MA, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / The Newtown Cultural Precinct came about as one of government’s interventions to turn around Johannesburg’s Inner City degeneration as a result of big business’s migration to the North in the nineties when urban management and land use controls collapsed. Government’s approach to culture-led urban regeneration was by means of large public sector capital development. The research covers the history of the concept of Newtown as a cultural precinct and how it came into being. It explores the criteria for cultural precincts in terms of international best practice and whether Newtown meets these requirements. It determines whether what was planned for Newtown by government has been achieved, and is being implemented. A review of strategies, business plans, projects and activities related to the development of Newtown as a cultural precinct was undertaken, as were interviews with key stakeholders, in order to establish why the notion of a cultural precinct took root when it did, and whether it is a success or not.

This Thesis is a case study on the design and development of a medical center comprised of three buildings to be located on the Blacksburg Campus of Virginia Tech. The three buildings will form a space unlike any other space on campus -- it will be an Urban Precinct that will introduce a new and inspiring space where students can experience urban life on their own traditionally rural campus. / Master of Architecture

Abstract: The emergence and development of tourism attractions in inner cities throughout the world has given rise to a number of scholarly debates in the academic study of urban tourism. While academic scholarship in the field of urban tourism began with the cities of the developed states mostly in the 1980s, the emergence and development of tourism initiatives in the inner cities of the developing states in 1990s has drawn a great deal of attention to the South as well. This research explores the emergence and development of an inner city tourism initiative in the form of a craft project known as Beautiful Things. Beautiful Things is a two-year-old craft project located at Newtown’s Cultural Precinct, in the inner city of Johannesburg. The project was inaugurated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August 2002, and has since its relocation to the inner city of Johannesburg in December 2002, contributed significantly to the physical, social and economic regeneration of this area. The study of this project is very important in that it is shedding some light on the role of heritage and cultural industries in rejuvenating declining inner cities. It gives light on how Newtown Cultural Precinct as a whole functions within the inner city of Johannesburg. In spite of this project’s role in the development of the Johannesburg inner city, Beautiful Things has not yet been explored for academic research. This research on Beautiful Things is set to be informative on a number of theoretical issues underpinning the development of urban heritage and cultural tourism in general and the development of tourism in Johannesburg. The findings of the study of Beautiful Things reveal important international trends on the development of heritage and cultural attractions in inner cities and elucidate a number of similarities in the development of tourism policies across the cities of the world. This research begins with a chapter on the international experiences of heritage and cultural tourism developments in inner cities and then follows by a study of Johannesburg’s tourism policy and strategy developments. Both chapters are vital in providing the context under which Beautiful Things came to emerge in the inner city of Johannesburg, performing an important role of regenerating the declining inner city. The last part of this research is an empirical confirmation study of physical, social and economic contributions of Beautiful Things in the inner city of Johannesburg. The research is informed by theories of neo-liberalization, local economic development, and inner city regeneration.

Esta tese procura articular a pesquisa etnográfica em laboratórios de biologia, genética e bioquímica na qual se destacam os recintos como ambientes de domesticação científica de agentes orgânicos ao pensamento da evolução, abordado pela leitura da obra de Charles Darwin, uma vez que a concepção sobre a variação e a conservação das formas orgânicas, nas expressões deste autor, revela-se fundamento das práticas daqueles laboratórios. O estudo aqui proposto busca contribuir para o debate em torno de uma antropologia da ciência e da modernidade, inspirando-se nos escritos Bruno Latour. / This dissertation proposes an articulation between ethnographical research in laboratories (biology, genetics and biochemistry) in which precincts as environments of scientifical domestication of organic agents stands out and evolutionary thought, considered through Charles Darwins works, insofar as the concept of «variation» and «conservation» of «organic forms», in his saying, stands as the fundament of those laboratories practices. This study aims to contribute to an anthropology of science and modernity, inspired by Bruno Latours writings.

Do the physical settings in which a voter casts their ballot affect their vote choices? Every state uses a variety of polling locations for the administration of election: churches, schools, libraries, fire stations, and etcetera. The literature on priming effects and voting is massive, but very little research examines the impact of the venue in which a ballot is cast has on voters’ decisions. In this study I argue that polling venues situated on church, school, or veteran’s association property influences the proportion of votes cast in favor of ballot measures related to each institution. I test these hypotheses using precinct level election results and population data from California’s 2008 general election and find results supporting, or suggesting, such a relationship.

