Victor Mokaba//Thesis//Memory Bank by Victor Mokaba

M O K A B A V I C T O R

Memory Bank

<< The design of a digital genealogical archival repository in Pretoria West

The design of a digital genealogical archival repository in Pretoria West submitted by

Victor Mokaba

Submitted in partial fulďŹ lment for the degree MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE: ARCHITECTURE: PROFESSIONAL

in the Department of Architecture

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Supervisor: Prof. Gerald Steyn November 2015

The opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and cannot necessarily be attributed to Tshwane University of Technology

declaration

I hereby declare that the dissertation submitted for the degree M Tech: Architecture Professional, at Tshwane University of Technology, is my own original work and has not been submitted to any other institution. I am aware of this institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws regarding plagiarism and therefore, I declare that all sourced material cited or quoted is acknowledged in a comprehensive list of references.

Victor Mokaba

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our heritage is all we know of ourselves; what we preserve of it, our only record. That record is our beacon in the darkness of time; the light that guides our steps. Conservation is the means by which we preserve it. It is a commitment not only to the past, but also to the future.â&#x20AC;? Philip Ward. (1989:65)

abstract

The design of a digital, genealogical archival repository in Pretoria West for the preservation of South African family histories, that will inter alia, provide free public access to such archived material, is proposed. Oppression brought about by colonialism and apartheid in South Africa ultimately led to domination by one racial group, resulting in the inadequate documentation of the personal histories of the majority of the population; an omission which may be remediated by the archiving of family histories. Archival buildings are custodians of the valuable items of heritage for future generations. However, due to the strenuous and time intensive nature of the genealogical research process, the National Archives and Records Service does not, currently, effectively address this lack, which has led to this ďŹ eld of research being privately practiced. An archive of family history to be housed in Pretoria West, an industrial area characterised by vacant and abandoned buildings in need of intervention, is proposed. The design seeks to adapt a grain silo which forms a part of an old ďŹ&#x201A;our mill complex on Charlotte Maxeke Street. An exploration into the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past as a place which stores, secures and protects the contents within it, led to its selection as a suitable host for an archive which will utilise the preservative functional logic of the silo as a place of storage and security.

Key concepts: Culture, heritage, identity, public space, story-telling, adaptive reuse

Figure 1.1: Panoramic view towards site and existing grain silos. By author.

preface

This thesis originated from a personal curiosity regarding my own family history. After attempting to search for information about my family lineage through internet searches and discussions with family members, it was decided to head to the National Archives to do further research. As a result of the frustration caused by the failure to satisfy my curiosity, it became apparent that there existed a greater underlying issue regarding the current situation of the archiving of family history at the National Archives.

glossary and list of abbreviations

genealogy: ”… the tracing of an individual’s ancestral history using historical records, both official and unofficial, such as: census records, vital records(birth certificates, adoption records, death certificates, marriage and divorce records, etc.), land records, newspaper notices (birth notices, marriage notices, obituaries) and more to find identifying data about that individual.” (University of Maryland, 2011) repository: “a place of storage for documents, so constructed and maintained as to prevent damage, decay and unauthorized access, and to furnish, for archival documents, proper conditions of custody.” (Ling, 2008:9) DAC: Department of Arts and Culture NARS: National Archives and Records Service NHC: National Heritage Council OHASA: Oral History Association of South Africa SAHO: South African History Organization STATSSA: Statistics South Africa TCHSS: Comprehensive Sustainable Human Settlement Strategy TRC: Truth and Reconciliation Committee UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

table of contents

INTRODUCTION _______________________________16 1.1. Outline Brief 1.2. Background 1.3. Argument 1.4. Current state-of-the-art in archival design 1.5. Research and design strategy 1.6. Limitations 1.7. Delimitations 1.8. Background into genealogy

5.1. Brief 5.2. Client and funding 5.3. Design Criteria 5.4. Programme 5.5. ClassiďŹ cation of the users

CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT___________________100 6.1. Concept 6.2. Response to context 6.3. Response to existing buildings on site 6.4. Building Morphology

IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES_________________________32 2.1. Culture, Heritage and Identity 2.2. Public Space 2.3. Story Telling 2.4. Adaptive Reuse

DESIGN RESOLUTION____________________________________120

ANALYSIS AND APPRAISAL OF CONTEXT_________54

TECHNICAL RESOLUTION_________________________________172 8.1. Materials 8.2. Structural analysis 8.3. Sustainable design systems 8.4. Working drawings

3.1. Regional Mapping 3.2. Urban analysis 3.3. Site analysis 3.4. Analysis of existing building 3.5. Urban Proposal

BRIEF, PROGRAMME AND ACCOMODATION______________92

CONCLUSION __________________________________________210

APPENDIX 1 - Final presentation photographs ____________212

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS__________________________________214

REFERENCES____________________________________________234

PRECEDENT STUDIES____________________________80 4.1. Agenda for analysing the precedents 4.2. Principal Function 4.3. Programme and function 4.4. Systems and Storage 4.5 Adaptive Reuse

1.1. Outline Brief 1.2. Background 1.3. Argument 1.4. Current state-of-the-art in archival design 1.5. Research and design strategy 1.6. Limitations 1.7. Delimitations 1.8. Background to genealogy

I N T R O D U C T I O N

1.1. OUTLINE BRIEF This dissertation entails the design of a digital genealogical archival repository in Pretoria West. The envisaged facility aims to safeguard the genealogical archival material of all members of society and document the unrecorded family histories of South Africans, with the intention of giving free public access to the records.

introduction

According to Ling (2008:4), archival buildings store and preserve the records we wish to keep for future generations and can be understood as public institutions functioning as repositories of history and an ordering place of collections of memory and heritage. Archival records are therefore crucial in their purpose as tools which help individuals understand their past as well as their origins and make provision of information concerning the past, thereby providing a better understanding of the present.

Currently, the National Archives and Records Service (NARS) does not adequately reﬂect the experiences and ancestry of members of society previously marginalised during the apartheid era. Due to the work-intensive process of genealogical research and insufﬁcient staff at the NARS repositories, genealogical research has become a privatised undertaking with limited accessibility to records for the general public, as access to records and information requires payment to private institutions (NARS, 2014).

ARCHIVE Public Institution Collect Secure Preserve

Pretoria has been selected as the logical location for the proposed building as the city is home to the headquarters of the NARS and is in close proximity to various institutions linked to the NARS. In response to the current shortfalls of genealogical archiving, a digital genealogical archival repository is proposed as a new model of archiving in the current age of mass digitisation. The building being considered will provide secure digital data storage facilities which offer universal virtual access to the information stored within them and physical access to the building for the public to deposit unrecorded history and furthermore be able to consult the records housed within the building. The following issues are explored in order to develop an appropriate response to the determined objectives: • • • •

Culture, heritage and identity Public space Story-telling Adaptive reuse Oral history Photographs Journals

Figure 1.2: Diagram of outline brief. By author

Birth/death records Wills & testaments

MATERIAL

ACCESS

introduction

Insight Knowledge Transparency

MEMORIES

RECORDS

STORAGE

HERITAGE

ACCESS Insight Knowledge Transparency

1.2. BACKGROUND

The information within the archives is of national and individual importance as it influences the positive development of a renewed democratic society; public access to it makes it a transparent and vital tool for fostering national identity and addressing social memory. Genealogical research is a strenuous field of study due to the various types of archival records, such as wills, death registers, death notices, birth certificates, marriage documents and baptismal documents and so forth, which require attention to enable proper research to be conducted. However, NARS is only able to provide visitors to the four archival repositories in the country (situated in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and the Free State) with guides containing helpful information specific to the geo-political area of a particular region as a means to aid researchers in their quests for answers. It is unfortunate, but this is the most that the NARS can do to assist individuals with genealogical research (NARS, 2014).

Cape Town

Pretoria

Pietermaritzburg

Essentially the fundamental function of the NARS is summarised as an obligation to preserve a national archival heritage made accessible to the government, but also, most importantly, the citizens of South Africa. This necessitates the acquisition of important archives, whether they be public or private, and making these records freely available to the public for research or documentation purposes within their rights (NARS, 1996).

