5.2 Programme

5.2.1 Brief

The identity and historical significance of Berea Park serve as the core story for the proposed design and programmes, with the architectural intervention serving as the secondary character. The brief is to revitalise the isolated location and reintegrate it into the active urban fabric.

The proposed architectural solution takes the shape of a community crafts centre that focuses on ceramic works, with a master plan to revitalise the site’s social, recreational and leisure components. This architectural response results from the site’s historical functions as a location of production and recreation, where skill development and leisure once intersected (see Chapter 2).

Furthermore, the proposed solution takes into account the idea that architectural programmes can be a social sustainability intervention (see Chapters 3 and 4). Ceramic manufacture as a tactile activity may allow people to interact directly with skill development and architecture, and encourage the public to relate to the regenerated area using pottery, roof tiles, screens, ornaments, building materials and other ceramics. In addition, other public activities would be included in the crafts centre schedule to provide more democratic places. BRIEF

BRIEF

BRIEF

Urban vision

The urban brief focuses on the creation of public access to the site. This, combined with the introduction of democratic spaces, may ensure the reintegration of the Park into the urban fabric. Additionally, the programmes offered may attract other development, with the potential to enhance the surrounding context.

Site intention

The purpose of the site brief is to revive the recreational and public park grounds. Combining these features, with an emphasis on preserving the existing ruins, creates an enhanced social hub that serves as a link between users and public visitors.

Architectural brief

The architectural brief calls for the creation of a centre where users can learn ceramic skills. The crafting of ceramics offers a diversity of ways to reach a final output. The architecture also intends to demonstrate the potential of ceramics as building materials and passive solutions.

5.2.2 Community Crafts

The levels of engagement between users and the corresponding steps involved in ceramic manufacture form the building’s focal point. This may enable the architecture to maximise user interactions, in this way increasing both the cultural and social potential (see Fig. 78).

STREET

PUBLIC ACCESS

CRAFTS

STREET INFO CENTRE

ENTRANCE

CRAFTS

CRAFTS

RECREATIONAL

PUBLIC ACCESS

RUINS

Fig 78: Early programmatic layout of the architectural intervention focusing on engagement spaces, (By author, 2021). PARK

OFFICES WALKWAY APIES RIVER

PROCESSING

PROCESSING

Echoing Berea Park’s identity has many faces. Overall, it was a place of creation, learning, skills development and recreation. A community crafts centre may be a social and economic opportunity to represent the social aspects of the Park’s identity in a programme that becomes a tactile experience. This would involve a reactive and responsive architecture that could be socially sustained.

Added to the cultural aspect of the brief, a master plan for the addition and revitalisation of the sports grounds will be implemented, adding more democratic spaces with the exploration of the ruins by users. This allows the design to cater to a broader audience. a.) Programmatic requirements to ensure success of the centre are.

• Heritage preservation: With the added architectural intervention, which acts as the second character, the identity and historical layers of the site and existing ruins are not compromised. The architectural response is subtle and will use principles highlighted in Chapter 3 to preserve the essence of the site.

• Public access: Creating a secure and open environment guarantees that the public may connect with the site and the services offered. The construction of new walkways and the revitalisation of existing walkways provide several access points to and from the site.

• Maintenance: Maintaining the existing ruins gives the structures a social purpose, emphasising their significance in the urban fabric. Furthermore, repairing the football fields provides people with democratic functions. This permits cultural, social and recreational features to coexist on the site.

5.2.3 Accommodation List

a) General accommodation list Information centre includes:

• Information desk • Seating • Admin and reception office • Restrooms • Storage • Parking

Clay and ceramic processing by users include:

• Reception area • Kitchenette • Storage • Lounge • Workable clay storage • Moulding rooms • Carving studios • Painting studios • Public restrooms • Family room • Indoor and outdoor seating • Multi-use studio (workshops) • Exhibition rooms • Assembly yards (courtyards) • Drying and display rooms • Firing kilns and storage • Glazing studio • Library • Multi-media studio • Artist studios • Public park (integrated)

Clay production (industrial compound) includes:

• Material drop off and pick up point • Sieving processing room • Separation tanks for sand • Water storage (collected) and from Apies river • Filtration systems • Reusable water pump back to Apies river • Cutting and moulding studios • Offices and monitoring rooms • Rest rooms

Recreational facilities integrated with design includes:

• Site offices • Changing rooms • Restrooms • Observational decks • Conference room • Lounges

Features or spaces incorporated with the existing ruins include:

• Rest rooms • Walkways • Interaction rooms • Observation decks

5.2.4 Conclusion: why a community crafts centre?

Sites and structures become derelict or abandoned for a variety of reasons. As stated in Chapter 1, these reasons could be financial, growth of the surrounding context, neglect, new development or that the function has become obsolete.

The abandonment of Berea Park has the distinct causes of neglect and a lack of social sustainability. Significantly, the lack of social interest can be attributed to the site’s neglect. However, as mentioned in Chapter 3, derelict sites may still function in areas where Berea Park has become disconnected.

The proposed “community crafts centre” design provides a human-scale social engagement that can develop and enrich the site’s social attitude. As discussed in Chapter 3, one of the most likely design elements to achieve social sustainability is engaging and responsive architecture.

Combining the historical layers of the site (see Chapter 2) with the theoretical component of Chapter 3 suggests that the proposed design should have a function or programme in which the public can participate, and from which individuals can learn, develop and prosper. These interactions can lead to self-development and give individuals and their surroundings social, cultural and economic opportunities.

The ceramic production at the community crafts centre allows for an infinite number of creations and product options. The tactile sensation associated with the production assures a high level of involvement. Ceramics are utilised for cultural purposes such as traditional pottery, for ornamentation and as a supplementary revenue source. Ceramics also have a poetic and therapeutic value, as abilities can be improved at various stages of the creation. As a result, an intervention centred on involvement and production, paired with recreational activities, may result in the place becoming socially sustainable.