This dissertation compares the levels of housing satisfaction between the site and services and informal settlement upgrading projects. In South Africa, the government embarked on the incremental approach to housing as a way of addressing housing challenges such as slow delivery rate, poverty and budgetary constraints. Within incremental housing polices, site and services and informal settlement upgrading housing projects are two housing delivery methods that are being used to provide housing to low income households. One of the challenges with the implementation of incremental housing delivery method in South Africa has been over-emphasis on the implementation of site and services at the expense of informal settlement upgrading housing projects. The broad aim of this dissertation is to compare which of the two delivery approaches yields higher levels of satisfaction. The research method employed in the study was Normative Style of comparism which is used to compare the levels of satisfaction and usefulness of housing to the user. To evaluate the levels of housing satisfaction between the site and services and informal settlement upgrading, the researcher set indicators of housing satisfaction, specifically location, the size of the dwelling unit, the quality of building materials, residential quality, security of tenure and the ability to use a house for income generating opportunities. Polices such as Chapter 13 of the National Housing Code (2009) and the Breaking New Ground (2004) indicate a significant shift in respect of informal settlement upgrading. The study’s findings showed that there are higher levels of housing satisfaction in the informal settlement upgrading housing projects than in the site and services because, beneficiaries make conscious choices about where to locate their housing. It emerged that beneficiaries satisfaction with the choice of specific settlements was usually linked to their livelihood strategies for example, proximity to jobs, cost of transport and cost of living. Such satisfaction was not forthcoming in poorly located sites and services schemes, whose strength was therefore only on their formality, secure tenure and basic services. The contribution of this study is not only to highlight circumstances that make housing satisfactory but also to ensure that informal settlements upgrading becomes entirely practiced on an equal basis as site and services. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The post-1994 era saw a deluge of housing legislation designed to shake the foundations of repressive Apartheid housing policy. Regrettably, the social housing sector began operating without the support of relevant legislation to guide social housing delivery. Institutional arrangements for social housing only came into effect in the late 2000s. This study sought to evaluate the institutional arrangements for social housing to assess why they have failed to deliver adequate social housing output to satisfy the latent demand on the market. Therefore, the study sought to assess whether the limited delivery of social housing was a result of institutional inertia in the planning, provision and management of social housing in eThekwini Municipality post-1994. Qualitative information on institutional arrangements for social housing was sourced through semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants involved in social housing development in eThekwini Municipality. The information gathered from the interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. After analysing the information, it was discovered that disjointed institutions have contributed to inadequate social housing whose shortage should be viewed not as primarily an issue relating to limited supply and excessive demand, but as reflective of the underlying institutional power struggles arising from the ad hoc and silo process of implementing social, land and economic policies. Therefore, the research concluded that the social housing sector would continue to deliver inadequate social housing output unless a supra-institution that integrates social, economic and land policies is enacted. To maximise the allocation and use of land and financial resources needed for social housing delivery, the intent of the legislations within the institutional arrangements for social housing must be synchronised to have clear strategies and procedures to deliver social housing at scale in inner city areas. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The purpose of this research document is to inform the author about the manners in which built form can be reconfigured within landscapes. As such the focus is twofold: Firstly, the concept of landscape must be explored and defined and secondly, theoretical approaches to the reconfiguration of built form within the landscape must be determined. Through research it is found that landscape is not, as is popular belief, merely a natural phenomenon, but consists of a visual and imagined component. The visual component in turn, consists of the natural and the cultural landscape. An argument is made that the predominate contemporary paradigm should determine the manner in which the built form is designed. As such, the theme of complement (between built form and landscape) is derived as an interpretation of the current global awareness of environmental issues. The imagined landscape is found to relate to the cultural landscape in the sense of both being influenced by it and influencing it. From the contemporary, global mindset of environmental sensitivity, the concept of complement is derived. Complement refers to the idea of mutual symbiosis of two parties, i.e. both parties benefit from their relation. As such, the theory of synchronized geometry and progressive tradition is investigated in terms of the natural and cultural landscape respectively. The intention and potential application of the theories is tested by discussion in relation to certain precedents and cases of built form (such as the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre) and landscape (the landscape of iSimangaliso Wetland Park). / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

