Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The official custodian of the Cape Peninsula mountain chain, located at the centre of Cape Town, is the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). This park is South Africa’s only urban open-access park and has been declared a World Heritage Site. This thesis is an anthropological and historical examination of the past and present conservation of the Cape Peninsula . I provide an overview of the relationship between the urban environment and the Cape Peninsula aiming to illustrate the produced character of the mountains and its mediation in power relations. This study of custodianship reveals that protecting and conserving the Cape Peninsula is shaped by the politics of the urban and natural environment as well as by the experience of living in the city. As such, official and unofficial custodianship is informed by class and race differentiations, embedded in the politics of identity, responsive to the local and national political transformations in governance and connected to the urban struggles of the marginalised Capetonians. Furthermore, inherent in the notion of custodianship is the social appropriation of the Cape Peninsula which was shown to produce specific ideological representations of nature. The thesis presents an ethnographic study of Hangberg, a poor neighbourhood situated at the border of the TMNP. There, the encroachments and poaching within the park boundaries is addressed by focussing on the competing discourses between biodiversity, entitlement and heritage. The engagements between the TMNP, the state and Hangberg on the issues of conservation reveal the distinct complexities of running a national park in a city beset with inequalities. My focus on these engagements also illustrates that the manifestation of ‘community’ is a construction contingent upon circumstances which reflect a meaningful and political relationship between identity, citizenship and place, rather than a homogeneous group of people. I conclude with the idea that in attempting to make the park socially and racially equitable, urban conservation ought to begin to recognise its distinct urban character in the larger socio-environmental framework of the city. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die offisiële beskermheer van die Kaapse Skiereiland Bergreeks, geleë in die sentrum van Kaapstad, is die Tafelberg Nasionale Park (TNP). Die park is Suid-Afrika se enigste stedelike en oop-toegangspark en is verklaar as ’n Wêreld Erfenis Gebied. Hierdie tesis is ’n antropologiese en historiese studie van die huidige en geskiedkundige beskerming van die Kaapse Skiereiland. ’n Oorsig van die verhouding tussen die stedelike omgewing en die Kaapse Skiereiland ontbloot die geproduseerde karakter van die bergreeks en die bemiddeling daarvan in magsverhoudinge. ’n Studie van die beskermheerders van die Kaapse Skiereiland toon aan dat die beskerming en bewaring van die bergreeks (of dele daarvan) afhanklik is van die stedelike en nasionale politieke klimaat en die ervaring van ’n stedelike lewe. Sodoende word offisiële en nie-offisiële kuratorskap as klas- en ras-onderskeibaar, ingebed in identiteitspolitiek, verwant aan die plaaslike en nasionale politieke transformasies in die regering, en verbonde aan die stryd van armes in Kaapstad gedefinieer. Verder, inherent aan kuratorskap is die sosiale toe-eiening van die Kaapse Skiereiland wat spesifieke ideologiese voorstellings van die natuur in die stad produseer. Die tesis bied’n etnografiese studie van Hangberg aan, ’n arm woonbuurt geleë op die grens van die TNP. Ek bespreek die onwettige behuising en stropery binne die park se grense deur te fokus op die kompeterende diskoerse tussen biodiversiteit, regte en erfenis. Die onderhandelinge tussen die TNP, die staat, en Hangberg in verband met die kwessies rondom bewaring ontbloot die spesifieke kompleksiteit daarvan om ’n nasionale park in ’n stad geteister deur ongelykhede te bestuur. Hierdie fokus illustreer dat ‘gemeenskap’ manifesteer as ’n konstruksie wat afhanklik is van omstandighede en dui op ’n betekenisvolle en politieke verhouding tussen identiteit, burgerskap en plek, eerder as ’n homogene groep. Ek sluit af met die idee dat in ’n poging om die TNP meer sosiaal- en ras-inklusief te maak, behoort stedelike bewaring die spesifieke stedelike karakter daarvan te erken in die groter sosialeomgewingsraamwerk van die stad.