Free State

introduction

South Africa’s transformation imperative, as contained in the country’s archival legislation, requires as a main objective that the NARS ﬁlls the voids of social memory created by the previously oppressive era by actively collecting and documenting non-public records of national and public importance. The National Oral History Programme was initiated to spearhead the documentation process by collecting, verifying and archiving oral testimonies.

The evident shortfalls of the current system may ﬁrstly be noticed in the provision of guides to visitors seeking to do genealogical research as opposed to the employment of genealogists to properly document and aid individuals in seeking their heritage at the archives. Secondly, according to Statistics South Africa (2014), South Africa has an estimated population of 54 million people spread across the country. Accessibility to the records is limited as only four repositories serve the entire population and all the repositories require physical access by the visitors in order to access the information stored within them. Figure 1.3: Locations of national archival repositories in South Africa. By author

Thirdly, there are various examples of commemorative architecture with approximately similar functions as the archives, which document and commemorate signiﬁcant events in South African history and aim to inform and educate the public about them. Commendable examples of the above are the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg by Gapp Architects in collaboration with Mashabane Rose Architects, the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, the Wits Origin Centre in Johannesburg and the //hapo Freedom Park Museum, all by Mashabane Rose Architects. In as much as these museums provide their visitors with insight into the nation’s history, they do not belong to civil society, and act as time capsules providing lived experiences of a particular time period.

Although the Museums’ role as storytellers and the TRC’s actions are a noble effort in providing missing truths and promoting reconciliation and forgiveness amongst victims and wrongdoers, a void still exists in addressing the lost and unrecorded heritage of those who were not necessarily directly victimised, but whose human rights were violated during the apartheid era.

Figure 1.4: TRC testimony hearing, South Africa. Source:http://media-1.web.britannica.com/ebmedia/88/137688-004-EC2CD3EB.jpg

Figure 1.5: Origins Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. Source:http://mashabanerose.co.za/origins-centr

introduction

In an effort to promote reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was formed in South Africa in 1995 to identify the victims of the unjust actions of the apartheid era and the wrongdoers of the time. The intention of the TRC was to address the ills of the apartheid era by allowing the era’s evildoers an opportunity to remorsefully disclose their previous actions to their victims and the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 2008).

19 Figure 1.8: Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa. Source: http://mashabanerose.co.za/apartheid-museum

Figure 1.6: Freedom Park Museum,Pretoria,South Africa. Source:http://www.designindaba.com/sites/default/ ﬁles/styles/large/public/node/galleries/18889/gallery/ Freedom%20Park%20z%2013.jpg?itok=zZqZijhv

Figure 1.7: Hector Pieterson Museum, Soweto, South Africa. Source:https://middletonvanjonker.ﬁles.wordpress.com/2012/05/cimg4190.jpg

MEMORY BANK NETWORK

OPPRESION

SEGREGATION

MEMORIES

> > > > > > PAST

The facilities and programmes previously mentioned currently attempt to ﬁll the void in the memories of South Africans who were once affected by the previous oppressive regime since there is currently no dedicated facility where the individual stories and family history of those affected by that period, and of all individuals who form a part of the country, are documented and made available. The current, privatised state of genealogy contradicts NARS’s mission to nurture national and individual identity through the documentation, collection and provision of information to the public to remedy the existing voids.

South Africa is a diverse nation with a rich history and the collection of information within the archives provides insight into the heritage of the nation’s people. In addition, access to this information could provide for a better understanding of one another’s heritage and where one ﬁts in the greater picture of the nation’s history. This could promote and strengthen communal bonds between members of South African society.

> UNIFIED SOCIETY

FUTURE

The provision of a digital archival repository system could facilitate improved universal access to archived material and provide a sustainable manner for genealogists to collect, document and make available the genealogical information of all individuals in South Africa. It is further argued that the free access to this material allows for transparency to be enhanced between the government and the people it serves.

Figure 1.9: Illustration of envisaged impact of Memory Bank Network . By author

introduction

1.3. ARGUMENT

1.4. CURRENT STATE-OF-THE-ART According to Ted Ling (2008:19), Director of the National Archives of Australia, purpose built archival repositories need to be designed and built to abide by four fundamental requirements: • •

introduction

• •

The preservation of documents in secure premises requiring climatically controlled, pest free and ﬁre protected environments. The accommodation of visitors wishing to consult with the records held within the building Document repair and reproduction: photocopies, microﬁlm, and the like The provision of a safe and calm environment for both visitors and staff.

Internationally, genealogical research facilities, such as the Family History Library in Utah, USA, which holds the world’s largest assortment of family history related material, are open for use free to the public. The facility holds records from over 110 countries and territories and holds data ranging from as far back as 14th century England to African oral histories. Additionally, professional genealogists and volunteers at the library offer assistance in over 30 languages, including reading and translating genealogically relevant documents received and offered to the visitors of the facility, coming from as far as Europe and Asia (Powell, 2002).

Figure 1.10

Family History Library - Utah, USA Figure 1.5

Figure 1.10: Main entrance. Source: https://www.lds.org/ manual/introduction-to-family-history-student-manual/ chapter-6?lang=eng Figure 1.11: Exhibition space and reading room. Source: http://www.templesquare.com/explore/church-historylibrary/

Figure 1.11

introduction

However, the advent of the internet has greatly increased the availability and accessibility of resources for genealogical research, which has resulted in increased public interest in the topic and enabled members of the public to easily explore their family lineage. Growing popularity and interest in genealogy abroad is evident with well-known websites such as FamilySearch.org processing up to seven million hits on a daily basis and the internet genealogy industry reaching an estimated worth of 200 million dollars in the United States of America alone (Powell, 2002). This is indicative of the progression of the information age and the ability of the internet to connect people and to grant us easier access to information.

Figure 1.12: Illustrative data analysis of the current state of the genealogy industry. Source: http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/posts/state-of-the-genealogy-industry-an-infographic/

Archival methods are slowly transforming along with the progression of the information age. Facilities such as the Granite Mountain Records Vault in Utah, USA, holding up to 35 billion images of genealogical information have joined the digital revolution through a process of indexing which sees the physical archived information being digitized and organized in a digital database for easier access and ﬁltered searching (Taylor, 2010). The National Archives in the United Kingdom adopted a digital repository system in 2003, used by several archival repositories and libraries worldwide as a means of storing, preserving and providing access to government records of employees and members of the public. These digital archives include records of parliamentary and royal committees, electronic records such as ofﬁcial documents, catalogues and audio-visual material (National Archives, 2015).

introduction

Figure 1.13

This has been made possible by ‘cloud’ computing: a style of computing where data is made accessible anywhere through computer technology and which provides self-service consumption between a consumer and a provider. The data stored within the said cloud is universally available, allowing for virtual access to it from any location and not only physically at its storage location where it is managed. In a cloud computing system, the data is stored in a secure data server. Copies of the data are made available to other linked data servers in order to provide safe back up storage in case anything goes wrong (Shanmugapriyaa & Rajan, 2012). The cloud computing evolution has added a new dimension to the archival repository system. Firstly, it is noticeable in the consultation process where visitors would initially have to actually visit the building to consult the physical records, whereas now they are given the opportunity to access and deposit material without having to be physically present. Secondly, in the security of valuable archival material: backup copies of the original material are stored in a linked network, creating a more secure storage solution.

Figure 1.14

Granite Mountain Records Vault Figure 1.13: Exterior perspective. Source: http://www. deseretnews.com/article/765679037/Locked-down8-of-the-worlds-most-protected-sites.html?pg=all Figure 1.14: Archived material storage. Source: http:// www.mormonnewsroom.org/multimedia-download/ article/mormonism-pictures-family-history/ Figure 1.15: Digitisation of archived material. Source: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/multimedia-download/article/mormonism-pictures-family-history/

Figure 1.15

Figure 1.16: The evolution of archiving from physical access to records within the archives to virtual access bringing the records to the visitor at any location. By author.

Figure 1.17: Cloud computing illustration: Source: http://visual.ly/cloud-network-servers

1.5. RESEARCH AND DESIGN STRATEGY

introduction

Preceding the commencement of the design process and given the nature of the proposed intervention, and the fact that there is no local example of a similar development, it was important to gain sufďŹ cient understanding of a comparable building type, a functional programme and the spatial relationships of the building by visiting an archival repository. The visit provided a greater understanding of the programme, the functional process, the services, the role played by an archival building and the additional functions that could be incorporated into the digital archive.