For the most part learning in museums was by inert looking and listening and not by doing. For a long time traditional ideas of museums were conceptualized on an adult audience and children were expected to enjoy the museum going experience like they were adults. Museum architecture and planning responded more to grown-ups whilst children's needs and their engagement at a museum experience were never considered (see Macdonald, 1996: 2; Fyfe, 2006:5). Museums are at a very exciting juncture in their history and this study has examined these intricate relationships both internationally and locally. The findings is that museums, especially in some developing nations like South Africa have been rather slow to keep abreast with new emerging trends which focus on child education and how children learn in and from museums. This study puts forward the notion of a new museum archetype for Durban, a Children's Museum, re-interpreting conventional ideas of museums to one which places children and the community at the centre instead of the artifacts. In other words "museums are about somebody rather than about something" (Cleaver, 1992:21). Without a doubt children learn through play (Harris et al, 2003). Children view their spatial and social environments as a playground of knowledge, a place to see, touch, feel, taste, listen to, socialize with and learn from. They see the big world very differently as compared to adults and attach and take different meanings and experiences from and to people, to forms, places, spaces and things. Very important is the symbiotic relationship between children and the natural environment. Nature provides children with countless of natural toys interesting textures in the form of stones, leaves and twigs and sensory stimuli in sounds and sensations. This means that the way children learn through play the methods of facilitating this process and the built and natural environments where learning may take place needs to be interconnected. The position taken in responding through design is that there needs to be a holistic approach in responding to the social, cognitive and multi-intelligences in the development of children. This then suggests that the architecture and the landscape need to be integrated. Considering the close knit relationship children have with nature, the concept for the design of the museum draws from traditional African culture and spatial planning. The concept is based on the idea of PALAVER which in African culture is a traditional place of gathering in the shade of a prominent tree canopy somewhere in the village where villagers get to be heard, where they are able to express themselves freely without prejudice on life and on village problems. The design concept builds on this idea drawing from context interpreting this idea of a Palaver Tree to mean a roof of a building under which freedom of expression and exchange of ideas can take place. Hence the form of the building draws on clues from the majestic baobab of Africa, the elegance of the tenere tree and the qualities of a forest canopy. Considering the close link between children and nature and the ways in which children learn from the environment, teaching children about saving the planet, the symbolic imagery and qualities of a tree is an appropriate response in creating a place meant for kids. Moreover, the changing qualities of light through the leaves of trees are a subtle but most effective sensory experience which the design of the new children's museum tries to emulate. In parts of Africa, unlike western ideologies the museum is richly connected to the people and to the communities in which they exist. In fact it’s safe to say that the museum experience was part of everyday life. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

The following dissertation deals with the qualities of sacred space that influence the architecture for religious building and how these qualities can be used in the creation of an inter-religious facility. The background idea for such a facility is that it will promote dialogue and understanding between religious groups that could lead to greater tolerance, respect and in the end peace between people of different faiths. The project deals specifically with four main stream religions, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. It will look briefly at the ideas and concepts of other religions but as there are thousands of religions and denominations within each, these will not be dealt with in any depth, and more careful attention will be given to the limited four. In order to discover the essence which makes up sacred architecture, secondary literature will be looked at based on key questions and assumptions. From there, various primary sources are looked at. A questionnaire is conducted to determine how the general public and faithful feel towards sacred space. A case study based on specific criteria is conducted of four religious buildings in and around Durban. At each building, the religious leader is interviewed to gain a better understanding of the details of each faith. The results from the case studies and interviews are tabled in order to make a comparative analysis. The data collected shows some interesting trends in the design of sacred space as well as the opinions of the people who use the religious buildings. An interesting feature of the results is that there are more similarities in terms of the architectural treatment of each religion than there are differences. In terms of the relevancy of an inter-religious facility, the findings show that in general people are interested in such an idea. It was also found that an existing interfaith organization exists in KwaZulu-Natal. The idea of using an inter-faith setup to promote dialogue and understanding is not new the idea. The concept that such a facility could facilitate development of tolerance through understanding is supported by the views of the people who did the questionnaire. In conclusion, it was found that the qualities of sacred space are two-tiered and that to combine them it will be necessary to separate those qualities that are distinct to a particular religion from those that are not. In this way a workable model for an inter-religious or multi-faith facility can be achieved. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Timelessness is an ethereal component of sacred architecture as defined by the belief of man. The spiritual vision of humanity has demonstrated techniques of expressing belief in the existence of a Higher Being within the universe. Various systems of belief, based on religion today, have their own interpretation of their existential being in relation to the cosmos; this is strongly conveyed by means of architecture and built form. Modern interpretations of ancient belief systems have transmitted timeless qualities in ancient architecture. This research is aimed at providing an interpretation of timelessness that is able to capture and portray a sacred identity in built form and architecture. The author has identified a complex inter-relationship between the spirit, earth and the universe, forming a timeless design philosophy. The evaluation of various sacred archetypes in a historical setting has set a foundation to timeless design, which when implemented in sacred Islamic architecture, reveals its timeless elements. The contemporary interpretation of theory in this research has led to a timeless design philosophy, which when applied to any sacred architecture, will reveal timeless design elements that can be used today. This contemporary application of timeless elements or physical representations of belief may stimulate the deep spiritual vision of humanity once again, where qualities of 'ultimate human value' detached from differing religious belief systems enhance the 'collective human experience'. Ultimately leading toward an architecture expressive of unity in multiplicity. / Theses (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the relationship that may exist between architecture and music. This study has two folds. The first is a focus is on the social and cultural aspects which connect the field of architecture and music. In this, view architecture and music may be understood metaphorically. Focus is based on ‘expression’. The second focus is on the principles of composition that exists between the two fields. This part, mainly focuses on a comparative analysis between the ‘form and structure’ of architecture and music. This, as a result, would create an image that would best express architecture musically. