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Item Open Access The Amanzi Entaba path(University of the Free State, 2023) De Kock, Jesse; Wagner, AnnemarieNature, a vast and endless palette of inspiration, sets the stage for a library for textures, patterns, and motifs. There is no better designer than nature itself and architects have long been inspired by it, trying to evoke emotional connections to nature. My interest in the connection between man and nature, as told by the delicate fynbos biome, stems from a life-long love and appreciation for nature, taught through generations in our family. As a child, I was directed into appreciating the intricate small beauties lying within nature, the scents and textures that make up a perfectly balanced existence. Even in school, we were taught a respect and understanding of our importance in nature’s survival. Being taught the importance of nature, its role in our survival and vice versa, continued a childhood love implemented at a young age. My fondness for The West Coast National Park, and specifically fynbos, started in 2016, when I first visited this natural gem within the Western Cape. The endless beauty of something so refined brought peace in admiration of something that I knew to be intricate and unique. The Anthropocene era, the era of human impact on the earth, has taken us far from nature, creating a separation, lacking environmental connection instead of striving to connect architecture to nature through the creation of emotional and spiritual spaces for everyday life, through “amanzi entaba”. This is a Xhosa phrase, made up of the word's “mountain” and “water”, for an emotional harmony between human beings and nature. Fynbos, the “fine-leaved plants”, is an extraordinary biome, occurring solely on Africa’s southern peninsula. With a very wide range of plant species (roughly 8700), it stretches from the west coast to the east coast, outshining many rainforests in terms of sheer diversity. The beauty of fynbos truly lies in it birth and growth, a sensitive and intricate system of rebirth and fire. A Fynbos Interpretation Centre, funded by SAN Parks, located within the West Coast National Park, is proposed to preserve and retell an overlooked and unique narrative. The poetical quality of the setting inspires an intervention that builds that tells a story. The Fynbos Interpretation Centre proposes an architectural intervention articulating various moments within a sensitive process and interconnectedness within human experiences as visitors move through spaces and times.Item Open Access Bohemia Africanus: materialising a fictive allegorical site between uncanny places(University of the Free State, 2023) Duvenhage, G. P. J.; Smit, Jan; Smit, Petria; Olivier, Jaco; Bitzer, Martie; Andrews, JohnThis dissertation explores the transformation of literary allegories into architecture, challenging the commonplace safety we find in the notions of truth, home, and the familiar. The design programme centres on a travelling theatre which explores the way the audience allegorically conceives and experience truth in the production of the uncanny and macabre play, African Gothic, by Reza de Wet. By architecturally emplacing this fictional theatre production in three real murder scenes, the dissertation attempts to not only produce a contextual milieu for the play but also to address the way we engage with the 'truth' and memories of places where dark crimes have been committed. In the context of a nation grappling with high crime rates like South Africa, the pertinent issue of addressing the aftermath of genuine criminal issues emerges as a significant concern. How we engage with the truth and memories associated with crime scenes necessitates not only relevant but also innovative approaches, which have yet to be adequately addressed. Due to the scarcity of architectural research and subsequent guidance on the matter of architectural interventions within crime sites, these scenes often turn into forbidden territories, both in discussion and physical presence. Drawing inspiration from the content of the play "African Gothic," three recent instances of crime scenes in South Africa were symbolically pinpointed as the backdrop for a mobile theatre and the reenactment of the play. These locations include a farm in the Griekwastad district, a school residence in Stella, and a housing estate known as De Zalze. This dissertation proposes that allegory be used to question truth, home, and safety, furthermore the dissertation considers the exploration of allegory to approach real sites of uncanny and macabre crimes. Enter the allegory. Derived from the Greek "Allos", allegory roughly translates to "speak openly" and to "another," these definitions combine to an approach which is to openly say one thing and to mean another. By embracing and interpreting the allegorical elements woven into the theatrical work "African Gothic," these delicate locations are approached, comprehended, and dissected in novel manners, potentially paving the way for transformative shifts and embracing change within these crime-ridden areas. Exploring and challenging the concepts of truth could play a pivotal role in the process of comprehending and reconciling with these sites marked by tragedy. Even when a page is mainly a constellation of words connected with