Doctoral Degrees (Architecture)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Architecture) by Author "Van der Westhuizen, Diaan"

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    The acceptability of earth constructed houses in central areas of South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2015) Bosman, Gerhard; Steÿn, Das; Van der Westhuizen, Diaan; Atkinson, Doreen
    English: The traditional earth building techniques of South Africans are well documented, but little research reflects the current perceptions of these building materials and techniques. The thesis explores the factors (independent variables) that can be addressed in order to make earth constructed houses in general more acceptable in central areas of South Africa. The thesis draws on data obtained from the SANPAD project (South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development) with a household survey (n=1790) from respondents regarding their perceptions and attitudes towards earth construction. Multiple qualitative and quantitative responses were recorded both for and against the use of sun dried earth blocks (adobe). Correlation and regression analyses were used to test for the characteristics (significant variables) that influence the acceptability of earth constructed houses. The findings show that respondents regard traditional earth building materials as inferior. Negative attitudes were found to be linked to the structural performance of unbaked earth materials regarding stability in wet conditions and maintenance. Limited other studies confirmed the low acceptability of traditional earth constructed walls. Regression analysis could not confirm that personal and household characteristics are associated with the housing, context and acceptability characteristics. Correlation analyses confirmed that certain housing characteristics (basic services such as water born toilets connected to sewerage systems, running water and electricity) influence the acceptability of traditional earth constructed houses. Correlation analyses confirmed that context characteristics (location and area types) influence the acceptability of traditional earth constructed houses. Furthermore, the data and literature confirm that the building culture (available material and buildings skills) and upward social mobility together with Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses (with basic services) influence the acceptability of traditional earth constructed housing. The findings concluded that attitudes toward traditional earth construction are more positive in 1) informal urban areas where informal houses do not have access to basic services and 2) rural households where the building culture dictates the norm even without basic services. The effects of conformity, imitation and upward social mobility were confirmed, as stated by the literature and the data. Together with upgraded earth construction techniques (such as cement stabilised compressed earth blocks or bricks) wall components for earth buildings in parts of central South Africa may be more acceptable. The hypothesis is that if the influencing factors on the acceptability of traditional earth constructed housing are known, it can be used in the promotion of contemporary earth construction. The thesis aims to promote contemporary earth construction techniques. This thesis states that the public should be equipped and educated about the importance of preserving existing forms and methods of earth construction, in order to support useful applications within contemporary architecture.
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    Lived reality, perception and architecture: two community centres interrogated through the lens of Lefebvre’s spatial triad
    (University of the Free State, 2015) Stoffberg, Madelein; Peters, Walter; Van der Westhuizen, Diaan
    English: Community centres are ideally at the heart of society as a platform for social interaction. Moreover, these centres often provide direly needed services such as basic health care and educational or family guidance that sustain and improve human life. Spatially, community centres form nodes from which other informal commercial or institutional facilities can branch providing a civic presence in a relative homogeneous residential area. These catalytic structures help create new networks bridging the barriers of spatial segregation that is still remnant of apartheids legacy. Consequently, the central research question investigates the spatial production of community centres built after 1994. This inquiry is further interrogated through three research questions. First, what is the relationship between lived reality of community members (Spatial Practice) and the two-dimensional representation thereof as designed by architects (Representations of Space)? Second, what is the relationship between user‟s perception (Representational Space) and architects intent (Representations of Space) of symbolism, images and signs? Third, how do community centres, in the macro-context, reconfigure boundaries, form and function (Spatial Practice), as well as areas of centralization, condensation and displacement (Representational Space)? Through Henri Lefebvre‟s‟ spatial triad, the lived reality, the representational and inherent embedded codes are inspected. The three spatial concepts of the two respective case studies, the Helenvale multi-purpose resources centre and the Ubuntu community centre in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area are investigated through semi-structured interviews which are supported by a mapping and sort-chart process. A cross-case analysis interrogates the current public space as perceived by the users and designed by the architects. It is the thesis of a reciprocal relationship between lived reality, perception and architecture that investigates the impact of community centres on spatial transformation to inform future development.