published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

In this thesis, the significance and best use of a site within the historical centre of inner-city Johannesburg is explored. The site covers a city block and lies across the road from the Square on which the City Hall (housing the offices of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature) is situated. The ‘Barbican’ - an important heritage building - occupies part of the site, the remainder being vacant. Both the site and the Square opposite it are situated within a twenty-four city block precinct which has undergone considerable change since it first came into being one hundred and twenty-two years ago. These changes (particularly those within the Square) have become relevant in the history and character of the precinct, and have been examined in order to place the site into its context and to gain an insight into how and why it may be developed. Changes that have had a substantial effect on the precinct allow its history to be roughly divided into four ‘Eras’. The first of these being ‘Market Square’ (1886 – 1935) which relates to the first developments within the precinct - the changes that made ‘a camp’ into a city. The second era is that of ‘Library Gardens’ (1935 – 1991) which details the changes that occurred after a library was built on the Western side of the Square and the effect of this on it. The third era is the ‘Civic Spine’ (1991 – 1994) which illustrates an attempt by the city to reactivate the precinct and the structures that were built to facilitate this. The fourth era is the ‘Provincial Government Precinct’ (1994 – to date), which deals with the conversion of the City Hall into the offices of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the changes that are currently occurring in the precinct. The four eras were used to provide an historical context for three layers of urban interconnection that may be found within the precinct and include: history, urban space and public place. History explores the ‘past’ of the site; Urban Space concerns the types of space that were created, being based on the urban theory of the time; and Public Place involves occupation of the spaces by the public which resulting in these spaces becoming places and therefore destinations. The results of this investigation were used in the creation of one structure and the conversion of another that will best utilise the site and benefit the precinct in which it is located. The programme that is now outlined comprises a convention centre, gallery and a hotel. The convention centre may be used for both local and provincial government functions, as well as those required by the private sector, given that few (and inadequate) facilities exist at this time within the inner-city. The gallery will depict the numerous changes that are described; the hotel to accommodate conference delegates and others. After the programme has been provided, the results of an exploration of convention centres and their chief components is related. In addition, the historical building – ‘The Barbican’ is situated (in one corner of the site) and raises the relevance of historical conservation. Elements in the construction of a new convention centre on the site and ways in which the Barbican may be used to connect the old with the new are taken into consideration.

Chan Kwok Ho Terence. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1998-99, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-71 ). / Chapter 1.0 --- Evolution of the Program / Chapter 1.1 --- Urbanization of Hong Kong / Chapter 1.2 --- Nga Tsin Wai Scenario / Chapter 1.3 --- Community Studies and Mode of Change in Neighborhood / Chapter 1.4 --- Deficiencies / Chapter 1.5 --- Hypothesis / Chapter 2.0 --- Research / Chapter 2.1 --- Current approaches in urban renewal / Chapter 2.2 --- Current urban high-rise residential architecture / Chapter 2.3 --- Urban Parasite: Illegal Facade / Chapter 2.4 --- The Old Community Sense / Chapter 2.5 --- Village Studies / Chapter 3.0 --- Background and Contextual Analysis / Chapter 3.1 --- Location and Present Situation / Chapter 3.2 --- History / Chapter 3.3 --- Existing Land Use / Chapter 3.4 --- Demographic Data / Chapter 3.5 --- Layout of the Village / Chapter 3.6 --- Environmental Conditions / Chapter 3.7 --- Buildings of the Village / Chapter 3.8 --- Rituals and Village Festival / Chapter 3.9 --- Nearby Villages / Chapter 3.10 --- Different Lanes Condition / Chapter 3.11 --- Vacant & Tenant Condition / Chapter 4.0 --- Design Program / Chapter 4.1 --- Scenario / Chapter 4.2 --- Planning Elements / Chapter 4.3 --- Schedule of Accommodation / Chapter 4.4 --- Opportunities and Constraints / Chapter 4.5 --- Space Relationship Diagram / Chapter 5.0 --- Process / Chapter 6.0 --- Final Product / Appendix / Chapter A0 --- Precedent Study on Kwong Yuen Estation / Chapter A1 --- Precedent Study on Byker Wall / Chapter A2 --- Program reference (LDC proposed project) / Chapter A3 --- Interview with the Village Heads / Notes and Glossary / Bibliography

No abstract

The hardened inner city community of trench town represents one of several impoverished communities that form the heart of the Jamaican capital city, Kingston. As wealth and influence have moved inland, off the coastal plains on which the city was originally settled on, to the slopes of the surrounding mountains, the once vibrant downtown core has decayed. With this urban decay came the social ills that usually accompany failing communities such as crime, violence, shadow economies, health and sanitation issues. As has been the case with many urban centres worldwide, this problem was further exacerbated by an ever present influx of rural immigrants in search of a better life in the city. These associated urban problems not only affect the inhabitants of these communities, but they stifle the growth of the larger national economy. This thesis aims to explore and propose urban design interventions to the inner city community of Trench Town, that not only address the issues of providing viable shelter to the residents of the community, but also begin to set up a frame work of self reliance and economic sustainability and growth, so that the community members can begin to develop their lives for themselves. It also begins to look at ideas of communal living that have been experimented with at on a small scale over the years, but have never been fully integrated into the urban fabric. This thesis looks to examine one specific community within the urban fabric of the city, but all the while cognisant of the fact that this one community is but one in the overall urban fabric, yet recognising that as each informal inner-city community has developed out of a unique set of conditions and thus must be treated individually as such. Throughout the years, several interventions have been implemented to address the overall need to house the population of the expanding urban centres, with many variations of urban housing solutions being used, with varying degrees of success. This thesis will explore the implications of these solutions on the proposed site, and explore viable modifications and variations. Firstl an in depth exploration into the historical and cultural context of the case site will be explored to gain important background knowledge of known factors of spatial development and community needs, and this will form the foundation of any further development going ahead in the case study, which will provide the analytical breakdown of the site and influences. The thesis will then explore international case studies of various approaches to similar situations to identify challenges that have been experienced elsewhere and that may inform the design site. From this research information, parameters and principles will be distilled to inform the overall design intervention. Finally, the proposed design intervention will be reflected upon, and evaluated to try to determine any shortcomings and indentify how the design might be replicated in other communties in Kingston facing similar social and economic conditions.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Landscape-in-process : integrating phytoremediation into landscape design process. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.