Further research was required in order to acquire an understanding of the historic background of the site and the existing buildings within it as well as the greater context through the mapping of access routes, zoning, land uses, demographics and the greater historical context of Pretoria West. This research was carried out in order to determine a suitable method of integrating the proposal into the context. The issues of concern mentioned are explored through a method of design development which includes the information collected through analysis of applicable literature, interviews with relevant professionals in the ďŹ eld of study, photographic journalling and context analysis.

Chapter

Item

Method

An investigation of the issues of concern.

Review of relevant literature.

Analysis and appraisal of context.

Mapping and site visits.

Precedent studies.

Review of literature and buildings relevant to proposal.

The establishment of a brief, programme and accommodation schedule.

Case studies and review of appropriate precedent studies.

The formulation of an appropriate concept and development thereafter.

Exploration through design.

Design presentation.

Presentation drawings.

Technical review of the design resolution.

Working drawings including technical resolution, detailing and material research.

1.6 LIMITATIONS

Since the proposal dealt with the conversion of an existing silo building into the proposed archival repository, it was important to obtain information on the existing building as well as its plans. Access to the site and the building was only granted in April; thereafter staff members provided guided tours of the facility and explained the functional processes, composition and speciďŹ cs of the building in enough detail for suitable plans of the existing building to be produced.

introduction

Permission to tour the National Archives in Pretoria was not granted due to security concerns. However, a case study of a building with a similar function, the National Library of South Africa, was undertaken. Access to data centres which store data electronically in a manner similar to the proposed intervention was also restricted, resulting in design decisions based on theoretical concepts gained from literature written by specialists in the ďŹ eld. The principles studied were then adapted to the proposed intervention

1.7 DELIMITATIONS Due to the complexity of cloud computer technology, calculated decisions based on theoretical literature were made in the provision of the number of data servers and storage devices required for the storage of information. Cloud computing is still an evolving style of computing in so far as the storage of data is concerned. Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s law has proven that computer technology and processing power doubles every two years meaning that storage devices become smaller and smaller as time progresses (Intel, 2015). Therefore, calculated decisions were made on the number of data servers and storage devices that would be required, based on this theory. The silo building intended for the genealogical archival repository forms part of a granary with other buildings on site. The intervention proposes the reuse of certain of the latter; however designs for these buildings will not be provided, but rather diagrammatically indicated, as they do not directly form a part of the archival repository but comprise part of the proposed public space.

Figure 1.18: Montage of early genealogical recording techniques. By author.

1.8. BACKGROUND TO GENEALOGY The term “genealogy” is derived from two Greek words, denoting “generation” and “knowledge”. The Society of Genealogists (SOG), a society of professional genealogists based in Britain, state that the term genealogy is often used interchangeably with the term family history, yet there are slight differences in their deﬁnitions. The commonality of the deﬁnitions is the establishment of pedigree through the investigation of credible sources to indicate the connection between one generation and the next (Loughran, 2008)

introduction

The quest for family history and ancestry is often driven by a number of motivations, such as the curiosity about one’s family origins and its position in the greater scope of history as well as a feeling of responsibility to preserve history for generations to come and a sense of pride in the ability to knowledgeably recount stories (Bishop, 2008:393).

HISTORY OF GENEALOGY Potter-Phillips (1999) of Family Chronicle Magazine, argues that cave paintings discovered by the French, tombstone art world-wide and petroglyphs and pictographs left by Native Americans are all indications of the human being’s thoughtful nature of leaving a record and seeking to be remembered by future generations. The ancient Greeks studied genealogy with the aim of demonstrating descent from a bloodline of gods or goddesses to achieve a high social status and often referred to classic poetry as evidence. The ancient Egyptians preserved the memories of their pharaohs and ruling families in their burial tombs with inscriptions and paintings on their walls, while the North-American Indians occasionally used totem poles as genealogical records. These towering poles, usually made of wood, often displayed family history in a similar way to that of family trees with each ﬁgure representing a family characteristic. In the book titled Roots, Alex Haley speaks of African griots (African historians/storytellers) of the Kinte tribe reciting from memory an incredible amount of clan lineage in immense detail spanning back across many generations and utilising events to date the details included in the stories (Haley, 2007:452).

RESEARCH PROCESS

Conclusions drawn are based on the reliability of sources which should preferably be original records containing the information required. In many instances, genealogists are required to use their experience to draw conclusions from circumstantial evidence. Once enough information has been acquired, the genealogists then place all the pieces of the story together to form an organised and solid family history (Greenwood, 2000:124).

Figure 1.19: Genealogical archival material. By author.

WILLS

VIDEO RECORDS

PHOTOGRAPHS

BAPTISMAL RECORDS

ORAL TESTIMONIES

JOURNALS

MILITARY RECORDS

BIRTH CERTIFICATES

DEATH CERTIFICATES

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES

NEWSPAPER RECORDS

IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

introduction

Genealogical research encompasses the use of historical records, such as family documents, photographs, records of birth and death, journals, identity documents and narratives. Occasionally, genetic analysis is used to determine descent; the added beneďŹ t of this is the ability to inform families about hereditary medical conditions. This information is then evaluated and further research is done to assess historical records in a bid to discover more about a familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancestry and events which have transpired. The information gathered is then collated on spreadsheets in family groups and pedigree charts in order to keep it organised.

2.1. Culture, Heritage and Identity 2.2. Public Space 2.3. Story telling 2.4. Adaptive Reuse

I D E N T I F Y I N G

T H E

I S S U E S

2.1. CULTURE, HERITAGE AND IDENTITY

identifying the issues

RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE

“Culture means the total body of tradition borne by a society and transmitted from generation to generation. It thus refers to the norms, values and standards by which people act, and it includes the ways distinctive in each society of ordering the world and rendering it intelligible. Culture is a set of mechanisms for survival, but it provides us also with a deﬁnition of reality. It is the matrix into which we are born, it is the anvil upon which our persons and destinies are forged.” Robert Murphy (1986:14)

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRIOR RESEARCH BY OTHERS Culture can be described as a guiding principle for the behaviour of a specific group of people and, essentially, a way of life. Cultural influence can be understood in various applications such as ideologies, morals and values, customs and rituals, dress sense and decorative cosmetic items, manners, religion and a variety of habits acquired as a member of a specific society (SAHO, 2013). In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) governing body adopted the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity which states that “one cannot be without the other” meaning that one’s sustained existence is dependent on co-existence with others . The declaration acknowledges that the various heritage groups that make up humankind are as important as biodiversity in nature and through the acknowledgement and understanding of others’ identity, cultural diversity should be preserved (UNESCO, 2001). Culture however, is not instinctive. It is a culmination of teachings from family, religious institutions, educational institutions, media and politically through the governing of a country. Culture is passed down from generation to generation and is ever- changing as it acquires new contributions influenced newer generations as time progresses (SAHO, 2013).

Figure 2.3: Source: https://www.enca.com/gallery10-images-south-africas-colourful-heritage Figure 2.4: Source: http://www.standrews.co.za/ news/37/ Figure 2.5: Source: http://showme.co.za/durban/ news/heritage-day-celebrated-at-hirschs/

Montage of annual South African Heritage Day celebrations

Figure 2.2: Screenshot of popular South Arican hip-hop music video depicting the extent of the American hiphop cultural inﬂuence. Source: http://cybertechz.com/ photos-emmygee-ft-ice-prince-ab-crazy-anatii-phynocassper-nyovest-dj-dimplez/

Figure 2.3

Figure 2.4

South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation due to the diversity of the cultures and racial groups within it. Prior to the achievement of the country’s democratic status, the apartheid system was introduced by the government as a means to strengthen control over the economy and social system, and aimed to dominate several racial and cultural groups (SAHO, 2013). Today, the country prides itself in having a democratic system that promotes the understanding and knowledge of each other’s culture and identity. Through initiatives such as “Proudly South African”, an initiative put in place by the South African government to encourage value of each other, South African identity and culture is more strongly bound and inﬂuenced by the people’s unity and embracing of each other’s unique ways. However, due to globalisation the risk of more forms of identity being lost is much greater (SAHO, 2013).