lines, it is a 'written drawing' rather than just text, and the configuration refers to the structure of the research, the design of both written and drawn parts. (Haralambidou, 2007). Just as we seek comfort and certainty in the notion of truth, we also find solace and certainty in our "architectural" vision of constructing secure and familiar dwellings. In a nation confronted with escalating inequality and crime rates, it becomes imperative to explore alternative approaches to handling unique and harrowing architectural scenarios and sites.Item Open Access Art gallery: questioning topographic and institutional edges by sculpting inhabitable thresholds(University of the Free State, 2016) Bramley, Lana; Smit, J. D.; Pretorius, H.B.; Olivier, J. I.; Raubenheimer, H.The University of the Free State boasts with a collection of 1500 artworks which are rotated between the Main Building, the Eeufees Building and storage space. In a personal interview with Mrs De Jesus, the curator at the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery on campus, it became evident that the University is in need of an art gallery which should entice a dialogue between the art and the visitor. She stated that the gallery should not be a destination building but rather an interactive proposal. The concept of an art gallery as a transient space comes from investigating the campus as a large site. The campus used to be an open part of town where the exact boundary between the campus and the city was unclear. Families could enjoy the gardens on weekends and pedestrians were able to take a shortcut through campus and interact with students in the passing. Due to security reasons, the campus was closed off and boundaries reinforced. This enforced a threshold between students and the public. The proposed project aims to embody the boundary of campus in order to develop the harsh edge into a perforated entrance through the art gallery. The design of an art gallery intrigued me, as the main denominator of its morphology is light. “𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗯𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.” (𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟲) I have always been fascinated by the way architectural elements can be manipulated in order to create a shadow line or light shaft which allows for the replacement of a typical window punched into a wall. Light is the main denominator of form in this project through the way the archetypes are sculpting away the sky and embedding itself into the earth. This investigation focuses on the way that an art gallery, as a transient space rather than a destination building, can allow the public a glimpse into the world of art. This is done by intriguing people during their ordinary path. The need for the project was raised by the curator of the University of the Free State because of a lack of exhibition and storage space on campus. Therefore, the project will focus on the design of a gallery space and archive on the campus of the UFS.Item Open Access Weaving temporal threads: a wool processing at Houtkraal Railway Station in the Karoo, South Africa(University of the Free State, 2023) Adendorff, Maliza; Smit, J.; Noble, J. A.; Jooste-Smit, P.; Bitzer, M.Many unused and abandoned railway stations are scattered throughout the Karoo, the site of Houtkraal Railway Station being one of them. The remaining buildings verge on ruin, and slow and deliberate decay has set in, mediating between present, future and past. The main question is: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮? Though the wool industry in South Africa is largely unstable due to outbreaks of cattle diseases, which limits the export of wool to other countries, the local processing of wool has yet to be established. Much research has been done on wool processing and its social, economic and environmental impact, though past research and precedent studies fail to address the possible architecture that may accommodate and balance both the hand-driven processes of wool processing and the industrial nature of a railway line in South Africa. Furthermore, the interpretation of patinas in architecture relies heavily on time, temporality and ruin theories. Along with the theory, investigations are done regarding materiality and promenades, which will attempt to make sense of the experience of passing time. The successful and realistic design and development of a wool-processing facility in the Karoo, next to a railway, may revitalise the railway and the local economy and may change onlookers’ perspectives on buildings laid waste over time.Item Open Access Between Ville and Cité: a layered mixed-use creative commons in Woodstock, Cape Town(University of the Free State, 2023) Maree, Bernard; Bitzer, M.; Smit, J. D.; Smit, P.; Bosman, G.Urban users can be disconnected from space if place is disconnected from the urban landscape. The main research question considered is how can an investigation of the layers that constitute the urban palimpsest, through adaptive reuse inform a neo-industrial sensory and spatial experience between the ’Ville’ and the ‘Cité’, to preserve history and enhance identity in lower Woodstock, Cape Town? Other designers have attempted to address the problem of reusing previous industrial areas and buildings yet struggle with