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Architecture has a dualistic social responsibility. To provide relevant buildings with appropriate function and planning that will accommodate user needs, as well as providing habitable environments and spaces that will have positive influence on peoples daily routines. This will allow users to freely dwell within their environments and create a positive community atmosphere. It is the aim of this dissertation to investigate the social responsibility of architecture and how ordinary spaces and buildings that call for pragmatic design solutions can also enter into the realm of the metaphysical spatial experience and to find cohesion between the two. The selected project is a glasshouse complex and plant containment research facility within the Botanical gardens at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. GERMAN: Die Architektur trägt gesellschaftlich dualistische Verantwortung: es ist eine Schaffung von Gebäuden, die räumliche Bedürfnisse von Benutzern erfüllen, sowie auch einer qualitätsvollen Umgebung, die tägliche Routine von einer Gemeinde positiv beeinflussen wird. Es handelt sich um eine freundliche, gemeinde Atmosphäre zu schaffen. Dieses Projekt hat zum Ziel die Gesellschaftsverantwortung von der Architektur überprüfen. Es wird untersucht, wie vernünftige Räume, die eine Antwort für die funktionelle Bedürfnisse sind, gleichzeitig eine metaphysische Erfahrung kreieren können. Die Idee ist ein Zusammenhang zwischen diesen zwei Ansätze zu identifizieren. Das ausgewählte Projekt ist eine gegenwärtige Gewächshäuseranlage, Forschungsanstalt und botanischer Garten auf dem Gelände der Universität Pretoria, Südafrika. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / unrestricted

The city of Centurion houses various sporting facilities such as SuperSport Park and Centurion Gymnastics Club as well as other training facilities. The proposed site for this thesis is on the edge of the Hennops River and forms part of the Lyttelton Agricultural holdings. It borders SuperSport Park as well as the Centurion Rugby club. The proposed site is located North of South Street in Centurion. Currently there is only one Hi-Performance Sport Centre in South Africa. It is located on the Sports grounds of the University of Pretoria. This centre, although only one year old, is already fully booked well into the year 2004. The overwhelming response to this sports facility is a clear indication that centres like these are in great demand in South Africa. One of the main reasons for its popularity is our appealing weather that attracts many foreign athletes. Another reason is the diversity of sport in one complex and the highly equipped training facilities. The athletes can be monitored throughout training with the proper nutrition and medical support. It is the only facility of its kind, combining a training facility with accommodation. This thesis proposes to provide the Centurion area with a similar centre and including improvements to the existing centre. According to the Centurion Integrated Development Framework the site and its surroundings should be used for sport development and recreational facilities. The surrounding sports grounds are another reason for the choice of site. The site is visible from the main road between Pretoria and Johannesburg (N1 Highway) which increases visibility. According to the Centurion Integrated Development Framework all the developments adjacent to the N1 highway should convey a hi-tech image. This thesis evolved as a comprehensive reaction to the immediate site and the physical, social, cultural and technological conditions. It is the amalgamation of these concepts and ideas that serves as metaphor for the architectural response and process. Since the thesis deals with the professional sport industry and high technological precision research and training, so too does this project focus on presenting this idea of "precision" throughout the architectural-, space-, and tangible experience. In totality, the proposed design is the synthesis of various interrelated influences. The product is site specific, individualistic and realistic. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Architecture / unrestricted