Modipi

Lucia MODIPI

Dialectics of forgotten infrastructure:

The redevelopment of the Ekandustria Industrial Park

Supervisor Co-supervisor Dr MEN Nkambule, PhD (Arch) Mr TE Ramatlo, MTechArch (Prof)

This dissertation in architectural design investigates the dialectics of form and function in the neglected industrial parks in Tshwane, South Africa. The research aims to introduce an architectural intervention to address the current challenges faced on selected sites and communities by considering the potential of deteriorating industrial structures.

The dissertation explores sustainable solutions that could improve industrial parks by analysing the building typology, primary functions, what leads to the termination of industrial structures and which solutions could provide long term sustainability. Furthermore, the architectural intervention intends to address the potential economic, social, and environmental contributions that, if thoroughly investigated, could lead to sustainable developmental opportunities in the Ekandustria industrial park.

With the acknowledgement of the term dialectics, in the dissertation, the term represents two opposite points of view that contrast to achieve a new point of view that incorporates what is true in the original. By investigating the industrial structures in Ekandustria as a focal point, the research explores the dialectics of form and function in dilapidated industrial structures. An artistic and aesthetic dimension of architecture can introduce a better-informed design intervention that ignites communal regeneration through collaborative knowledge. The research questions how the existing strategies set by the government be revised to address dilapidated industrial parks such as Ekandustria and how the redeveloped building components could produce energy-efficient structures through the technological advancement of existing materials?

The initial ideas question how the proposed design intervention could restore the park to better suit the surrounding communities. For example, instead of improving the park’s failing economic state, the intervention could introduce new skills sets for community members, advanced building systems and newly assigned functions in Ekandustria. Moreover, the redevelopment of Ekandustria would open better opportunities for a town known with a low skilled labour force available to equip community members with advanced skill sets. The study concludes with the comprehension of how adaptive reuse methods could be a solution in contributing to the urban regeneration of Ekandustria.

Keywords

Adaptive reuse, Dialectics, Function, Form, Industrial Park, Communal regeneration, Sustainable