Figure 2.5

identifying the issues

Figure 2.1: Screenshot of popular American hip-hop music video. Source: http://www.puna.nl/2015/01/11/ young-thug-rich-homie-quan-game/

McLellan (2013:29) notes that narratives and stories are the most common and successful means of transmitting cultural identity. Today however, availability and ease of access to massive amounts and forms of media are threats to sustaining cultural inheritance. One of these threats is in the form of American pop culture which has shown its dominance within smaller cultural circles with its influence seen widely in their dress sense, morals, expression, attitude and dialect. Portrayed though music videos and film, American pop culture is portrayed as the “cool” alternative further weakening the respect young people have for their individual culture. This can be described as “westernization”, which is defined as the transformation of cultural practice and adherence of individual cultures of the world to western customs and practices (Mehmet, 1999).

identifying the issues

Figure 2.6: Illustration of globalisation and the fading of authentic culture through westernisation. By author.

RESEARCH FINDINGS McLellan (2013:29) further deliberates the view that the fading and ultimate loss of culture can be attributed to the rising dominance of western culture world-wide. This is problematic, as authentic identities of individuals are composed, inter alia, of their family and cultural roots which are now endangered; once the phenomenon of globalising culture has gone too far, no backtracking to lost authentic identity is possible.

PREDEMOCRACY

identifying the issues

It can be argued that the oppressors belittled several racial and cultural groups and cultures by the dominance of one. This has led to the absence of historical data relating to the identities of millions of descendants of those previously oppressed.

POSTDEMOCRACY

? Figure 2.7: Illustration of curiosity about unrecorded memories. By author.

PRINCIPLES TO BE CONSIDERED •

• •

Creating an environment whereby family history and identity can be enquired after and deposited, affording visitors the opportunity to reﬂect on their pasts and learn about their family history. Creating an environment where visitors are offered opportunities for interaction and discussion as well as spaces for personal reﬂection. Creating a platform for the family histories to be accessed.

identifying the issues

2.2. PUBLIC SPACE

“Public space is the stage upon which the drama of communal life unfolds. The streets, the squares, and parks of the city give form to the ebb and ﬂow of human exchange. These dynamic spaces are an essential counterpart to the more settled places and routines of work and home life, providing the channels for movement, the nodes of communication, and the common grounds for play and relaxation.” Stephen Carr (1992:2)

RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE

identifying the issues

Berkowitz (2013) explains that late modernity sees public life as being more scattered, mobile and diverse. Contemporary social structures with “public” spaces owned by private organisations and governments of a country, together with the laws imposed by them, ironically de-structure human life, detaching people from each other and obstructing positive and genuine interaction. Places that once aided in solidifying public cohesion and assuming public responsibility, are now infrequently used and are fewer.

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRIOR RESEARCH BY OTHERS Public spaces can be described as accessible and include common social spaces, such as roads, public squares and parks where community binding activities and interaction are provided for. Civic buildings open for public access such as libraries and public spaces attached to them can also be considered as public spaces, although such buildings present user restrictions and limitations within them (Veerman, 2014).

World-wide, public and private activities are practiced in different ways and this can be seen in the ways in which different cultures treat public space differently. Latin cultures in southern Europe celebrate their wealth in civic and religious spaces, such as town halls and churches facing public squares and parks, Muslim cultures in Northern Africa have public spaces such as street markets and shops and place greater emphasis on the rich design of their private domains such as their homes and more religiously inﬂuenced mosques and Koranic schools (Carr, 1992:3).

GATHERING/PUBLIC ACTION

INTERACTION/ENGAGEMENT

Figure 2.8: Public activities that occur in public spaces. By author.

PUBLIC LIFE

RELAXATION

identifying the issues

Figure 2.9

Figure 2.10

In cities such as Tehran in Iran, Puerta Del Sol in Spain and Gezi Park in Istanbul, Turkey, public spaces are used as battle ﬁelds for demonstrations, providing people with the opportunity to meet, exchange, disagree and debate. According to Veerman (2014), cities of today do not nurture healthy collective action due to the lack of vibrant, dynamic and interactive public space. Regrettably, ﬁne examples of such spaces were until recently found in Pretoria such as Pretorius Square at the Pretoria City Hall which was, however, recently fenced off to control and restrict public access (The Heritage Portal, 2013). Another example is the Union Buildings, where access to spaces such as the recently named Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre and surrounding gardens directly linked to the building is now restricted.

Figure 2.11 Figure 2.9: An inactive Gezi Park, Turkey. Source: http://www. bbc.com/news/world-europe-22902308animated-ﬁlm Figure 2.10: Public protests at Gezi Park, Turkey. Source: http:// oleville.com/politicole/2013/10/31/618/ Figure 2.11: Fence around Pretorious Square at Pretoria City Hall. Source: Fisher, R & Clarke, J. 2014. Architectural Guide South Africa. Berlin: DOM Publishers. Figure 2.12: Restricted access at the Union Buildings, Pretoria. Source: Fisher, R & Clarke, J. 2014. Architectural Guide South Africa. Berlin: DOM Publishers.

Figure 2.12

Present-day life sees the rise of developments with privately owned public spaces within their precincts, such as Melrose Arch in Johannesburg and the developing Menlyn Maine in Pretoria which control public access and activity as they are privately owned. The evolution of culture brings with it the evolution of public life and practices which sees the need for new spaces that are appropriate for new and positive public life and sees old spaces removed or adapted. However, the success of public space and its function does not solely rely on the interaction between individuals. Without stabilisation, public spaces often vanish, but although it can be challenging, institutionalisation provides some form of durability and stability (Thuma, 2011). Challenges encountered are those put into place through institutions, such as ruling authorities, planning agencies and media outlets by implementing strategies and mechanisms in order to dominate the city and its public spaces. These authorities criminalise groups and activities that pose threats to political, social and urban orders of the wealthy and, in so doing, public spaces are privatised and have restricted and controlled access (Berkowitz. 2013). Developments with privately owned public spaces within them, such as those just mentioned, are excellent examples of this trend.

Figure 2.14

Figure 2.15

Figure 2.13: Street view of Melrose Arch precinct, Johannesburg. Source: https://www.travelground.com/attractions/melrose-arch Figure 2.14: Birds eye view of Melrose Arch precinct, Johannesburg. Source: http://www.melrosearch.co.za/downloads/Melrose%20Arch%20Leasing%20Map%20Final.pdf Figure 2.15: Birds eye view of future expansion of the Menlyn Maine precinct, Pretoria. Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe22902308animated-ďŹ lm Figure 2.16: Precinct map of Menlyn Maine, Pretoria. Source: http://oleville.com/politicole/2013/10/31/618/

identifying the issues

Figure 2.13

Figure 2.16

RESEARCH FINDINGS

identifying the issues

As a nation embracing unity amongst its people, South Africa needs appropriate public spaces to provide for public interaction and encourage communal bonding. Even though public space should be free of private ownership, it requires some form of institutionalisation for stability. The challenge lies in providing a sustainable public space allowing for freedom from dominance due to institutionalisation.

PRINCIPLES TO BE CONSIDERED â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Providing a platform allowing for public interaction Creating a public space surrounded by buildings with cooperative functions making provision for public interaction between people in Pretoria West, with the proposed digital archival repository forming a part of the development.

Figure 2.17: sketch illustrating proposed positioning of public space surrounded by buildings. By author.

2.3. STORY TELLING RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE

Cora Agatucci (2010)

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRIOR RESEARCH BY OTHERS Storytelling is the method by which connections between one individual and another can be founded and developed upon. Since the prehistoric ages, storytelling has been a vital tool used to help people reason, based on emotions evoked by stories prior to forming opinions on things and actions (Ampatitzidou & Molenda, 2014). According to Utley (2008) from the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute in Connecticut USA, storytelling is the act of vocally reciting a story to a listener (or listeners) with the aid of gestures. This takes listeners on a journey, evoking curiosity within them to pursue knowledge about themselves and the world which surrounds them. It is a method by which one generation passes knowledge, culture, experiences and history on to the next (Utley, 2008). Architecture is considered a vessel for ideas and beliefs. Consequently, when human beings came to comprehend this, architecture became a form of storytelling by evoking emotion through the composition of space where actions could be played out and not by the composition of the actions themselves (Ampatitzidou & Molenda, 2014). Architecture is created on the basis of spatial relationships suited to people’s actions and, similarly, narratives are composed of a timeline of actions relating to one another to form a story.

