Namibian Museum for Architecture: preserving and archiving architectural heritage

Abstract

This dissertation stems from the love and appreciation of things that tells a story of time and makes us reflect on our impermanence as the individual self. Personally; the vast open horizons that are infrequently defined by mountainous sprouts that draws one in, added with the rhythmic silhouettes of the mountains as dusk sets as a backdrop to seemingly infinite flat plains; reminds us of just how majestic this land is. The ghost towns of the Namib Desert, washed away by the passing waves of sand dunes contrasted by the indigenous villages still animated by intricate dance rituals and social gatherings. In the Namibian context these are the contexts that invokes a sense of nostalgia and mortality which humble us in our approach to life. This dissertation attempts to create awareness of our unique environments that we often find ourselves in and that there is merit in preserving such places and elements for both our future generations and people from other regions to experience and learn from. In reference to this; this dissertation proposes the preservation of only a fraction of that which is valuable in Namibia; its vernacular, and German-colonial architecture which have a considerable influence on the identity of the country as a whole. The establishment of a museum and research centre in Windhoek, Namibia will primarily focus on the restoration and documentation of both indigenous vernacular and colonial architecture as a preservation mechanism and to create awareness of this tangible heritage as it makes up an integral part of the identity of culturally diverse Namibia.