accommodating current users of the site and context. The proposed design focuses on finding the place between the larger urban landscape, ’Ville’, and a specific place in the urban landscape, ‘Cité’, through the means of investigating the urban palimpsest. Investigating precedent buildings with a focus on creative community engagement informs the composition of newly proposed structures between existing buildings. The proposal’s aim is to merge commercial economic success with aspects of community engagement to mitigate negative effects that urban renewal may bring, such as gentrification. The proposal aids designers to approach projects of an urban nature to create space of community and commerce as the between of ’Ville’ and ‘Cité’.Item Open Access A visitor city on the Moon: giving identity to Lunar Architecture(University of the Free State, 2023) van Rhijn, RonelIn an era when commercial space travel has become a reality and Lunar habitation is no longer fiction, the future Lunar visitors’ city emerges. With world-renowned architecture firms collaborating with space agencies on space architecture and the ongoing developments of NASA and SpaceX, the possible identity of Lunar architecture is explored. How can biomimicry with architecture be applied to create an immersive future visitors’ city on the Moon and contribute towards a Lunar architectural identity? This explorative thesis transcends the boundaries of traditional design, embracing the challenge of replicating Earth’s comforts and familiarity on the Moon. It invites visitors on an extraordinary journey to a world where technology sustains life, the Earth hangs in the distant sky, and the Moon’s reduced gravity offers unique opportunities for exploration. The book, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺”, by Kevin Lynch, was thoroughly studied. The concept of biomimicry and relevant precedent studies were examined and applied. This was done to gain a thorough understanding of how humans perceive a new environment and how to design comfortable and relatable architecture. Furthermore, inspired by Le Corbusier’s notion of architecture as a machine, this thesis conceives the Lunar centre as a self-sustaining life-support system. It delves into the intricate details of providing essential services such as food, water, oxygen, sewage management, and power within the context of the Moon. Through science and architecture, the vision harmoniously combines functionality with an immersive visitor experience, catering to both scientific researchers and adventure-seeking tourists.Item Open Access Healing-thorns: an Aloe Ferox medicinal research, education and production hub, promoting healing for a hurting community(University of the Free State, 2023) Kotze, Christiaan; Raubenheimer, HeinThe 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘹 Mill. is dwarfed by its American counterpart, the aloe vera plant, most of the companies in charge of manufacturing its byproducts tend to resonate a disunified front. The main question is: How can the notion of a healing environment inspire the unification between various disjointed communities within the aloe Ferox industry, whilst simultaneously commend the plant by establishing a safe space that will instil a positive metaphysical engagement with the multi-faceted development? Various companies have established themselves within the aloe Ferox manufacturing industry, but none have seemed to address the divide between its various communities, which seems like a missed opportunity that can also help the product’s growth in popularity. The design dissertation aims to address these challenges by investigating various theoretical stances and designing a facility comprising various facets of the industry to create a unified front that would exalt the aloe Ferox plant. This was done through various investigative and research methods, such as interviews and studies which were then reflected upon and applied to the design development appropriately. The aloe Ferox industry and its communities have a dormant growth potential, and it is hoped that this dissertation will shine a new light upon it.Item Open Access Water memory & control: Vaalharts Canal Museum and Education Centre(University of the Free State, 2023) de Bruyn, Dené; Smit, Jan; Smit, Petria; Bitzer, Martie; Bosman, GerhardIn the following dissertation, the education, influence, and importance of water a on the existing waterway systems and area will be discussed. The main research question was: How can an educational waterway exhibition centre of an integrated canal waterway hold the memory and phenomenology of a place in order for growth in Hartswater in the Northern Cape (Fig. 4)? Previous attempts to keep the history and educational moments separate in the form of a museum in close proximity, did not successfully maintain the space and create multiple opportunities. That is why this dissertation will focus on the history and impact of the canal, but creating an educational opportunity and space to learn and develop the current systems and knowledge. Analysing different case studies and precedents led me to research the influence of water and the canal waterway on the cultural significance of the design of a museum and education centre. The proposed design creates a collective space for teaching about water