Figure 2.18: An elder passing a story on to children. Source: https://notnumber.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/ narrative-moral-meaning/

identifying the issues

“It is the story that saves our offspring from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind. Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story; rather it is the story that owns us and directs us.”

identifying the issues

De Botton (2007:88) reasons that the classiﬁcation of a building as beautiful should be based on more than just its aesthetic appeal, suggesting the desirability of the lifestyle projected by the architecture. The building’s spatial composition, the circulation patterns, the scale and location of openings within it and, additionally, its furnishing should collectively lure one to envision an everyday experience within that space. Similar to the collective events which form a part of a timeline in a story, the beauty and success of a building should be based on the narrative created by the collective composition of all these (Ampatitzidou & Molenda, 2014). The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, already alluded to, is a noteworthy example of architecture as a storyteller. The museum narrates the colonial genesis of Apartheid in South Africa, its subsequent effect and its demise. The historical period is communicated to the visitor using a narrative technique whereby story and place are experienced simultaneously along a guided route. The route comprises spaces with exhibits and audio-visual material telling the story of the era with the building’s material and spatial composition creating a neutral space, thus focussing the visitor’s attention onto the exhibits (Joubert, 2009:126).

Figure 2.19: Neuces on exhibition hanging from the ceiling. Source: http:// www.notasdesdealgunlugar.com/notas-desde-el-museo-del-apartheid/

An experience of story and place simultaneously at the Apartheid Museum utilising objects from the past from the apartheid era as a tool in the storytelling process

identifying the issues

Figure 2.20: A Casspir, an old police vehicle of the time. Source: http://www.davidbuzzard.com/blogphotos/joburgheid/

Figure 2.21: Apartheid Museum entrance with signage remeniscent of the past era. Source: http://abccoolimages.com/apartheid+museum+restaurant

distribution

RESEARCH FINDINGS

identifying the issues

PRINCIPLES TO BE CONSIDERED Although a digital archival system utilising cloud technology is proposed, family history still needs to be collected, documented and organised, which necessitates a physically accessible facility. This creates the opportunity for stories in the form of family history to be told and gives rise to opportunity to explore the connected composition of storytelling as a generator in the formation of space.

Figure 2.22: The collection, documentation, organisation and distribution of family history as a timeline of events. By author.

//documentation

//collection

//organisation

Architecture can be seen as a transporter of messages. Since human beings began consciously creating space and attempting to understand the surrounding world, architecture, in its creation, and the stories behind its formation, have constantly been closely knit together (Ampatitzidou & Molenda, 2014). Bachalard (1982:41) further suggests that a successful story relies on its ability to be understood and the ease of engagement with its reader. The psychological connection of the reader to the story should be sought after, step by step, similarly to the chain of events in a story timeline. The architectural product should be the narrative interpreted from mere information.

2.4. ADAPTIVE REUSE

“You can’t make some of this modern stuff using old manual tools,” says Colin Smith, director of engineering and technology for Rolls-Royce, a British company that makes jet engines and other power systems. “The days of huge factories full of lots of people are not there anymore.”

2 THE ASSEMBLY LINE - USA

RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE According to Markillie (2012) globally, changes in industry are taking place. As digital manufacturing gathers pace, a third great change is on the horizon. The ﬁrst industrial revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century with the mechanisation of the textile industry and as a result hand craft took second place to the use of machines as a means of manufacturing. The second industrial revolution began in the USA in the early 20th century which saw the birth of the assembly line and the dawn of the era of mass production. Markillie (2012) further argues that the third industrial revolution will allow things to be made more economically, more ﬂexibly and in smaller quantities, which will see the world move away from mass-production towards more individualised production (Markillie, 2012).

Colin Smith (Markillie, 2012)

MECHANISATION - BRITAIN

THE DIGITAL AGE

Bohmer (2012:41) mentions that the industrial landscape of Pretoria West can attest to this change in manufacturing. The previous era of mass production can be seen there, but a number of industrial buildings in the area were either closing or the businesses moving, which leads to the question of what the future holds for these large products of ma mass production.

Figure 2.23: The three industrial revolutions and the silos, a product of mass production. By author.

identifying the issues

The design proposes the reuse of the grain silos which form a part of the old Pretoria West Flour Milling Company. The selection of the silos as a suitable host is founded on the establishment of a link between the building’s past and future use, as well as on exploring the possibility of utilising the original structure and the functional logic of the silo to repurpose the building into a genealogic archival repository, essentially storing, securing and protecting the contents inside of it. Since the primary purpose of a grain silo is to store and preserve harvested grain, it can essentially be understood as a secure and safe storage location, protecting the grain from threats such as pests and weather. Similarly, people’s memories are collected through a variety of mediums with the most common being oral, through listening to and the retelling of stories as a form of passing them down to future generations. These memories are then “stored” in our minds, carried with us daily and accessed when wanting to communicate them to others. However, these memories are not always safe as the people carrying them may lose their memory or life, leaving future generations unaware of memories which may hold important information for them.

Figure 2.24: Elevational sketch of existing silos and abandoned ﬂour mill. By author.

2//PROCESSING

3//GRAIN STORAGE

4//DISTRIBUTION

identifying the issues

//GRAIN

1//GRAIN COLLECTION

//MEMORIES

1//TRADITIONAL STORY TELLING Figure 2.25: Illustration of link between memory and grain storage. By author.

2//PROCESSING

3//MEMORY STORAGE

4//DISTRIBUTION

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRIOR RESEARCH BY OTHERS According to Johnson (1996:209), the progression of society has led to the use of buildings in a temporary manner. The advancement of technology, growth of industrial and ofﬁce automation have led to a vast number of buildings becoming outdated. Industrial buildings become outmoded more rapidly as industrial technological developments make it challenging to utilise existing, purpose-built facilities for their original purposes. To accommodate this evolution, the spatial and programmatic needs of people constantly require alteration; this can be achieved by the transformation of old, existing spaces.

identifying the issues

The purpose of “adaptive reuse” is to utilise an existing building, structure and/or framework for a set of new requirements. This will necessitate a substantial amount of changes/ transformations to take place in the space conﬁguration of the original structure, guided by the possibilities and constraints within the boundaries of an existing building (Eyüce & Eyüce, 2010). Clark (2013) further explains that through adaptive reuse, a site can be given a new life rather than restricting it to its initial use and subsequent abandonment. Essentially, adaptive reuse explores the median between the demolition of an old building and the current trend of preservation of old buildings by turning them into 48 museums.

Figure 2.26: Over grown vegetation and stagnant water on the abandoned highline railway tracks. Source: http://jetpacapp.tumblr.com/post/40640350587/

Figure 2.27: Fenced off and ab Source: http://albabtaindesign

Figure 2.30: Public life on the newly revamped New York City Highline. Source: http://www.explorationhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nyc-highline/.

Figure 2.31: Highline landscape

An example of this is the infrastructure conversion of the New York City Highline in the USA. The “highline” was the former industrial railway stretching across the western edge of the city and is a 2.4 kilometre long elevated steel structure built in the 1930s, which subsequently stopped functioning in 1980. The project comprises the conversion of the abandoned elevated freight railway line into a linear public park aimed at reclaiming the once vital piece of industrial infrastructure. Since the opening of the promenade, over 30 new projects have been initiated along the route of the highline (Cliento, 2009). Clark (2013) further states that when dealing with the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage buildings, there are two main points that should be considered: •

•

The considered building may hold functional value. Adaptive re-use often requires ﬁnding the most suitable use for a building rather than purely altering the building to its intended use. In other words, consideration should be given to taking the building’s previous function into consideration in order to determine its future use. The previous spatial structure of the building should still remain readable in the adapted building, in order to acknowledge its previous function.