Abstract The research is based on the historic wooden town as a cultural heritage site and as an everyday environment for its inhabitants. A cultural environment takes shape in interaction with people living it. In the preservation of a historic town finding a continuing balance between change and permanence has nevertheless become a challenging issue. This research examines the opportunities that a historic wooden town has of continued prosperity, taking as a starting point the safeguarding of its cultural environment as a good living environment. Empirical cases are Old Porvoo and Old Raahe. The significance of a historic wooden town as a living environment is examined in relation to the objectives of a heritage conservation as viewed by the authorities. Urban planning documents and personal interviews provide the research material. These depict the significance of a wooden town both as a place for living and as a cultural heritage site. Based on the holistic concept of man, the human-environment relationship is seen as one in which the individual has a chance for complete personal participation inseparable from the environment. Being content with the environment, the individual feels affinity to the options afforded and can make good use of them relatively independently. It is historically characteristic of wooden towns to be formed in a close interaction between the individual and the environment and to conform to real-life situations of its inhabitants. According to this research, this characteristic is also highly appreciated by the current inhabitants. It can also be seen as an important factor that guarantees the continuity of both a good living environment and the cultural-historical significance of these towns. Thus, the cultural-historical value can be seen as relating to the characteristic change of the environment as an expression of the human-environment relationship. Instead of material authenticity, of primary importance is the authenticity of a way of living coherent with the environment, which gains meaning when compatibility between people and their environment is found. Nevertheless, as the inhabitants’ sense of the qualities of the environment deepens, the need for material change decreases. Maintenance of the cultural environment is best sustained by humane way of life, made possible as the human-environment relationship deepens into holistic participation. The holistic preservation of the built environment means taking care of the whole – the mutual relationship between the individual and the environment. As humane work progresses in dialogue, it favours the unique quality of individuals and their personal life situations as the impulses of a culture. Holistic preservation can be further promoted by widening the expertise of cultural heritage in issues concerning human welfare, by co-operation between various administrative organs and also by strengthening the local communality. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimusasetelma perustuu historialliseen puukaupunkiin kulttuurihistoriallisesti arvokkaana suojelukohteena ja asukkaidensa arkiympäristönä. Kulttuuriympäristö muotoutuu vuorovaikutuksessa sitä elävän ihmisen kanssa. Sen suojelussa jatkuvuutta toteuttavan tasapainon löytäminen muutoksen ja säilyttämisen välille on muodostunut kuitenkin vaikeasti ratkaistavaksi kysymykseksi. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan historiallisen puukaupungin jatkuvuuden mahdollisuuksia lähtökohtana kulttuuriympäristön suojelu hyvänä elinympäristönä. Empiiriset kohteet ovat Vanha Porvoo ja Vanha Raahe. Historiallisen puukaupungin merkitystä nykyihmisen elinympäristönä on tuotu esiin suhteessa rakennussuojeluviranomaisten asettamiin tavoitteisiin. Kaupunkisuunnittelun asiakirjoihin ja haastatteluihin perustuva aineisto kuvaa puukaupunkiin liitettyä merkityksenantoa elettynä ja suojeltuna. Holistiseen ihmiskäsitykseen perustuen inhimillisenä ympäristösuhteena on pidetty yksilön mahdollisuutta kokonaisvaltaiseen osallisuuteen ympäristöstään erottamattomana. Kokiessaan elinympäristönsä hyväksi ihminen oivaltaa sen tarjoamia mahdollisuuksia mieltymyksiään vastaaviksi ja voi niitä myös hyödyntää ympäristöön suhteellisen omaehtoisesti suuntautuen. Ihmisen ja ympäristön välittömässä suhteessa muotoutuminen ja elämäntilanteisiin vastaava joustavuus on puukaupungille historiallisesti ominainen rakentumisen tapa ja tutkimuksen perusteella myös nykyasukkaiden arvostama ominaisuus. Sitä voidaan pitää jatkuvuuden tekijänä sekä hyvän elinympäristön että kulttuurihistoriallisen merkityksen kannalta. Kulttuurihistoriallinen arvo voi siten liittyä ympäristölle luonteenomaiseen muuttumisen tapaan ihmisen ja ympäristön välisen suhteen ilmaisuna. Materiaalisen autenttisuuden sijasta primääriä on ympäristölle ominaisen elämäntavan autenttisuus, joka saa merkityksensä ihmisen ja ympäristön yhteensopivuuden löytymisestä. Asukkaan oivaltavuuden kasvaessa ympäristön tarjoamien mahdollisuuksien suhteen tarve aineelliseen muuttamiseen kuitenkin vähenee. Kulttuuriympäristön suojelussa jatkuva ylläpito toteutuu aidoimmillaan elämäntapaan sisäistyneenä inhimillisen asumisen taitona, joka kehittyy ympäristösuhteen syventyessä kokonaisvaltaiseksi osallisuudeksi. Rakennetun kulttuuriympäristön holistinen suojelu merkitsee kokonaisuuden eli ihmisen ja ympäristön välisen suhteen hoitamista. Tasavertaisissa vuorovaikutustilanteissa etenevänä ihmistyönä se suhtautuu suopeasti yksilölliseen ainutlaatuisuuteen ja henkilökohtaisiin elämäntilanteisiin kulttuurin tekijöinä. Holistista suojelua edistää kulttuuriperintöalan osaamispohjan laajentaminen ihmisen hyvinvointia koskevissa kysymyksissä, eri hallintokuntien välinen yhteistyö sekä paikkaan sitoutuneen yhteisöllisyyden vahvistaminen.