conservation and different learning opportunities about agriculture and water, through the unique use of a Water Memory & Control Museum that is supported by the community and supports the community, in return.Item Open Access The life and work of architect Wynand H Louw (1883-1967) with a focus on the design of ecclesiastical buildings(University of the Free State, 2023) Geldenhuys, Albert Barend; du Preez, J. L.Wynand H Louw (1883-1967) is acclaimed to be the first Afrikaans-speaking South African to be formally trained as an architect. After his training at the Architectural Association in London Louw returned to South Africa in the post-South African War and pre-Unification era. Architectural work was scarce, but he received his first commission late in 1907. Early in 1909 the DRC Port Elizabeth gave him his first commission for a new church building. More ecclesiastical projects would soon follow, launching him in his career as architect. Louw grew up as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘬 Paarl. It had a typical early 19th -century Greek cross plan and Cape Dutch design. He realised that the Latin (and even Greek) cross was not ideal as a layout for reformed churches which focused on the sermon, requiring a focus on the pulpit in the centre of the liturgical space. A new approach to reformed church design was required. As a member of a Reformed church, and a well-trained architect, Louw was in an ideal position to start experimenting. Based on the author’s research a total of approximately 160 ecclesiastical building projects can be ascribed to Louw and his architectural practices Louw & Moerdyk and Louw & Louw. Over a period of fifty years, they designed at least 110 churches, many church halls, and did a number of church renovations. These projects gave Louw ample opportunity to experiment with new ideas and to develop and hone his skills as a church architect. This dissertation aims to document Louw’s complete oeuvre of ecclesiastical projects. With reference to the broad global, as well as the South African context of church architecture’s evolution over the ages, it strives to indicate if, why, how and to what extent Wynand H Louw’s design ideas for reformed church buildings were the beginning of a new era for church architecture in southern Africa.Item Open Access Negotiating identity in indigenous space: rediscovering the Koranna tribe through temporal spatial dialogues between modernity and traditionality: a center for cultural discovery, Karannaberg, Free State, South Africa(University of the Free State, 2023) de Wet, Dapper; Smit, J.; Smit, P.; Mabe, P.In the heart of the Korannaberg region in the Eastern Free State, South Africa, lies the last known 'home' of the Koranna, a long-lost tribe of Southern Africa. This spatial setting becomes the canvas for an ambitious architectural intervention aimed at reviving their fading culture - the establishment of a culturally responsive and sustainable research centre. The overarching argument of this thesis is supported by theories of critical regionalism and spatial-temporal tactics to design a place of remembrance for the Koranna tribe, a haven where their rich heritage can be both studied and taught. Despite the scarcity of surviving remnants, the proposed intervention aspires to evoke the essence of their ways of living, rituals, and stories. The re-search question guiding this exertion is: How can the imprints of memory within the Korannaberg region be harnessed to inform the architectural design of a culturally immersive and research-driven institution, capable of reimagining the essence and preserving the endangered legacy of the Koranna tribe? The goal is to breathe life into their forgotten history, crafting an institution that becomes a powerful beacon of cultural preservation and understanding.Item Open Access Ritual threads: between land and lake: a cultural and nature edge place articulating, facilitating, and preserving the traditional and natural ecotones in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve(University of the Free State, 2023) Swarts, Karmen; Smit, J. D.; Smit, P.; Bitzer, M.; Olivier, J.The Kosi Bay Thonga fish traps are a culturally significant landmark in South Africa. The traps can be described as finely woven “fences” or “kraals” spread around the lake system. These spectacular structures are what enable Kosi Bay’s sustainable fishery. And with these activities, a temporary link between land and lake is formed within the wetland ecotone, interweaving specific ways of human movement, living, and working. The thesis outlines the design of a cultural and nature edge place articulating, facilitating, and preserving the traditional and natural ecotones in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. The research focuses on the preservation of the natural and human ecologies situated within the wetland ecotone, guided by the emplaced site phenomena and the community’s particular needs and activities. The focus of the dissertation stems from redefining the edge place has the potential to integrate social and cultural factors by way of an architectural approach. Architecture has the potential to sensitively affect how people use their surroundings, leading to the extension of existing rituals and everyday living that eventually become part of the interweaved