Figure 2.28: Old railway lines hidden by vegetation Source: https:// sdate.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/high-line-is-a-highlight-of-new-york/

e. By author.

Figure 2.32: Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye view of the revamped Highline. By author.

Figure 2.29: Dull vegetation in winter on the old highline. Source: http:// blog.buildllc.com/2014/12/build-status-report-12/

identifying the issues

bandoned railway lines. n.com/?p=359

identifying the issues

RESEARCH FINDINGS Preserving industrial icons plays an important role in maintaining the historic industrial character of a community. When industrial architecture is rescued, it is done so in the belief of its potential for transformation and rich architectural value (Cantell, 2005:4). These industrial buildings with their large amounts of vacant building stock allow for a large variety of possible adaptions due to their extensive spatial features. As a means of extending the life of a defunct building, adaptive reuse provides a vast array of interventional opportunities, as opposed to demolition.

PRINCIPLES TO BE CONSIDERED Maintaining the industrial and historic character of the silos by acknowledging the previous function of the building and utilising the building’s functional logic as a generator to ﬁnding a compatible and appropriate function for its future use.

Figure 2.33: Reﬂecting on the buildings previous function to determine its future use. By author

identifying the issues

3.1. Regional analysis 3.2. Urban analysis 3.3. Site analysis 3.4. Analysis of existing building 3.5. Urban Proposal

A N A L Y S I S

A N D

A P P R A I S A L

O F

C O N T E X T

An analysis of the physical context, from macro to micro scale, was conducted in order to understand the environment in which the design proposal will be located. The information derived from the analysis allowed for the development of a greater framework vision for Pretoria West and revealed opportunities and constraints which inﬂuenced the conceptual development of the proposed genealogical archival repository in the design process.

3.1. REGIONAL ANALYSIS << // PRETORIA

appraisal of context

PRETORIA WEST

Pretoria West is a historically rich neighbourhood established in 1892, situated directly to the west of the Tshwane Inner City and is one of the oldest townships in Pretoria. The area was initially established as a residential suburb, but through time, the suburban character of the area has transformed into one of a mixed-use area (Nkoane, 2010). In 1928, Iscor, The South African Iron and Steel Corporation Limited, was established by the South African Parliament and is still situated on the south-western edge of Pretoria West. Pretoria and South Africa’s industrial success and boom in the steel industry during the 1920’s can be substantially linked to Iscor’s presence (Davey, 2010:64). The by-products of the steel industry contributed signiﬁcantly to the development of subindustries in the industrial sector of that area. The developing steel industry and its close proximity to the railway line led to the industrialisation of the southern edge of the area and transformation of the area, thereafter leaving Pretoria West’s small town character in contrast with the monumental industrial buildings of the area (Bohmer, 2012:40).

<< // GAUTENG

<< // SOUTH AFRICA Figure 3.1: World Map, locating Pretoria West. By author

Figure 3.2: Location of Pretoria West as the focus area west of Pretoria CBD and location of signiямБcant nodes. Source: Google Earth, 2015.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SOUTH AFRICA

TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

REET

ST PAUL KRUGER

EST //PRETORIA W

CHURCH SQUARE

REET W.F. NKOMO ST

SCHUTTE STREET TRAIN STATION SITE PRETORIA WEST POWER STATION AY RAILW

PRETORIA STATION

ISCOR N

Figure 3.3: Panoramic view from Tshwane University of Technology, north of Pretoria West, indicating Pretoria Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location in relation to the city. By author

Pretoria CBD

appraisal of context

PROPOSED SITE

<< EAST

appraisal of context

Pretoria West Power Station

//collection

//PRETORIA WEST WEST >>

3.2. URBAN ANALYSIS

appraisal of context

ACCESS AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The precinct offers a high degree of access to public transport. The East to West road system heads in and out of Pretoria West: Charlotte Maxeke Street and Soutter Street (both one-way streets) and Vom Hagen and W.F. Nkomo Streets. Mini-bus taxis frequent these streets in large quantities and a number of bus stops are situated along these routes. W.F. Nkomo Street is considered to be a major public transport route and possesses a strong pedestrian presence with a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) route running through it.

The railway asserts a strong presence in the area with a number of station platforms located close to one another which serve both the industrial area and the inhabitants of Pretoria West with a passenger rail system. A north-south railway line runs through the centre of the precinct and forms part of a greater railway network in the precinct, creating a strong barrier between the eastern and western regions of the study area. This commuter railway links up with Pretoria Station and the Gautrain Station and forms one part of a proposed ring rail system.

Figure 3.4: An ample number of train stops/platforms along the shared passenger/freight railway line provides access to Pretoria West. By author

Figure 3.5: Taxis and buses – There are a number of bus stops along the public transport routes with taxis and buses frequently passing through the streets. By author

Figure 3.6: Private vehicular access – Primary routes are nearly always busy and trafﬁc becomes quieter as one moves only one block away from the main roads. By author

secondary routes

bus stops

primary routes/public transport routes

railway line

train stops/platforms

ESKIA MPAHLEL

site

5min/400m walking circles

E DRIVE EET W.F. NKOMO STR

EE W.F. NKOMO STR

SOUTTER STREET

XEKE STREET CHARLOTTE MA

CARL STREET

N Figure 3.7: Map of Pretoria West indicating access and tranport infrastructure. By author

500m

1km

appraisal of context

Figure 3.8: Section through a typical single-storey residential street with wide side walks and buildings maintaining a close relationship with the street. By author

ZONING

Pretoria West possesses the qualities of a multi-layered environment and comprises a diverse collection of zoning areas (Steenkamp, 2012:53). The main east-west access routes consist of a variety of commercial and industrial businesses. The southern edge of the precinct is made up largely of industrial buildings that have a connection to the railway line. A mixture of single storey dwellings and two-three storey residential mixed use dwell60 ings can be found along the centre of the precinct and a strong low rise residential area is situated on the northern edge of the precinct.

Figure 3.9: Section through typical mixed use medium density housing. By author

Figure 3.10: Section through Charlotte Maxeke Street with typical industrial and commercial buildings. By author

site

low density residential

industrial

landmarks

medium density/mixed use residential

educational

commercial

high density residential

recreational

appraisal of context

QUAGGA CENT

PILDITCH STADIUM

PRETORIA S SHOWGROUND

BARREL INN HOTEL

SUNBAKE BAKERY AFGRI SILOS

FLOUR MILL PRETORIA WEST POWER STATION

N Figure 3.11: Map of Pretoria West indicating zoning. By author

500m

1km

appraisal of context

PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY AND EDGE CONDITIONS

Figure 3.12: Panoramic view of Charlotte Maxeke Street depicting the negative edges with side walks taken over by cars leaving little room for pedestrian movement on the side walks. By author.

Pretoria Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary movement routes have a mix of public transport routes as well as shops and nodes within the precinct. Pedestrian activity emanates from the train station and platforms and is mainly active on these primary transport routes as commercial activity is situated along them.

Figure 3.13: Panoramic view of Charlotte Maxeke Street depicting one of the many fenced and unused open green spaces in Pretoria West in contrast with the industrialactivity across the road. By author.

hard edges

open soft spaces

pedestrian friendly edges

pedestrian movement

train stops/platforms

appraisal of context

site

Figure 3.14: Map of Pretoria West indicating pedestrian movement and edge conditions. By author

N 0m

500m

1km

appraisal of context

NEIGHBOURHOOD CHARACTER

Figure 3.15: Panoramic view towards the proposed site showing the periphery of the industrial edge of Pretoria West including the Mitchell Street train platform and the shared passenger/freight railway. By author.

Figure 3.16: Panoramic view from Carl Street looking west with Pretoria West power station in the background. By author.

Figure 3.18: Panoramic photograph of a typical single-storey residential street northern edge of the precinct. By author.

appraisal of context

Figure 3.17: Medium density housing on Soutter Street with commercial activity on ground level. By author.

