Beyond having an impression on identity, architecture and buildings share a symbiotic relationship in form of providing shelter to the human body. This thesis explores enhancing social fabric through the exploration of the interwoven symbiotic tectonics of the community's culture, their identity and architecture; guided by the understanding of emplaced embodied care. The thesis is formulated as architectural investigations dedicated to exploring roles of architecture in nurturing, sheltering, and reflecting the identity of the communities. Thus, the approach is to challenge how buildings combine the community's customs, traditions and needs with architectural work; leading to the argument that, such initiatives have the common purpose of encouraging the community to have an impact on their built environment and the society and ultimately enhancing social fabric. Even though a synthesis of theory, context, brief and technology this dissertation will expand on the field of architecture through critical reinterpretation of the community's culture and rituals to reimagine an appropriate platform that exhibit the concepts of constructed imagery, personal environment, and social communication in the form of a Iziko Community Life Centre dedicated for Abstract “We are our choices.” This interpretation of the famous saying by the 20th-century existentialist and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre when he claimed that “existence precedes essence” (Sartre, 38) is one of the often discussed positions towards definition of being. This leads to an understanding that the impression of who we are is defined by the choices that we make daily; these conscious and subconscious choices have an impression on our personality, perceptions, lifestyle, and feelings, conceiving what we can transcend. Mostly our identity is perceived through how we look like and where we come from, commonly through the way we look and live. Sustainable Building Technologies in disaster relief and emergency response in the disaster prone informal community of Imizamo Yethu, Cape Town I am passionate about people, especially those in communities. I believe there is a need to attend to strong social needs with very practical and noncomplex architectural solutions. This thesis presents a platform where I will able to build on my interest in the continued debate on how to make urban environments more equitable and inclusive through the adaptation and reimagination of both public and private spaces. This also aligns with my further personal focus which involves exploring strategies to implementing realistic and progressive solutions to the challenges of environmental and social sustainability and building technologies. I feel the need to practice in authentic, inclusive architecture to assist to upgrade and integrate existing communities while protecting and preserving their identities and culture. My focus is to navigate the complex structures set up in these communities with ultimately focusing in community architecture and the impact it has on the daily living of the general population of South Africa.

No description available.

This research examines the zone between environment and interior, the architectural façade, for the potential to develop a new form of composition based on kinetic pattern. Within contemporary architecture there is a growing interest in kinetics. Intelligent façades for example, manifest kinetics in the form of a responsive skin that adapts to changing environment conditions and user occupancy, continuing the trajectory of functionalism. Media façades by contrast, are driven by an interest in the recasting of architectural surface as a zone of interactivity, with the potential to engage users with public art works or embed socio-cultural information. Regardless of the design intent, the emerging field of kinetic façades offers the challenge of developing a sophisticated approach to the design of motion. As evidenced by a review of theory and practice, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the possibilities offered by kinetics. / Through the lens of morphology, this thesis explores the possibilities of kinetic composition afforded by façades in motion. The emphasis is on the underlying structure of kinetic form, independent of physical scale or materiality. Kinetics is defined in spatial terms: actual movement through geometric transformation in space (translation, rotation, scaling); or through controlling material properties of elasticity and mass to produce movement. Composition is analyzed in terms of pattern, defined as the relative movement of individual kinetic parts in time and space - the way in which multiple singular kinetic events cluster, or propagate, across a facade over time. A morphology of pattern is developed by three interrelated questions. What design variables influence kinetics, what is the theoretical range, and what nomenclature may robustly describe a morphology of pattern? / An original framework for conceiving design variables is proposed. The framework revolves around diverse approaches to data sampling and control systems, alongside the typical architectural emphasis on the design of the physical components. These three interrelated design activities are conceived in terms of ‘decision planes’. Specification of variables on each plane and in relation to time, determine the spatio-temporal limits, or what is termed as the ‘variable space’, from which patterns will emerge. / This conceptual framework has been used to structure a methodical series of computer animations, which explore range of pattern. In a similar vein to the tradition of façade study drawings, a diagrammatic approach to animation has been developed. The adoption of a non-realistic mode of representation is intended to focus attention on ‘movement itself’, independent of physical scale, materiality or figurative associations. Through analysis and discussion of the animations, it is proposed that morphology of kinetic pattern is robustly described through a nomenclature based on state change. It is proposed that three recognizable states reoccur-waves, folds and fields. State change is based on the principle of internal variance within these three simple states, and intermediate states that allow transition by degree and kind. Similar to the nomenclature for describing clouds, this provides a robust and extendable approach, allowing multiple intermediate states to be conceived in relation to the wave, fold and field definitions. / The framework for conceiving variables that influence pattern and the state change morphology provide the means to improve understanding in the particular realm of kinetic façade composition. The framework is presented in generic form and a particular instance is developed based on an analysis of key references. This provides a model to conceive the multiple variables that influence kinetic composition, while the morphology provides a low resolution map for designers, identifying the most distinctive forms and providing a scaffold for research by design. Further work on extending these contributions to knowledge is outlined, including the description of a simulation environment calibrated to the physical constraints of materials and technology.

