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Interest in park services and understanding leisure decision making has become increasingly important in the last fifty years. Canadians in particular have an affinity for spending time in natural areas and often in parks. Parks and protected areas provide a reasonable and approachable place for people to relax, learn and socialize. This research project consists of interviews and surveys of policy makers and park users at William A. Switzer Provincial Park in Alberta, following the renovation of its visitor centre. The research asks questions related to the visitor centres goals, who visited, and what the renovation might reveal about changing leisure choices. People visited the centre particularly if they were new to the area and visitor centre clientele responded positively. This research shows how parks respond to the leisure public by providing access to educational and social opportunities at a park.

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site covers an area of over 47000 hectares in the north-western corner of Gauteng, straddling the boundary between Gauteng and North West provinces. The area is of outstanding universal value as it contains a complex of palaeontological and palaeo – anthropological sites which have yielded some of the most valuable evidence worldwide of the origins of modern humans. Embedded in the rocks found in the numerous dolomitic caves in the area are the fossilised remains of hominids, their lithicultural remains and fossils of other plants, animals and pollen. These give a complete picture of the hominids and their surroundings dating back over 3.3 million years. The richness and variety of these deposits, their excellent preservation in the caves, and the age of the specimens, make this area of world significance. The aim of this dissertation is the development of an architectural product that aids interpretation of the meanings and values inherent in the COH WHS and its context. The design approach is rational and simplicity is explored in order to develop the building as communication medium and introduction to the context. By its design, the building becomes an unobtrusive line in the landscape, focusing attention on the natural setting and exposing visitors to the unique character of this heritage site. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Architecture / unrestricted

The introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit and the Gautrain Rail and Bus facilities to the corner of Wolmarans and Rissik Street in Johannesburg's inner city has altered the site on which the Brazilian Modernist inspired South African Railway War Memorial Hall is situated. The new public transport facilities have bought in new users, increasing the foot traffic on the site. However, the additional facilities on the site remain unchanged and does not accommodate and provide the necessary facilities for its current users. The South African Railway War Memorial Hall sits isolated from the site and the larger context of Johannesburg's inner city, and fails to communicate the energy and unique flavour, that is seen at many urban spaces within the culturally rich Johannesburg inner city. Interior architecture involves the alteration and adaptive reuse of existing structures. The thesis proposes the alteration of the South African Railway War Memorial Hall into a visitor centre for the Johannesburg Tourism Company. An intensive analysis was conducted in order to establish the historical, structural and environment contributors to the design. Visitor centres, relevant precedents, along with the theory of place-making were investigated to establish an effective design approach that will address the identified problem. This resulted in the design of the Urban Foyer. The intervention will provide the necessary facilities required by the current and proposed users. It will also promote and advertise local events, unique urban spaces frequented by locals and popular landmarks. It is hoped that such an intervention will facilitate the integration of the site with its immediate and larger context. It is also hoped that through this integration current and new users will be encouraged to explore Johannesburg's inner city. / Dissertation MInt(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / Architecture / MInt(Prof) / Unrestricted

Postmodern museums challenge many of the more traditional concepts regarding what constitutes a museum. Concepts such as museums being places of contemplation or places that exhibit collected artefacts are no longer considered to be the primary attributes of museums. The idea of the museum as a collection of knowledge is beginning to take ground even though more traditional ideas are not necessarily rejected. As the focus has shifted towards the experience of the visitor in terms of education and entertainment, the display of artefacts supported by text is no longer considered to be essential to providing a meaningful experience for the visitor. Photography and film are now widely used to communicate information or ideas in museums. Less widely used, particularly in South Africa, are new media such as computer games and virtual reality. New media, because of its ability to engage people through its interactive nature provides a valuable communication tool for the museum environment. A comparison between two South African sites, The Maropeng Visitor Centre and The Origins Centre, reveals the value of new media for museums and the value of museums for education in the society at large. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Visual Arts / unrestricted

For thousands of years the migratory birds has travelled across the earth in the same directions and returns to the same places generation through generation. They navigate by the magnetic field of the earth, star constellations, polarized light and through a visual memory of the geological landmarks like the coastlines. After they have made their journey across open sea they need place for resting. Lista is the first outpost after the long distance over the North Sea. Lista Bird Observatory has been in operation since 1989. The bird observatory's premier task is to identify the existence and development of bird populations and to collect quantitative data on bird migration over time. The observatory is strategically located at the flyways for several migration birds. Ever since its establishment all observation data has been recorded and since 1990 the observatory also make standardized bird ringing. In Norway, this material constitutes unique time series for the presence of a large number of bird species. This project answers to the need of appropriate locations for the bird observatory. It creates conditions for a national and an international research and a platform for the Norwegian Ornithological Society. It also gives spaces for environmental education and information where the architecture emphasizes the landscape as well as the bird- and wildlife. Local residents and occasional visitors are given room for recreation and meeting places and the project connects to a Norwegian culture of experience tourism. It underlines the bird observatory's significance and creates a local and regional center for bird watching. The architecture creates a focus and an awareness of the surrounding landscape and alludes to a tradition of vistas but in the same time it offers the visitors to enter and explore the nature. / I tusentals år flyttfåglarna har rest över jorden i samma riktningar och återvänder till samma platser generation efter generation. De navigerar genom jordens magnetfält, stjärnbilder, polariserat ljus och genom ett visuellt minne av geografiska landmärken såsom kuststräckor och öar. Efter att de har gjort sin resa över öppet hav behöver de plats för vila. Lista är den första utposten efter den långa resan över Nordsjön. Lista fågelstation har varit verksam sedan 1989. Fågelstationens främsta uppgift är att kartlägga förekomsten och utvecklingen av fågelpopulationer samt att samla in kvantitativ data om flyttfåglar och deras rörelser över tid. Observatoriet är strategiskt beläget vid flyttsträckor för flertalet flyttfåglar. Ända sedan starten har alla observationsdata registrerats och sedan 1990 gör fågelstationen även standardiserade ringmärkning. I Norge utgör detta material unika tidsserier för förekomsten av ett stort antal fågelarter. Detta projekt svarar för behovet av ändamålsenliga lokaler för fågelstation. Det skapar förutsättningar för en nationell och internationell forskning och en plattform för Norsk Ornitologisk Förening. Det ger också utrymmen för miljöutbildning och miljöinformation där arkitekturen betonar landskapet samt fågel-och djurlivet. Lokala invånare och tillfälliga besökare ges rum för rekreation och mötesplatser och projektet ansluter till en norsk kultur av friluftsturism. Det understryker fågelstationens betydelse och skapar ett lokalt och regionalt centrum för fågelskådning. Arkitekturen skapar ett fokus och en medvetenhet om det omgivande landskapet och anspelar på en norsk tradition av vyer men erbjuder på samma gång besökarna att stiga ut i och uppleva naturen.

The Tourist Information Centre of Brno is currently searching for ideas on how to utilise and create access to out-of-use historical reservoirs located almost at the top of The Yellow Hill, in the area covered in wild vegetation hemmed in by Tomešova and Tvrdého street. The goal of the first phase of the project was to create a concept of utilisation of the area and the objects within. The second phase of Master Thesis concentrates on describing a specific idea of processes taking place in this area and a detailed design of its selected parts.