Soutter Street

3.3. SITE ANALYSIS Retief Street

Pretoria has been selected as the logical location for the proposed building as the city is home to the headquarters of NARS and is in close proximity to various institutions linked to NARS. The site is located between Charlotte Maxeke Street, which as mentioned, is a major public transport route on the northern side, and Carl Street which is a service road mainly used by trucks servicing the warehouses on the southern side. The site forms a part of a superblock and has a strong connection to the railway lines on the southern side of the site with two pairs of railway sidings from the site connecting directly to the railway. The site is currently being utilised as a grain storage and distribution facility by AFGRI Holdings.

Charlotte Max

• • • •

Existing infrastructure on site from previous function of site The silos are a landmark due to their height and mass The site is highly accessible Stable and sound structure with plenty of useable space within it.

Inaccessible site with negative edges forms a part of a superblock Road in front of the site has high trafﬁc volumes Solid building mass with negative street interaction Inaccessible green space.

• •

6 Carl Street

Opportunities • •

eet

Weaknesses • • • •

eke Street

Strengths President Burger Str

appraisal of context

SITE SELECTION

Development of the superblock to make it more accessible Development of high trafﬁc road to create a more comfortable and safe urban environment for pedestrians and road users Opening up the green space to the public to add on to the area’s amount of green spaces Appropriate reuse of the buildings on site to form part of a public space deﬁned by the green space.

Figure 3.19: Identifying the superblock, the site, the silos and the functions of the neighbouring buildings on site. By author.

Ch arlo

10 tte

Ma xek eS

Carl S

treet

tree

8 2

urg

nt B

side

er S tree

tie

f S tre e

Pre

Von Wielligh Stree

Figure 3.20. Axonometric view of the site within the superblock. By author.

Panelbeaters

Automotive parts shop

Site - Old Pretoria West Flour Mill complex Silos

Warehouse

Mitchell Street train splatform

Motor spares workshop

Mini-market

Tyre ďŹ tment garage

Superblock

Railway and abandoned train carriages

appraisal of context

3 2

silos inaccessible green space

1 Figure 3.21: Panoramic photograph towards the site from Charlotte Maxeke Street. By author.

charlotte maxeke street

abandoned ﬂour mill

railway siding (receiving)

railway siding (dispatch)

carl street

Figure 3.22: Panoramic photograph towards the site taken from Carl Street showing the abandoned ﬂour mill with the train entrance and exits of the two pairs of railway sidings on the outter edges of the ﬂour mill. By author.

silos abandoned ﬂour mill

carl street

3 Figure 3.23: Panoramic photograph towards the site from Carl Street showing trucks accessing the many industrial buildings on the peripheral edge of the precinct. By author.

6 10 4

appraisal of context

3 6

1 9

Carl Street

N 0m

50m

100m

200m

Abandoned ﬂour mill

Inaccessible green space

Railing siding (grain delivery)

Grain surplus store

Grain Elevator

Truck loading bay and dispatch shed

Silos

Abandoned admin building

Railing siding (grain dispatch)

Staff parking

Packaged grain storage shed

Figure 3.24: Identifying the buildings on site and their functions . By author.

Figure 3.25: Timeline of the site’s history. By author.

The Pretoria West Flour Mill was built on Carl Street with a pair of railway sidings and another pair of railways sidings for the dispatch of the ﬁnished product, which was ﬂour.

//1938

t axeke Stree Charlotte M

//1957

appraisal of context

Trucks were introduced for the delivery and distribution of grain after the railway was declared faulty. Storage sheds were introduced for the packaging and storage of grain surplus. The railway sidings are still used for the off-loading and loading of grain into the trucks.

//1989 to date

The ďŹ&#x201A;our mill closed down, leaving that building abandoned. The silos however, were retained for the bulk storage and grain distribution.

//1977

The silos were built for the bulk storage of grain which allowed for increased production of ďŹ&#x201A;our by the Pretoria West Flour Mill Company.

Grain elevator Cupola

3.4. ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING BUILDING

Silos

COMPOSITION OF SILOS The silos consist of a grain elevator and 28 reinforced concrete silos with a diameter of 7m and a height of 31m each. The silos sit atop the hypostyle hall composed of reinforced concrete walls which support the silos and atop the silos sits the cupola which is where grain is sorted and deposited into the different silos. Figure 3.23 below, provides a diagram illustrating the structural composition of the silos , while Figure 3.24 depicts the siloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal and external material composition.

Railway siding (receiving)

appraisal of context

Hypostyle hall

Railway siding (receiving)

PLAN VIEW OF SILOS

Figure 3.26: Diagram of structural composition of silos. By author.

DETAILED PLAN VIEW OF SILOS SITTING ABOVE THE WALLS IN THE HYPOSTYLE HALL

AXO VIEW OF SILOS ABOVE THE WALLS IN THE HYPOSTYLE WALL

3 1

GRAIN STORAGE PROCESS

The grain storage process consists of ďŹ ve steps as listed below and illustrated in Figure 3.25 Step 1.

Step 2. The grain elevator then transports the grain upwards into the cupola. Step 3. The grain is subsequently sorted and deposited into the concrete silos where it is preserved. Step 4. From then on the grain is taken from the bottom of the silos in the hypostyle hall where it is transported on a conveyor belt system to the dispatch railway where it is either deposited into the trucks (previously the trains) or stored and packaged in the sheds on site.

Step 5. The grain leaves the site.

4 5

Figure 3.27: Diagram illustrating the grain storage process. By author.

appraisal of context

The silo complex consists of a pair of railway sidings where grain is received and placed on a conveyor belt system which transports it to the grain elevator.

Figure 3.28: Montage illustrating the spaces around and within the silos. By author.

appraisal of context

//EXISTING CUPOLA

//EXISTING SILOS// GRAIN ELEVATOR

//EXISTING HYPOSTYLE HALL//RAILWAY

•

Altitude: 1330 meter above sea level Average rainfall: 573 mm Summer rainfall: 125 to 375 mm Winter rainfall: 62 to 250 mm Prevailing winds: NE in summer and NE to NW in winter Relative humidity: 30 to 50% Hours of sunshine: 60 to 80% hours sunshine per year solar radiation Vertical sun angles: 12:00pm Summer solstice: 87º angle - 22 December Winter solstice: 44 º angle - 22 June Summers are mostly warm to hot, with moderately dry air with relief found in thunder storms caused by thermal movement. Winter days are mostly cold, sunny and clear whilst nights are very cold (Napier, 2000:9.8)

Figure 3.29: Diagram illustrating site topography. By author.

Figure 3.31: Section through existing building. By author.

Hypostyle hall

Cupola

Silos

Inaccessible green space

Grain storage shed

Railway siding(dispatch)

Silos

Cupola

Driveway = 4m ALL SITE F

Hypostyle hall

Figure 3.30: Section through existing building. By author.

Railway siding(receiving)

appraisal of context

The site has a 4m fall from Carl street towards Charlotte Maxeke Street an inaccessible green space, a small part of which is currently being used as a parking lot, while its other features are as follows: • • • • • • • • • • •

Electrical transformer

Charlotte Maxeke Street

SITE AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

3.5. URBAN PROPOSAL Pretoria West was further selected for urban regeneration as part of the Tshwane Comprehensive Sustainable Human Settlement Strategy (TCHSS) with the set main objective being to develop Pretoria West as a positive example of synergy and provide for a mixed use settlement typology (Nkoane, 2010).

• • •

To improve the transport nodes and upgrade their physical environments in the precinct, in particular the Schutte Street train Station; To create a comfortable urban environment by introducing street furniture and shelter for taxi and bus users To develop cycle lanes and more pedestrian routes.

Although the development strategy is aimed at a speciﬁc portion of Pretoria West, it can be argued that certain parts of the strategy can be applied to the rest of the area in order to create a more cohesive and positive social environment in Pretoria West as a whole. The proposed urban intervention is a response to the urban analysis of the context of Pretoria West. It is founded on a theoretical framework proposed for a small portion of Pretoria West entitled Hard-Boiled Wonderland by students Norbert Koch, Johann Bohmer, Nina Steenkamp and Lewis Wolf in 2012. Hard-boiled Wonderland is founded on the idea of holistic design which sees architecture as an interconnected profession, where buildings cannot function in isolation (Koch. 2012:26). The proposed intervention and urban framework is proposed by two students with their projects located in Pretoria West : • •

Memory Bank by Victor Mokaba Waste Engine by Aaron Nkhoma.