Thesis (M.L.)(Prof.)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

The thesis critically addresses the current architectural condition of the majority of the Okanagan region’s wineries. Their superficial nature, eager to pander to the area’s tourism industry, has left a noticeable void to architecture that truly engages with its surroundings and the emotional investment of its inhabitants and users. The resulting lack of “place” has sparked me to reinvestigate the qualities of the Okanagan landscape, the industrial processes of winemaking, and the patterns and rituals of both winemaker and visitor in an effort to create meaningful architecture.

No description available.

This research examines the zone between environment and interior, the architectural façade, for the potential to develop a new form of composition based on kinetic pattern. Within contemporary architecture there is a growing interest in kinetics. Intelligent façades for example, manifest kinetics in the form of a responsive skin that adapts to changing environment conditions and user occupancy, continuing the trajectory of functionalism. Media façades by contrast, are driven by an interest in the recasting of architectural surface as a zone of interactivity, with the potential to engage users with public art works or embed socio-cultural information. Regardless of the design intent, the emerging field of kinetic façades offers the challenge of developing a sophisticated approach to the design of motion. As evidenced by a review of theory and practice, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the possibilities offered by kinetics. / Through the lens of morphology, this thesis explores the possibilities of kinetic composition afforded by façades in motion. The emphasis is on the underlying structure of kinetic form, independent of physical scale or materiality. Kinetics is defined in spatial terms: actual movement through geometric transformation in space (translation, rotation, scaling); or through controlling material properties of elasticity and mass to produce movement. Composition is analyzed in terms of pattern, defined as the relative movement of individual kinetic parts in time and space - the way in which multiple singular kinetic events cluster, or propagate, across a facade over time. A morphology of pattern is developed by three interrelated questions. What design variables influence kinetics, what is the theoretical range, and what nomenclature may robustly describe a morphology of pattern? / An original framework for conceiving design variables is proposed. The framework revolves around diverse approaches to data sampling and control systems, alongside the typical architectural emphasis on the design of the physical components. These three interrelated design activities are conceived in terms of ‘decision planes’. Specification of variables on each plane and in relation to time, determine the spatio-temporal limits, or what is termed as the ‘variable space’, from which patterns will emerge. / This conceptual framework has been used to structure a methodical series of computer animations, which explore range of pattern. In a similar vein to the tradition of façade study drawings, a diagrammatic approach to animation has been developed. The adoption of a non-realistic mode of representation is intended to focus attention on ‘movement itself’, independent of physical scale, materiality or figurative associations. Through analysis and discussion of the animations, it is proposed that morphology of kinetic pattern is robustly described through a nomenclature based on state change. It is proposed that three recognizable states reoccur-waves, folds and fields. State change is based on the principle of internal variance within these three simple states, and intermediate states that allow transition by degree and kind. Similar to the nomenclature for describing clouds, this provides a robust and extendable approach, allowing multiple intermediate states to be conceived in relation to the wave, fold and field definitions. / The framework for conceiving variables that influence pattern and the state change morphology provide the means to improve understanding in the particular realm of kinetic façade composition. The framework is presented in generic form and a particular instance is developed based on an analysis of key references. This provides a model to conceive the multiple variables that influence kinetic composition, while the morphology provides a low resolution map for designers, identifying the most distinctive forms and providing a scaffold for research by design. Further work on extending these contributions to knowledge is outlined, including the description of a simulation environment calibrated to the physical constraints of materials and technology.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 315-331).

In psychoanalytic literature, psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott defines 'potential space' as the space between 'inner world' - creation of the unconscious fantasy, a private replica of the world and objects around us - and 'outer world' - the actual world, objects and people around us - where intimate relationships and creativity occur. Converged around spatial design and psychological concepts, and developing an understanding of the importance between both, I intend to explore the possibility of bringing the 'potential space' notion into the constructed environment. Highlighting, thus, the human condition of architecture where the designer is not a separate entity from the built environment but an intimate part of it through the design process. This investigation concerns how a psychoanalytic approach can be used to establish a background research which provides a foundation from which new ways of understanding one's own design processes can be launched: a way of moving towards the design practice through a 'self' inner sense.

No description available.