A public interface for the infrastructure of Hartbeespoort Dam Water sustains all living things on this earth and has a huge impact on the natural environment. Water is the most valuable natural resource on this earth. It is vital to humans' existence. It is why we have evolved to the point that we are now and if we do not appreciate it, it will be our demise. Water has the ability to adapt and change as different natural systems interact with it, it allows a constant balance to remain. Humans have broken the delicate balance of water supply and demand, detrimentally affecting the natural systems that support us. Since the start of the industrial era our cities have grown at an exponential rate. The development of cities has impacted negatively on natural systems. This has led to a concomitant disconnection between man and nature and has divorced humans from an understanding of the role and importance of natural water systems. . We have forgotten the positive effects that we experience when directly engaging with water as we live in environments often far from nature; rarely experiencing it fully. Our physical control of natural resources has led to a physical disconnection and under appreciation of these precious resources. This project aims to reconnect man and nature to create a new paradigm where humans value our natural resources and, in particular, water. A re-appropriation of water infrastructure through an architectural interface that fulfils cultural, social and economic functions to create a positive recreational space that celebrates water and its importance in our h eritage. T he intention is to c reate a p roductive infrastructure that facilitates exchanges between site, existing infrastructure and the user. / n Publieke skeidingsvlak vir die infrastruktuur van die Hartebeespoort Dam omgewing. Water onderhou alle lewe op aarde en het 'n groot impak op die natuurlike omgewing. Water is die belangrikste natuurlike hulpbron op die aarde en is van die uiterste belang vir die mens se voortbestaan. Dit is hoekom ons die punt bereik het waar ons nou is. Dit sal ons ondergang beteken as ons dit nie bewaar en waardeer nie. Die mens het die delikate balans van aanvraag en watervoorsiening versteur tot nadeel van die natuurlike sisteme wat ons onderhou. Sedert die begin van die industriele tydperk het ons stede eksponensie?l vergroot. Die ontwikkeling van stede het 'n negatiewe impak gehad op ons natuurlike omgewing. Dit het gelei na 'n gepaardgaande diskonneksie tussen mens en natuur en het die mens se begrip van die rol en belang van natuurlike waterbronne negatief be?nvloed. Omdat ons in omgewings woon v?r verwyder van water en dikwels van die natuur kom ons nie direk met water as lewensmiddel in ons omgewing in kontak nie. Ons fisiese beheer van natuurlike bronne het gelei tot die skeiding en onderwaardeering van hierdie kosbare bronne. Die doel van die projek is om mens en die natuur bymekaar te bring en 'n nuwe paradigma te skep waar die mens sy natuurlike bronne, en in die besonder water, waardeer. 'n Nuwe benadering tot waterinfrastruktuur deur 'n argitektonise wisselwerking wat kulturele, sosiale en ekonomiese funksies bymekaar bring om 'n positiewe onspanne ruimte te skep waar die belang van water as 'n erfenis vier, is nodig. Die doel is om 'n produktiewe infrastruktuur te skep wat uitruiling tussen die terrein, die huidige infrastruktuur en die gebruiker bymekaar bring. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

With our ever increasing global population it will be necessary for dense urban environments to develop methods of farming locally. Not only will urban agriculture be beneficial in aiding in the solution of this growing populations need for food production, but it can help to reconnect us to our food and their processes. This dissertation explores the education and reconnection of the public with the food production cycle through the experience of building integrated agriculture, vermiculture and aquaponic systems (cultivating plants and fish symbiotically). Pretoria’s Apies River is an ideal location for the establishment of a research facility of urban ecosystemic food production. The proposed urban agriculture program will allow for hands on research and development of emerging methods and technologies related to farming in the city environment while providing a platform for public education through interaction&inspiration. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Architecture / unrestricted