The aim of this thesis is to study public space and how tourism has influenced the provision ofpublic space in Stone Town, Zanzibar. In order to achieve the aim, theory of public space andgovernmentality has been used. The thesis is a qualitative case study and the empiricalmaterial has been gathered through interviews and observations. The result of this studyshows that tourists are somewhat prioritised in the planning of public space. Furthermore bydeveloping the parks in a particular way the planners try to create a certain conduct in theparks. This coupled with pressure from the large tourism industry on Zanzibar has led to thepublicness of the parks being somewhat diminished.

In the Stone Town of Zanzibar, a World Heritage Site, the amalgamation of various cultures has created a complex architectural as well as cultural heritage. Public space is regarded as male space due to the strong Islamic legacy, and currently women have very limited access to public or recreational spaces, despite prominent spaces having been available for their exclusive use historically. However, cultural practices are slowly changing as women are gaining better access to education, the workplace and decision-making roles, and are thus moving into the public realm. The project investigates the potential of architecture to react to and accommodate this shift. Gender roles are acknowledged as valuable social constructs and the project aims to facilitate the creation of a living, changing heritage. This proposal for a women’s centre in Stone Town draws from both the tangible and intangible heritage to develop a contemporary interpretation of traditional values and aesthetics while aiming to empower women in their quest to reclaim public space. The project is located on a street that had formed part of a previous planning scheme to incorporate vehicles into the dense town, and had subsequently developed as a scar in the urban fabric. A public square that has fallen into disuse due to illegal construction and an enclosed garden next to it offers the opportunity to revitalise the area. The proposed project will consist of areas that afford the following activities, each suitably designed to respond to and maximise the gender-related needs and restrictions of the activities: demonstration workshops, shops, restaurant and demonstration kitchen, offi ce space, study area and library, turkish bath, swimming pool, and various garden spaces. The architecture will explore the application of traditional technologies in the construction of contemporary buildings in order to develop an architectural language that fi ts harmoniously within its surroundings but contributes to the legacy of outstanding architecture in Stone Town. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

For the period of several centuries, the influence of several distinct cultures produced rich and diverse cultural heritage that we see today in East Africa countries. The most tangible remains of these heritages are stone built buildings and structures including, palaces, mosques, residential houses and tombs. At present, these heritages are in different physical state, some are in relatively good condition while many are in an appalling condition. The presence of these historical monuments has benefited these countries economically and culturally therefore, it is essential to ensure that these monuments continue to exist. Material characterisation of the historical buildings and associated structures was used to develop a suitable method of intervention that is sympathetic to the original materials. Mortar is the most damaged material therefore, historical mortar from Stone Town historical buildings and associated structures has been characterised by visual examination, optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction and hydrostatic weighing and the results have been compared. The historical mortar is mainly comprised of calcite, quartz and feldspar. The mortar condition has been divided into hard mortar, soft mortar and, soft and friable mortar. The deteriorated mortar that required consolidation is soft mortar and, soft and friable mortar with a porosity of approximately 27%. Calcium hydroxide solution (limewater) has been selected as consolidant and the consolidation procedure involves two steps. Firstly a limewater impregnation procedure has been developed and secondly, the effect of limewater treatment has been determined. For the application procedure it has been observed that, when limewater comes into contact with calcium carbonate a precipitation reaction occurs and that is the cause of poor penetration ability of calcium hydroxide solution. Major influencing factors on the penetration ability of calcium hydroxide solution have been established as, application method and absorption capacity of the treated material during the impregnation process. Optimization of the penetration ability of calcium hydroxide solution has been achieved by impregnating from the middle of the impregnated specimen. Sugar has been used to study the influence of additive on enhancing calcium hydroxide solubility. It has been verified that solubility of calcium hydroxide in a solution of sugar is proportional to the amount of sugar in the solution. Porosity and strength tests have been used to study the effectiveness of calcium hydroxide treatment. Under the conditions studied no appreciable change of porosity has been detected. It is postulated that the calcium hydroxide was deposited at the binder/aggregate interface and at the secondary pores. In terms of strength, evidence has been found to suggest the strength increment varies quantitively with the amount of calcite crystals deposited. / QC 20100803