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This study investigates the capacity of buildings to be adapted when required by changing circumstances or situations. Furthermore it has special reference to buildings constructed for academic teaching and research purposes. At the outset the author reviews the reasons for buildings outlasting their original functions and identifying the various possible causes for the change . The ability to sustain modifications and the varying extent of the modification is established with examples being cited of both commercial and academic typologies. The thesis then explores some examples of early adaptions of buildings such as basilicas and the influence on the architecture of the early and later Christian churches. In later years cathedrals and monasteries became the precursor of the early universities that were born out of the evolution of secular teaching and education and the need for repositories for books. The architecture and form of these buildings was dictated largely by the development of the towns into cities and the concurrent need to expand these centres of learning . The history of the University of Natal is discussed from the years preceding its formal inception and subsequent interventions relating to the development of the Pietermaritzburg campus . A model upon which a measure may be made of four buildings of differing era's and occupancy are discussed identifying their original plan form and the changes that have ensued over three decades. These modifications are critically evaluated and tabulated graphically thereby indicating the comparative changes as a ratio of the area of the change against the area of the entire building. The notable Old Main Building was found to be a rigid building , built in load bearing brickwork and large high ceilinged spaces that sub-divide with ease while ensuring the retention of its integrity. Conversely the Main Science Building , a reinforced concrete framed structure with brick in-fill, is of an amorphous plan shape that lends itself to modification at the expense of its external character. The Rabie Sanders Building , a formal neo-classical building of framed reinforced concrete construction with face brickwork in-fill and a rigid facade does not, by virtue of its plan form and elevation , have the capacity for external alteration but has the potential for extensive internal. Finally the New Arts Building , a linear five storey precast reinforced concrete structure with free standing continuous modular window provides infinite variability of the interior whilst the exterior remains unaffected and there is no possibility of extending. The changes, varying in complexity and extent, clearly indicate that the buildings are indeed malleable and with creative planning, the changes can have an enhancing impact on the internal spaces. This information should considered as a working guide to provide the institution with pointers for the future design of campus buildings. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of Natal, 2003.

Church architecture has evolved dramatically since its inception. It has changed shape, size and form, from simple houses converted to meeting places, to grand Gothic cathedrals, to high-tech auditoriums and modern structures of various shapes and sizes. Throughout the ages there have been many factors that have played a role in this evolution. Not only religious factors, but also economic, social, and political factors, have all contributed to the dynamic changes in church architecture. This thesis focuses on the manner in which the Protestant doctrine has influenced the development of church architecture. This research explores the validity of the idea that spaces and forms of architecture are influenced by the values and beliefs of the people they belong to. There are many movements within Protestantism; because of this there are a variety of architectural forms for their buildings, therefore there is no particular Protestant church architectural style. This study determines how different doctrines and values have influenced church design throughout the ages, through examining various examples of religious architecture, focusing on the doctrinal issues that have played a major part in the design. This is not a comprehensive survey of the history of church architecture. Theoretical discussions on place, meaning and the concept of function are directly relevant this study, which seeks to find ordering principles that inform the creation of functional and meaningful places for people. The main principle that arose from this research is that people, their beliefs and values, and the site need to be the primary design generators in the design of a church complex as they are in any other building. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This thesis is not to be viewed as the solution to the so called "housing problem" in South Africa, or even in Durban, nor does it propose a definitive plan for the Warwick Triangle. It is. rather, an attempt to examine the opportunities that exist for the creation of a viable urban residential quarter that is not only rich and whole in itself, but contributes in some way to the richness and wholeness of the city. In pursuit of this I have looked at city-building, and housing in particular as an important part of city-building, as a process that is infinite and have tried to propose a development that facilitates this process and harnesses the creativity and resources of individuals in the making of urban environments. It is important to note that my concerns are equally to do with the problem of creating urban housing that works and is appropriate, and that of making a positive contribution to the public realm. No urban development should be seen in isolation (it is that selfish attitude that has caused the barrenness of many urban centres) but as part of a growing organism, the city, where each organ has a part to play in the performance of the whole, and interdependence means that no part flourishes at the expense of another. The proposal that results from these concerns, is for a high-density multi-use development. It is predominantly a residential development but includes shops, workshops and community space. These provide amenity, employment opportunities and reduce the potential for isolation of individuals living in the development. A reassessment of the housing process to include user participation and a mixture of· ownership and rental opportunities ensures that residents can express their own identities as opposed to the facelessness of mass-housing schemes. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1990.