Abstract The research is based on the historic wooden town as a cultural heritage site and as an everyday environment for its inhabitants. A cultural environment takes shape in interaction with people living it. In the preservation of a historic town finding a continuing balance between change and permanence has nevertheless become a challenging issue. This research examines the opportunities that a historic wooden town has of continued prosperity, taking as a starting point the safeguarding of its cultural environment as a good living environment. Empirical cases are Old Porvoo and Old Raahe. The significance of a historic wooden town as a living environment is examined in relation to the objectives of a heritage conservation as viewed by the authorities. Urban planning documents and personal interviews provide the research material. These depict the significance of a wooden town both as a place for living and as a cultural heritage site. Based on the holistic concept of man, the human-environment relationship is seen as one in which the individual has a chance for complete personal participation inseparable from the environment. Being content with the environment, the individual feels affinity to the options afforded and can make good use of them relatively independently. It is historically characteristic of wooden towns to be formed in a close interaction between the individual and the environment and to conform to real-life situations of its inhabitants. According to this research, this characteristic is also highly appreciated by the current inhabitants. It can also be seen as an important factor that guarantees the continuity of both a good living environment and the cultural-historical significance of these towns. Thus, the cultural-historical value can be seen as relating to the characteristic change of the environment as an expression of the human-environment relationship. Instead of material authenticity, of primary importance is the authenticity of a way of living coherent with the environment, which gains meaning when compatibility between people and their environment is found. Nevertheless, as the inhabitants’ sense of the qualities of the environment deepens, the need for material change decreases. Maintenance of the cultural environment is best sustained by humane way of life, made possible as the human-environment relationship deepens into holistic participation. The holistic preservation of the built environment means taking care of the whole – the mutual relationship between the individual and the environment. As humane work progresses in dialogue, it favours the unique quality of individuals and their personal life situations as the impulses of a culture. Holistic preservation can be further promoted by widening the expertise of cultural heritage in issues concerning human welfare, by co-operation between various administrative organs and also by strengthening the local communality. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimusasetelma perustuu historialliseen puukaupunkiin kulttuurihistoriallisesti arvokkaana suojelukohteena ja asukkaidensa arkiympäristönä. Kulttuuriympäristö muotoutuu vuorovaikutuksessa sitä elävän ihmisen kanssa. Sen suojelussa jatkuvuutta toteuttavan tasapainon löytäminen muutoksen ja säilyttämisen välille on muodostunut kuitenkin vaikeasti ratkaistavaksi kysymykseksi. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan historiallisen puukaupungin jatkuvuuden mahdollisuuksia lähtökohtana kulttuuriympäristön suojelu hyvänä elinympäristönä. Empiiriset kohteet ovat Vanha Porvoo ja Vanha Raahe. Historiallisen puukaupungin merkitystä nykyihmisen elinympäristönä on tuotu esiin suhteessa rakennussuojeluviranomaisten asettamiin tavoitteisiin. Kaupunkisuunnittelun asiakirjoihin ja haastatteluihin perustuva aineisto kuvaa puukaupunkiin liitettyä merkityksenantoa elettynä ja suojeltuna. Holistiseen ihmiskäsitykseen perustuen inhimillisenä ympäristösuhteena on pidetty yksilön mahdollisuutta kokonaisvaltaiseen osallisuuteen ympäristöstään erottamattomana. Kokiessaan elinympäristönsä hyväksi ihminen oivaltaa sen tarjoamia mahdollisuuksia mieltymyksiään vastaaviksi ja voi niitä myös hyödyntää ympäristöön suhteellisen omaehtoisesti suuntautuen. Ihmisen ja ympäristön välittömässä suhteessa muotoutuminen ja elämäntilanteisiin vastaava joustavuus on puukaupungille historiallisesti ominainen rakentumisen tapa ja tutkimuksen perusteella myös nykyasukkaiden arvostama ominaisuus. Sitä voidaan pitää jatkuvuuden tekijänä sekä hyvän elinympäristön että kulttuurihistoriallisen merkityksen kannalta. Kulttuurihistoriallinen arvo voi siten liittyä ympäristölle luonteenomaiseen muuttumisen tapaan ihmisen ja ympäristön välisen suhteen ilmaisuna. Materiaalisen autenttisuuden sijasta primääriä on ympäristölle ominaisen elämäntavan autenttisuus, joka saa merkityksensä ihmisen ja ympäristön yhteensopivuuden löytymisestä. Asukkaan oivaltavuuden kasvaessa ympäristön tarjoamien mahdollisuuksien suhteen tarve aineelliseen muuttamiseen kuitenkin vähenee. Kulttuuriympäristön suojelussa jatkuva ylläpito toteutuu aidoimmillaan elämäntapaan sisäistyneenä inhimillisen asumisen taitona, joka kehittyy ympäristösuhteen syventyessä kokonaisvaltaiseksi osallisuudeksi. Rakennetun kulttuuriympäristön holistinen suojelu merkitsee kokonaisuuden eli ihmisen ja ympäristön välisen suhteen hoitamista. Tasavertaisissa vuorovaikutustilanteissa etenevänä ihmistyönä se suhtautuu suopeasti yksilölliseen ainutlaatuisuuteen ja henkilökohtaisiin elämäntilanteisiin kulttuurin tekijöinä. Holistista suojelua edistää kulttuuriperintöalan osaamispohjan laajentaminen ihmisen hyvinvointia koskevissa kysymyksissä, eri hallintokuntien välinen yhteistyö sekä paikkaan sitoutuneen yhteisöllisyyden vahvistaminen.

