Lange. The design will use pattern from site to break down the barriers, promote connectivity through access and movement routes and create place for economic activity, recreational activity and housing.

The research document component of this dissertation concludes that Cape Town's sanitation crisis can in part be relieved by the implementation of consolidated sanitation infrastructure in wealthy areas, visited daily by thousands affected by the crisis. These wealthy areas are capable of maintaining and implementing these types of facilities due to rates ring-fencing. Furthermore, the document looked at historic precedent to demonstrate that this strategy has grounds and has acted as a sanitation crisis alleviation mechanism many times in history. The dissertation design focuses on both the sanitation and water crisis in Cape Town, and proposes to in part alleviate pressure locally from within the City Bowl by making use of the abundant quantity of water produced daily by the Camissa spring network coming of Table Mountain. The design uses this water to cater to the needs of people seeking ablution, swimming, and recreational outdoor facilities, from the rich to the poor, attempting to bring together folk from all walks of life in one mutually inclusive, water sensitive design.

Includes bibliographical references. / The representation of planting has been under- theorised in landscape architecture and has become a simple technical accompaniment to design rather than a vital part of the design process. Generally, planting design is left to the end of the project when it fills a previously generated plan geometry as opposed to being used as an opportunity to exploit plants’ characteristics and thus assist the initial design process. The conventional representation of a planting plan comprises of circles on a page that depict the plants position and future diameter, but disregards other characteristics, such as growth and seasonal change. This mode of representation prioritises architectural characteristics rather than the visual qualities of the plants. Furthermore, since plants are the only element within a landscape design that changes naturally over time, methods need to be developed that accommodate and exploit this change. To do so, these changes need to be represented for use in the design process. I will be using the Amazing Cape planting design in the Biodiversity Garden in Green Point Park, to explore alternative graphic methods that could have been used to represent the growth and end result of the planting design and palette. This is in contrast to the more conventional, technical manner of representation. A graphic review and analysis of the planting design and palette will be undertaken, with the “re-presentation” of a range of different contemporary planting plan representation techniques by leading plant design authors and landscape designers. Evaluating the representation of the future growth and seasonal change in the planting plan and palette. Ultimately producing graphics that best represents the growth and seasonal change of the Amazing Cape planting design.

Today, with the majority of the world's population now living in urban areas. the possibility and urgent need to provide them with adequate public spaces has never been greater for the planet. Where public places and space itself are lacking. many cities across the world are today investing in projects of reclaiming valuable land to create livable public spaces that respond to and improve social, economic, and environmental values. Such projects include reclaiming of derelict sites which are characterized mainly by poor environmental and physical conditions. The redevelopment of these types of sites has received a lot of attention in the past few years. Their transformation into public spaces represents a significant enhancement to the quality of life and land use. and at the same time. marks new commitment to the transformation of once· condemned sites. to new cultural and environmental uses. Landscape architects such as Peter Latz. James Comer and Bruce Mau have shown how to create culturally stimulating landscapes with a Iarge variety of uses and activities arising out of the derelict remains of past industry. (Loures and Panagopoulos. 2006) Derelict or lost spaces such as the ones created by closed landfills and closed down industrial sites provide possibilities of generating productive public spaces that could serve to address the needs of the growing population. Contemporary approaches to these sites are mostly driven by the idea of reclaiming space for a variety of uses, from the reuse of an industrial area. to conversion Into housing or a park. It is the assumption that these types of sites, because of their high degree of complexity and contestation. are particularly suited to test and develop different theoretical and practical approaches to the redesign of public or mixed-use open spaces. (Langhorst. 2009) .