3.2.3 Conclusion

viewed as more dominant and assertive. They are easily visible and recognisable in a public environment. Similarly, when it comes to buildings and structures, and in the vertical world, height enhances presence and signifies power (Brittan, 1989). Short buildings are like short people who do not stand out in a crowd.

In this study, the elements that depict height or scale are considered and the implications discussed. Church Square (where there is the larger-than-life statue of Paul Kruger on an elevated plinth), the Voortrekker Monument (the 62-metre high colossus on a mountain ridge), and the Africa Unity Square (plain level ground and the volumes created by trees) are discussed. Design considerations and possibilities are proposed.

Table 3.1 presents a summary of the elements of siting/axis/location and height and scale of the sites selected for the study.

Table 3.1: Summary of elements

Proposed or identified design interventions

Element Site

Church Square Voortrekker Monument Africa Unity Square

Siting/location/axis/layout Pretoria CBD central axis

Height/scale

Details Statue elevated and bigger than life size Elevated ground Centre of Harare CBD Union Jack flag 62 m high building Plain ground Trees or volume

Floor pattern Frieze layout

Source: Author’s compilation (2021)

3.2.3 Conclusion

This section revealed the criteria for investigating how objects and design decisions make meanings. By illuminating these factors in more detail, the following sections investigate each of the selected sites (namely, Church Square, the Voortrekker Monument, and Africa Unity Square) in more detail. The sites illustrate the revelation of new possible narratives without totally demolishing the site.