phenomena of the park. This idea is implemented into the edge place to connect these concepts with Kosi Bay’s culture. Thus, the dissertation questions if an architectural response to vernacular routines, rituals, and orders, will articulate and preserve the existing cultural and natural ecotones within the coastal community of Kosi Bay. In order to create an interweaved relationship between culture and nature, the proposal grows on the existing chain of memories and ecological grid of the water edge. The theoretical methodologies of a shifting ecological grid and a chain of memories are a representation of a transparent axis that creates a roadmap for the design. The investigation gave form to a variety of methods of making which preserve indigenous knowledge and make use of environmentally friendly materials, assuring a generous and sustainable integration that lightly touches the earth and reduces the built impact on the natural environment.Item Open Access Articulating the real and the numinous: a Flood Control and Research Centre at the historic St. Helens Pump Station on the banks of the uMzimkhulu river(University of the Free State, 2023) du Plessis, Cara; Olivier, J.; Smit, J.; Smit, P.There is potential magic within a hybrid “third space” of science and divination where the past omens and present practises can be tied together by string to aid the current flooding crisis. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 ree𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? Past efforts to address the South African flooding crisis have led to many quantitative and scientific approaches that evaluate rainfall, water management and infrastructure but seldom approach the crisis by way of divination, through which a higher realm of information can be tapped into. This dissertation introduces a new way of approaching flooding by designing a Flood Control and Research Centre that highlights the potential within the intertwined relationship between science and divination in an attempt to respectfully articulate the two where the roles of divination and the roles of science meet and work together in a hermeneutic relationship. Further investigation included analyzing the existing context regarding the project theme, testing three different theoretical stances and studying appropriate precedents. This design approach is able to broaden and challenge the dweller’s perspective of seemingly opposite practices and provide a paradigm for future flood crisis approaches.Item Open Access [Fuel] Station: reclaiming the mechanized landscape through a Bio Diesel Pant and Re-[Fuel] Station at Beervlei Dam, Eastern Cape(University of the Free State, 2023) Gutter, Juan-AmiéKaroo will be explored and how man using the machine to change his context is used as inspiration in developing a theoretical approach to support the design of an industrial architecture within the mechanized context of Beervlei Dam. Various literary resources will be used to gain a better understanding of the wider context, culture and its architecture and the influences of the machine. Theories from Christian Norberg-Schulz, Lebbeus Woods, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Anthony Vidler, Rem Koolhaas and Robert McCarter will be used to support design decisions and contextual appropriation to arrive at an accurate architectural response to the complex landscape of Beervlei Dam. When exploring the site at Beervlei Dam, there are two governing aspects that overwhelm the senses and reveals the ‘genius loci’, which is ‘Place’ and ‘The Machine’. Norberg-Shulz explains that the ‘genius loci’ or ‘spirit of place’ is the character of place that gives meaning to it and enables man to ‘dwell’ within it. Therefore ‘Place’ and ‘The Machine’ will be used as inspirational guidelines throughout this thesis in order to reach a final proposal.Item Open Access Spectral flesh remembrance: an inverted monument and foundry embedded in the decommissioned Pelindaba nuclear weapons site(University of the Free State, 2023) Wood, Arran; Smit, Jan.; Smit, Petria; Bitzer, Martie; Auret, HendrikThe Angola-South African War left extensive scars and remains a raw place in the lives of many South Africans. Yet it has become a kind of suppressed memory that is hard to grapple with in the post-democratic reality, and the majority of South Africans choose to conveniently overlook the consequences of this conflict. The memory and memorialisation of the war has become a shrouded spectre. One of the most obscured facets of the war was the fact that South Africa managed to construct nuclear weapons, and (even more astoundingly) became the first nation to voluntarily decommission their nuclear arsenal. In the wake of ghost-like memories of the past, the question arises: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘳? Those in power, too, choose to forget the haunting effects in the hearts of those conscripted into the war and the suffering enforced by it. The manifestation of this amnesia-like state comes in the form of the nuclear weapons site, rusting and forgotten. Through a symbolic repurposing of decommissioned firearms in a foundry and the remembrance of spectres from the site in an inverted monument, a design is proposed as a means to reveal the forgotten and censored. The exposure of restricted historical documentation is part of the outcome of this research; to find what is still prevailing of something that no longer officially exists and document the remaining structures. Regarding placing architecture and conflict in context, special care is taken in analysing precedent studies of the built form as well as structural theory of ‘the form in conflict’ with a morphology responding to place as much as process. The proposed architecture of structure, relating to spectral remembrances of the flesh, attempts to explore the role architecture can play as a mediator and reminder of forgotten conflicts.Item Open Access Into the Blue: a hand-painting ceramics studio for re-interpreted blue china in the V&A Waterfront, CPT.