Thesis (M.Arch.(Prof.))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliography. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Tsang Siu Hing, Bon. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2002-2003, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 48).

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-73). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

No description available.

This thesis strives to establish a set of design guidelines for the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit development in Toronto. The primary design goals are to promote an enjoyable travel experience to commuters, offer positive public spaces in vicinity, and contribute to the greater social and cultural matrices of the city. Under a realistic project setting, the study will meditate upon spatial anthropological theories to identify essential public space qualities and to formulate underground lighting strategies. The main objective is to complete the development of both underground station and surface stop prototypes that can be flexibly implemented along the entire transit line. The vision is for these stations to not only provide convenient public transit amenities but also function as locale identifiers, showcasing Toronto’s culture virtually as unique rooms in a gallery. Three sites are chosen: Mount Pleasant, Dufferin, and Keele stations. These stations will provide interesting conditions to demonstrate the way in which a set of design guidelines can facilitate the positive development of subway stations into the powerful loci envisioned.

This thesis strives to establish a set of design guidelines for the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit development in Toronto. The primary design goals are to promote an enjoyable travel experience to commuters, offer positive public spaces in vicinity, and contribute to the greater social and cultural matrices of the city. Under a realistic project setting, the study will meditate upon spatial anthropological theories to identify essential public space qualities and to formulate underground lighting strategies. The main objective is to complete the development of both underground station and surface stop prototypes that can be flexibly implemented along the entire transit line. The vision is for these stations to not only provide convenient public transit amenities but also function as locale identifiers, showcasing Toronto’s culture virtually as unique rooms in a gallery. Three sites are chosen: Mount Pleasant, Dufferin, and Keele stations. These stations will provide interesting conditions to demonstrate the way in which a set of design guidelines can facilitate the positive development of subway stations into the powerful loci envisioned.

Tom Steer, senior associate on the Gautrain Architects Joint Venture states that "When people arrive in cities with well-organised transport networks, they breathe a sigh of relief. The identity of the transport system forms an integral part of the city's identity and the way it is perceived internationally." (Theunissen, 2009: 22) Mokena Makeka of Makeka Design Laboratory agrees saying "The role that transport facilities play in the creation of an identity for both the industry itself and the city is essential, and one that is often underplayed in this country" (Theunissen, 2009: 22). In South Africa today, the public transport industry is perceived negatively by a large portion of the population. This perception is largely rooted in the troubled history of South Africa with Apartheid playing a major role in the formulation of such perceptions. In addition, issues surrounding lack of government funding, supporting infrastructure, safety, reliability, comfort, accessibility and a general state of disrepair hinder the progress within the system. This has resulted in a system that is severely underutilized by the middle to high income population, creating overcrowding on roads through the use of private motor vehicles, and the unsustainable nature of South Africa's transport system as a whole. This study focuses on the role of identity in architecture, exploring the concept of architecture as a catalytic instrument in the creation, and identification of identity, and how this can be applied to transform the public transport industry as a whole. The intention is to identify and explain the important principles and elements that inform the success of a transport interchange, and how a building can redeem itself and create a new identity. It is clear through the study that infrastructure is required in the public transport industry. This dissertation looks at the design of a modal interchange facility which seeks to appeal to a wider socio-economic group, and in turn create a more sustainable system as a whole. One must acknowledge that for any significant change to occur, more than just architecture is required, as architecture in isolation, cannot address all the issues. Identity is formulated through a number of elements, not only built form. The approach will have to be a holistic one and a broad remodelling of the current system is required. Modal interchanges do however form the backbone to this process and act as a vital catalyst in the transformation of the industry. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

In South Africa today, railways, along with other forms of public transport have lost or in fact never had the same sense of sanguine appreciation that European stations embodied. Instead South African public transport systems, especially its railway networks, are perceived negatively by a large portion of the population and the vast majority of visitors to the country (Donaldson and Ferreira, 2008). The problem with the perceptions and judgments made by people with regards to architecture is that they often stand in contrast to each other. These disagreements are not only limited to laymen, as disagreements among critics often go beyond the mere subjectivity of taste or opinion, even extending to matters of fact (Bonta, 1979: 11). By extrapolating the process by which humans interpret the world around them, Hermeneutics attempts to define the determining factors behind subjective thought when making an accurate interpretation of text. In recent years these same techniques have been applied to the built environment in what can best be described as an investigation into the meaning of architecture, this investigation became known as ‘architectural hermeneutics’ (Bonta, 1979 and Snodgrass & Coyne, 2006). While hermeneutics does provide a method to deal with the problems associated with subjectivity, the tools needed to assess the validity of the resultant interpretations of architecture have not developed. In order to confirm the adequacy of any resultant interpretations the researcher must define and abstract the parts, which contribute to these interpretations, according to quantifiable guidelines that can then be measured and compared. The Guidelines utilised in this study are defined through the work of Norberg-Schultz, Thiis-Evensen, Alexander and Handa. Through the ensuing case studies this paper demonstrated that by designing architecture in accordance with its relationship to the surrounding environment and context, the designer becomes capable of generating a supportive architecture that can reaffirm its associated functions under a positive light. By creating a continuous structure between the new architecture and its context – that is in accordance with the ‘parts’ which make up the meaningful ‘whole’ – an architect of any background can create meaningful architecture in any context. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.