This dissertation investigates how a productive landscape can increase the carrying capacity of the land, by analysing and responding to the existing site and a proposed post-industrial development of the site done in 2010. The aim is to effectively communicate the influence of man’s highly consumerist nature on resources and the ecology on the user group. The chosen site is located in the highdensity urban context of Pretoria West, Tshwane, South Africa. The motivation of this dissertation is for the landscape to be the synergy between the existing productive entities. The strategy was to design holistically, with the objective being to include the larger systems at play. Systemic thinking, in terms of production, increases resources and the variety of resources’ deliverability. The only way that a productive landscape can be resilient is to instil positive meaning in the user and, consequently, indefinite stewardship. To achieve resilience, biophilic urban design guidelines were followed to have a positive psychological effect on the user. This dissertation aims to re-address age-old theories, such as biophillia and the “Web of Life”, as crucial guidelines to inform interventions for the current, real time, global and African issues relating to increasing resource demands. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Architecture / ML(Prof) / Unrestricted

The thesis is about the programmatic exchange and confluence between production processes, public transportation and people. The proposed intervention would be developed to fit in with the City of Tshwane Spatial development framework and an industracity vision and framework for the location in Pretoria West, developed by the framework group. The new intervention will deal with both production process and public activity in the design of a train station and intermodal freight warehouse. The site location is in Pretoria West, a mixed use suburb with restricted industry, business, retail, flats and single residential areas. The site is the Pretoria West Power Station an intersect fir existing infrastructure and public transportation routes. The aim of the investigation is the integration of public functions with industrial functions in ways that contest monotonous urban environments, preserving the heritage of the site in the outcome. The research questions what can be done to facilitate the return of lost production, increase the interaction of people and processes and address the decaying historical fabric of the Pretoria West Power Station. The study examines the history of production and railway stations, uses descriptive survey methods, precedent studies and architectural and urban theory to inform the intervention. The aim of the design is to transform an industrial site into a vibrant integrated environment, introducing programmes that will attract people , but keep the industrial character intact. The character of the site will be conserved through the introduction of new light industries, keeping the memory of process. The design concept links into the idea of electrical input and output exchanges of a power station. It focuses on the exchanges of energy, physical and visual exchanges between heritage, people and products, service exchanges and exchanges in function between freight and passengers and in context - heritage and production. The design objectives are to extend the railway line as a suspended platform to provide access and exchange for freight and passengers and to depart from the introverted nature of the existing buildings to encourage public interaction with the history of the site and the production processes. The railway track infrastructure will serve multiple purposes. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

The aim of the design is to adapt a historic industrial structure and create a building that houses a production process, that is socially and historically responsive. A new structure will subtly connect with the old and accentuate the architectural heritage. By converting an old Boiler House into a furniture factory, the architecture strives to enable a physical and visual link between production and daily life. The urban fabric and showroom visually connects with the furniture makers, in order to inform the public on the production process. This will create a integrated socially responsive environment, where people can live, work and play. AFRIKAANS : Die doel van die ontwerp, is om 'n industriële erfenis gebou te hergebruik en aan te pas om so doende 'n nuwe gebou te skep wat 'n produksie proses huisves. 'n Nuwe struktuur sal sosiaal en histories reageer en subtiel met die ou struktuur gebind word. Die nuwe verbinding sal so geskiet dat die klem ter alle tye gelê word op die historiese kwaliteit van die omgewing. Die argitektuur strewe om 'n fisiese konneksie tussen produksie en allerdaagse lewe te vorm, gevolglik sal die argitektuur 'n omgewing skep waar mense kan woon, werk en ontspan. Die studie poog om 'n argitektuur te skep wat sosiaal reageer tot die omgewing. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted

The thesis addresses the proximity of contemporary global human issues to local human issues and presents an architectural solution. By identifying, exploring and drawing closer the proximities between these global and local issues, new solutions can be developed for local application. There are new fields created for architecture when we understand and connect the proximity of objects of both cultural and biophysical creation, and when we understand and build on our ever-narrowing proximities between what has been and what is to come. The narrowing global conditions have direct implications on us as individual human beings and our individual local societies. These proximities have been explored, developed, and resolved for local application. The resulting research field for urban agriculture ultimately guided an appropriate architectural response within the city of Pretoria, South Africa. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Architecture / unrestricted