(University of the Free State, 2023) van der Rijst, Michelle; Smit, Jan; Smit, Petria; Bitzer, Martie; Raubenheimer, HeinThe Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A Waterfront) Development in Cape Town is transforming the port into a playground. With the notion of globalisation and replicating international waterfront-scapes, the V&AW is at risk of becoming a creative destruction. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻? The project proposes a hand-painting, blue china studio as an adaptive reuse of the ensemble of heritage and existing synchrolift buildings within the Marina District of the V&AW. Viewing craft as a method of purposeful play, the project will aim to condense the artistic potential within the ceramics-making process while preserving elements of its local habitual and material engagement. These phenomenological theories will be used to support the design decisions and contextual orientation to arrive at an appropriate architectural response to the historically rich environment of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Consequently, the theoretical lens will add layers of complexity to the heritage site and the proposed design becomes inseparably moulded into the cultural fabric, regenerating the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. The document explores contextual analysis, precedent analysis, and theoretical framework to inform the design development and technical resolution. Ultimately, the thesis dissertation will present a contemporary interpretation of craft in urban manufacturing and adaptive reuse projects.Item Open Access Material memory: a Woodworking and Trade School in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa(University of the Free State, 2023) Viljoen, Herman; Smit, J.; Smit, P.; Raubenheimer, H.Woodworking holds universal interest, and each country possesses its distinct techniques and rituals associated with this craft however, architectural education might not consistently offer sufficient exposure to woodworking techniques and their applications. This may potentially result in a limited understanding or appreciation for woodworking and its potential in architectural projects. The oldest site in Plettenberg Bay houses an old timber shed, which, despite its current state of disuse and decay, aspires to embrace new possibilities and transformation into something of profound significance. The site's historical context and original function offer a unique opportunity to establish a woodworking and trade school, aiming to attract and educate individuals such as carpenters, artists, tradesmen, designers, and historians, introducing them to an appreciation for the profound significance of woodworking. How can the incorporation of joinery techniques and wabi-sabi principles inform a sensitive approach to heritage preservation, through the thoughtful integration of functional joinery, structural elements, and material narratives, to achieve a balance between the historical past and contemporary present in the design of a woodworking and trade school in Plettenberg Bay? The design is intended to serve as a space that provides its users with a contemporary perception of woodworking but simultaneously educate them about the historical significance of the site.Item Open Access Towards an abiotic mutualism: addressing the conservation crisis in Pilanesberg National Park(University of the Free State, 2023) Labuschagne, W. K. S.; Smit, J. D.; Smit, P.; Nel, J.The conservation of the natural landscape and the health of its ecology is today, more than ever, dependent on the decisions of humankind. As nature once determined our survival, we now determine the survival of its many species. This dissertation is derived from the realities of the post-Covid animal conservation crisis in South Africa, particularly focusing on Pilanesberg National Park situated in the North West Province. This park along with several others plays a crucial role in South Africa's tourism sector, constituting 7% of the country's GDP and providing employment to over 1.5 million people. The revenue generated from this industry contributes significantly to the preservation of animals and the environment. Unfortunately, this indispensable source of income was abruptly halted in March 2020, further exacerbating the already substantial financial gap required for not only the conservation efforts of Pilanesberg National Park and its constituents, but also the fight against the global illegal poaching industry. Therefore, the question is asked; 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵? This composition