Abstract Police stations are located nationwide, deeply involved with people¡¦s daily life and can be seen everywhere. Whenever people encounter problems, they can easily access to the police stations where the police offer the most prompt services to help solve problems. The scope of police station services often involves urgent matters, and the police are expected to deliver services to the general public to alleviate their anxiety and to provide safety. Hence, the rebuilding of service environment should be appropriately planned to meet these ends. The rebuilding plan begins from external architecture, interior design, to layout should give warmth to people who will have no fear and will not be reluctant to access the police service. To the aspect of improving internal customer-relations, the station should be designed as a comfortable working place to inspire the police officers to have a change of attitude and willingness to render better services for the people. Police administrators should update their knowledge and professionalism when working on a suitable precinct (police) station rebuilding plan. They should also take into consideration police duties, operations, and daily needs. Meanwhile, the public¡¦s needs for space, facility, business-conduct convenience and practicality, reasonable service facility update and upgrade, and warm and friendly environments should also be accommodated in order for them to contact the police and to place trust in them. This research is based on the viewpoints of post-occupancy evaluation, (abbreviated as POE). Focus is placed on the present conditions of Penghu County Police Precinct/Stations after the service environment rebuilding was completed. The study subjects are police officers and the general public. Through analyses of data collected through questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews, the post-occupancy satisfaction level and recognition level are found. Moreover, the open-ended opinions are reviewed for the reference in the future construction and reconstruction of police stations. The study findings show: 1.The satisfaction level of the general public towards police station service environment rebuilding: high satisfaction levels are achieved at the overall environment perceived satisfaction level, technical aspect satisfaction level, functional aspect satisfaction level, and behavior aspect satisfaction level. However, the satisfaction level for case filing through the Internet is the least satisfactory aspect for the public. 2.The satisfaction level of police officers toward police station service environment: the overall environment perceived satisfaction level, technical aspect satisfaction level, functional aspect satisfaction level, and behavior aspect satisfaction level have all achieved high satisfaction levels. 3.Differential comparison between the satisfaction level toward police station service environment rebuilding for the public and the police: in terms of the functional aspect of environment satisfaction level, it is found that the public and the low-rank police officers show significant differences in ¡§convenience of single window application processing.¡¨ In terms of the behavioral aspect of environment satisfaction level, it is found that the people and the low-rank police officers show significant differences in ¡§the recreational furniture laid out in the police station help bring the general public closer.¡¨ 4.The awareness level of the public towards police station service environment rebuilding, on average, is 3.83: It shows that the general public regards the overall environment highly; thus, environment-rebuilding works in this item are supported. 5.The awareness level of police officers toward police station service environment rebuilding, on average, is 3.91: It shows that the police officers have a high recognition level for the overall rebuilding. This study sums up the thorough analysis and conclusions, and proposes valuable policy recommendations for Penghu County Police Bureau in its efforts to promote service environment rebuilding, suggestions are also made for future research.

Thesis (M. Sc.(Urb. Plan.))--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [156-167]).

Esta tese procura articular a pesquisa etnográfica em laboratórios de biologia, genética e bioquímica na qual se destacam os recintos como ambientes de domesticação científica de agentes orgânicos ao pensamento da evolução, abordado pela leitura da obra de Charles Darwin, uma vez que a concepção sobre a variação e a conservação das formas orgânicas, nas expressões deste autor, revela-se fundamento das práticas daqueles laboratórios. O estudo aqui proposto busca contribuir para o debate em torno de uma antropologia da ciência e da modernidade, inspirando-se nos escritos Bruno Latour. / This dissertation proposes an articulation between ethnographical research in laboratories (biology, genetics and biochemistry) in which precincts as environments of scientifical domestication of organic agents stands out and evolutionary thought, considered through Charles Darwins works, insofar as the concept of «variation» and «conservation» of «organic forms», in his saying, stands as the fundament of those laboratories practices. This study aims to contribute to an anthropology of science and modernity, inspired by Bruno Latours writings.

"The World Bank's central mission is to fight poverty. Over 2 billion people around the world live in poverty. With such pressing concerns, why bother about arts and culture: because we must accept the importance of social well-being, educational and intellectual fulfilment. Culture is profoundly important. We need to understand the cultural dimension of development: for example effective educational projects must take into account the cultural expression and language of the community. We have moved from involvement solely with financial capital to a financial being balanced with social and structural factors, a more holistic view that incorporates lending criteria that accommodate 'social capital'. We will do our utmost to make a difference. Bank finance in culture is truly complementary to that of others. A Kenyan proverb displayed at the Museum of Natural History in New York reads: "Let us treat nature well. It was not given to us by out fathers but it was lent to us by our children". I suggest we insert 'cultural heritage' for nature." Ian Johnson - Vice President Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development, The World Bank (http:\www.arts&culture trust.htm) The Inner City of Pretoria is rapidly degrading. Businesses are moving out and poorer people are moving in. To create a place for real people, more than just economic stability is needed. At the Vienna Architecture Conference in 1993 "The End of Architecture?" Zaha Hadid stated: " Being an architect today one is faced with the challenge of a profession torn in two distinct aspects. On the one hand architecture became pure technique, as if it were a branch of engineering; on the other hand, it becomes image production, as if it were a branch of advertising."(Noever, 1992; 27) The theme at the conference alluded to the fact that architecture for architecture's sake no longer predominates, and it now seems that only fashion is being rewarded. Architecture for architecture's sake cannot be the solution, cannot be the antidote to fashion; only a social purpose to architecture, publicly formulated, can be such an antidote. There can be no great architecture without a social programme. A visionary architecture has to take part in a political vision, and its reality presupposes a political process, which puts a new architecture on the agenda and thus transforms the profession into a movement with new aims and inspirations. What matters to the inhabitants of the Inner City, apart from the fundamentals for physical survival, is the quality of buildings and the in-between spaces that they generate. Keeping this in mind one should realise that designing outside spaces is as important as designing buildings. There has always been a distinction between interior and exterior space, with architects and interior architects responsible for the latter and landscape architects responsible for the first. If one intends to create a real people's place there should be a fusion between these two elements. They should be perceived as spaces created for people, without drawing a distinction between inside and outside. This is one of the elements which the city lacks most. The open spaces in the Berea precinct are either not planned or not utilised in the way they were planned. Today cities may be increasingly sophisticated in meeting technical needs, but now is the time to bring deeper human needs into the brief. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Architecture / unrestricted

An investigation into an appropriate urban design response to the development of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link station in the Pretoria CBD, which acts as a catalyst for urban renewal and social development. Focus is aimed at the technical resolution according to the climatic conditions. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Architecture / unrestricted