The designed area of residential buildings responds to the surrounding buildings, the development of existing block and defines the frontage streets of Gorkého and Údolní street. The ends of the lines extend to the building of a hospital and between them is the private garden for the residents. Recessed floor apartment buildings react to remote vista through Čápkova street to the Orthodox durch of sv. Václav from the 30s of the 20th century. The proposed passage in the extension of Čápkova street, bordered on one side with three-story apartment buildings, allowing access to Špilberk, which is an alternative to the uncomfortable route along the busy Úvoz stree. The new use of the historic building should be private fertility clinic and center for assisted reproduction, which follows the 130 years of unbroken tradition, and the object corresponds to the developing trend of contemporary luxury parenthood.

The subject of the thesis is an architectural study of the reconstruction and extension of the "Centrum" department store in Brno. It is a dominant building designed by the famous czech architect Vladimir Karfík, which is located at the Urban Conservation Area Brno. Object wasn´t realized with the full extent of the original proposal, so in the project is planned a completion of it. The new solution respects the historical quality of Urban Conservation Area Brno with a concurrent view of the location on the lucrative land in the city center. The architectural concept is based on a return to the original idea of the architect and the addition of my own creative contribution within the extension of the new floors. Draft of the extension is intended so that the individual parts of an object communicate with each other, but they are easily recognizable as well. This idea was filled by both parts linked together visually by horizontal lines and ripple, which is used on balconies of the extension and behind the facade of the current building by shielding walls. However it is emphasized the contrast between an enclosed mass and a free-flowing space. The existing part of the building is used especialy as a leasable area of trade and services. On the upper floors there are areas of administration. Furthermore, there will be a restaurant and cafe with exhibition galleries and apartments are designed on the new added floors. The building is adapted to use by person with limited mobility. Newly added uses in the object will increase the attractiveness of the building and its surroundings.

The purpose of this research was to assess the condition of open spaces, community perceptions, benefits, threats and challenges faced by open spaces within KwaDukuza. The research is regarded as important within the context of threats posed by uncontrolled development to urban biodiversity. Primary and secondary documentary sources on open spaces in the study area were consulted. Data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire, with a sample of 100 respondents; observation; structured interviews with key respondents and discussions with focus groups. The research revealed a consistent pattern of threatened urban biodiversity when compared with other studies. The main finding was that the open spaces were under severe strain and threat in the area of KwaDukuza due to development. There was a noted lack of knowledge about key tools meant to safeguard the environment. The study concluded by recommending community participation, education and an open space policy framework for KwaDukuza. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)

The purpose of this research was to assess the condition of open spaces, community perceptions, benefits, threats and challenges faced by open spaces within KwaDukuza. The research is regarded as important within the context of threats posed by uncontrolled development to urban biodiversity. Primary and secondary documentary sources on open spaces in the study area were consulted. Data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire, with a sample of 100 respondents; observation; structured interviews with key respondents and discussions with focus groups. The research revealed a consistent pattern of threatened urban biodiversity when compared with other studies. The main finding was that the open spaces were under severe strain and threat in the area of KwaDukuza due to development. There was a noted lack of knowledge about key tools meant to safeguard the environment. The study concluded by recommending community participation, education and an open space policy framework for KwaDukuza. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)