investigates the interconnectedness between conservation systems and practices while considering aspects such as landscape memory, ecological coherence, and our ethical obligations towards the natural landscape.Item Open Access The ephemeral aroma of the mysterious beauty plant: a hyacinth aroma and incense market at Rooidam, Lourier Park, Bloemfontein(University of the Free State, 2023) Sander, Carien; Smit, J.; Smit, P.; Bitzer, M.; Mabe, P.Rooidam is located on the outskirts of Bloemfontein and is a forgotten terrain indicative of what Edward Relph, a Canadian geographer, would state as a non-place. The inexplicable landscape consists of a floral wonder [hyacinth] which has the potential to be transformed into an ephemeral yet tangible body of experiential aroma. The main research question is: How can we reactivate the Rooidam through an aroma and incense market conceptualised through an interpretation of metamorphosis of the hyacinth plant? Past efforts to reactivate the area have not succeeded, due to the lack of care; it was simply left to become a dystopian landscape. By introducing a project that will propel commercial viability, create haptic experiences, enhance communal enclaves and attract people to interact with the neglected landscape, past failures can be rectified. The proposed design intervention will be guided by haptic senses, how experiences are created in spaces together with the production of space as memories. The intervention proposed argues that a hyacinth aroma and incense market has the power to reactivate and reinvigorate the landscape, unify the community while changing the perceptions of Rooidam.Item Open Access Tribe of mothers: a ritualistic Basotho birth village(University of the Free State, 2023) Botha, Stephan; Smit, J.; Smit, P.; Noble, J.; Mosidi,OrepaGlobal maternal death rates continue to be an alarming issue. This thesis focuses on the reasons for death surrounding childbirth that relate to the lack of understanding of native Basotho beliefs. The proposed project aims to remove the boundaries between Western medicinal practices and traditional ways of childbearing as a means to transition the indigenous tribes of South Africa into the contemporary age without sacrificing their ancestral beliefs and by doing so creates an opportunity for the growth of African Identity. The research question is centred on how the rituals involved in Basotho cultural practices, specifically childbirth, can lead to an architectural design that amalgamates a relationship between site and building that emulates the phenomenon of mother and child that are two separate entities but also simultaneously one. The research will be based on studies of sacred sites used for various Basotho rituals, precedent studies of contemporary ritual buildings and architectural theories relating to ritual, hermeneutics and liminality. The result of the project will serve as inspiration for the incorporation of cultural practices in contemporary institutional buildings and how the architectural applications thereof can result in spaces that endorse spirituality. Through doing this the proposed project will aim to assist in the transition of indigenous beliefs and communities into the contemporary age, consisting of a maternity waiting village, a cultural clinic with a training centre and a visitors' centre accompanied by clay workshops for the accommodated mothers, and multifunctional spaces where rituals pertaining to Basotho cultural practices can take place.Item Open Access Beyond borders: meeting 𝗶𝗻-𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 - a one stop border post celebrating the journey beyond the abyss(University of the Free State, 2024) Horn, Alicia; Smit, J. D.; Smit, P.; Bitzer, M.; Bosman, G.A border post sets the stage for a fleeting experience, designed purely for processing, a non-transactional event. It is common to perceive border posts as transitory spaces, primarily designed to facilitate efficient processing, and devoid of any transactional value. It exists as a non-place by ignoring the connections between the two nations it separates. The Lebombo Border, situated between South Africa and Mozambique in the Lebombo Mountains, serves as the case study for investigating the complexities and consequences of border dynamics. The main question is how an appreciation of the journey narrative could transform a non-place as a temporary abode to a place concerned with identity and history, and how to infuse a border post with a sense of purpose beyond its conventional duties. Most studies fail to pinpoint the deficiencies in conventional border post designs. This architectural study explores the transformative potential of border posts as meaningful, culturally sensitive spaces that foster spatial justice by going beyond conventional borders to find an alternative reaction. The reaction is rooted in the integration of narrative, events, and ritual elements composed as a one-stop border post. Integrating these elements enables the creation of spaces that honour history, context, and cultural identity. The main objective is to reveal the hidden poetic sensibility and challenge the normative and liminal design of a border. The proposal celebrates the meeting place between South Africa and Mozambique laden within the non-place of architectural transition spaces.