The proposed urban framework is focused on the following: •

• •

The establishment of Charlotte Maxeke Street as the main organisational structure within the identiﬁed focus area, which links the three project sites and forms an axis whereby public green spaces within the precinct can be ordered The establishment of a comfortable urban environment, introducing positive edges and developing an environment comfortable for cyclists and pedestrians The development and upgrade of corridors and public spaces leading towards and forming a part of the project sites and Charlotte Maxeke Street.

appraisal of context

The TCHSS’s main aims, in attempting to make Pretoria West a more sustainable environment, are:

N 0m

appraisal of context

The proposed site for the Memory Bank forms part of a superblock and plays host to negative edges due to the three lane wide road that is Charlotte Maxeke Street, the narrow width of the sidewalks, which are also used as parking bays for vehicles whose owners either work or are customers of the shops on the block. The shops lining the superblock lack variety, being mainly motor spares shops and warehouses.

The superblock has a long east to west elevation on Charlotte Maxeke Street with no permeability or opportunities for connection between the northern and southern streets, a condition prevalent for the entire length of Charlotte Maxeke Street. A green space, surrounded by buildings on the eastern, western and southern side, is situated within the boundaries of the site, but is inaccessible, not maintained and is currently being used by a few workers for parking. A possible solution to these issues would be: •

•

The softening of the edge on Charlotte Maxeke Street by sacriﬁcing parts of the outer lanes of the road to provide proper street parking and allow for the widening of the sidewalks. This would allow for a more relaxed environment for pedestrians. The introduction of cycle lanes and bicycle rental posts along Charlotte Maxeke Street offering people an alternative means of movement within the Pretoria-West focus area and between the two project sites. Giving access to the green space which is currently inaccessible and developing it as a public space surrounded by buildings with cooperative functions to sustain the public space.

EET W.F. NKOMO STR

500m

Figure 3.32: Map of proposed urban intervention in Pretoria West. By Aaron Nkhoma and author.

1km

EET

appraisal of context

W.F. NKOMO STR

SOUTTER STREET

XEKE STREET CHARLOTTE MA

CARL STREET

memory bank

open soft spaces

possible corridor development

focus area

train stops/platforms

bicycle park points

bus stops

waste engine

5min. walking circles

appraisal of context

building

side walk & building threshold

cycle parking lane lane

double lane street

cycle lane

side walk & building threshold

building

Figure 3.33: Sketch of proposed street section through streets

80 with medium density housing. By author.

building

Figure 3.34: Sketch of proposed street section through Charlotte Maxeke Street. By author.

side walk & building threshold

cycle lane

double lane street

parking cycle lane lane

side walk & building threshold

building

Figure 3.36: Cycle lanes and bicycle rental posts along Charlotte Maxeke Street. By Aaron Nkhoma.

appraisal of context

Fig Figure 3.35: Sectional perspective of proposed urban intervention on Charlotte Maxeke Street By Aaron int Nkhoma. Nkh

4.1. Agenda for analysing the precedents 4.2. Principal Function 4.3. Programme and Function 4.4. Systems and Storage 4.5. Adaptive Reuse

P R E C E D E N T

S T U D I E S

84 precedent studies

4.1. AGENDA FOR ANALYSING THE PRECEDENTS This chapter focusses on four precedent studies. They were selected for the speciﬁc issues which they addressed in order to aid in the development of an appropriate design intervention. The issues investigated are: Principal function Programme and function Systems and storage Adaptive reuse

precedent studies

• • • •

Precedents: 4.2. Svalbard Global Seed Vault 4.3. National Library of South Africa 4.4. Clumeq Data Silo 4.5. The Frosilo

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Clumeq Data Silo

The Frosilo

National Library of South Africa

Figure 4.1: Map indicating the location of the precedents studied. By author.

4.2. PRINCIPAL FUNCTION Svalbard Global Seed Vault (2008) Location: Spitsbergen, Norway Architects: Peter W. Soderman

BACKGROUND Civil strife, natural disasters, poor management, lack of funding and equipment failure all form a part of a wide range of threats to which the world’s seed collections are vulnerable. Whenever such disasters strike, a signiﬁcant amount of the world’s important crops are destroyed; the Seed Vault is the international community’s attempt at conserving the genetic diversity collected from around the world by securing duplicates of these seeds in a global facility (Architecture for Humanity, 2012).

ANALYSIS A total of 4.5 million seeds, with samples of 500 seeds per species, are safely locked up in this “frozen Garden of Eden” with this particular building serving as a backup for the 1400 seed banks scattered world-wide. This network of seed vaults offers safety and security of biological diversity intended for use by future generations, should the need arise. The Seed Vault is dug into a mountainside on a remote island in Svalbard, Norway. For almost four months of the year, the island is enveloped by darkness and the combination of the thick rock and permafrost ensures that the samples within remain frozen, even in the absence of electricity. The excavated rock enclosure ensures the protection of the seeds from the effects of global warming, natural disasters and harm that may be caused by humans (Motswai. 2012:54).

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY Oxford University Press (2015) defines DNA as: “the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable”. Essentially, the Seed Vault acts as a secure backup DNA store for each seed housed within it. Each seed is of singular significance as it might act as the source of life for that particular strain of crop. Similarly, the facility can serve as a safe keeper of valuable family history specific to every citizen of the country and form a part of a network of memory banks scattered across the country serving as secure backup storage facilities for one another as insurance against the loss of valuable family history.

Figure 4.2: Floor plan, section and parti diagram of Svalbard Global Seed Vault. By author.

Figure 4.5 and 4.7: Source: https://www.croptrust.org/ what-we-do/svalbard-global-seed-vault/ Figure 4.6: Source: https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/ svalbard-global-seed-vault-awarded-the-n/id583746/

Figure 4.3: Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/locked-in-the-doomsdayvault-samples-of-more-than-20000-crops-from-100-nations-added-to-800000-9155438.html\ Figure 4.4: Source: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/global-seed-bank-opens-doomsday-vault-to-continue-reseach-on-syrian-plants/

SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT

Figure 4.7 Figure 4.8: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Global_Seed_Vault.JPG

4.3. PROGRAMME AND FUNCTION National Library of South Africa (2008)

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY

Location: Pretoria, South Africa Architects: Jeremie Malan Architects in a joint venture with Impendulo Design Architects and Gandhi Maseko Lingelihle

The building is a safe keeper of valuable material but allows the public free access to this material. The spatial organisation of the served and servant spaces allows for generous amounts of visitor space connected by large volumes with work space for the servants situated in the back. An atrium space and double volume spaces with mezzanine levels within the building allow the spaces to unify.

precedent studies

BACKGROUND Previous conditions saw the national library services spread over ﬁve buildings in the capital city; the need arose for a new facility which would amalgamate the South African Library in Cape Town and the Pretoria State Library into a single National Library of South Africa: an initiative put forward by the government to encourage and rejuvenate education together with arts and culture within the country. The aim of the library is to usher South Africans into the information age by providing an accessible National Library that would cultivate a reading culture: a symbol of South African heritage to educate and nurture future, knowledgeable South Africans and ensure the conservation of the heritage and values of all South African cultures and languages.

The display of art and provision of gathering space allows for constant interaction within the learning environment and uses art and exhibition as another means of education since the pieces exhibited are relative to the material held within the building.

ANALYSIS The prime function of the library is to act as custodian and provider of the nation’s key knowledge resources. The library acts not only as a repository, but also as a reference library accessible to the general public. The building has four stories and the programme and spatial layout was defined according the types of users of the space, being the staff and the visitors. The storage of books was of vital significance and controlled environments were needed, which sees the ground floor being dedicated to storage. The first floor accommodates the visitors with the provision of a public piazza left open for gatherings, festivities and ex-hibitions of arts and culture. This space was provided as a means of integrating these cultural activities with the act of learning. Visitors are confronted by a triple volume atrium connecting the different levels. Public double volume reading rooms with mezzanine levels are provided on the first floor, with learning related art displayed on the walls as well. Staff work space is situated in the back where books are received, processed, re-paired. In addition, administrative space is provided there as well as training facilities. The second floor provides conference facilities as well as future storage space for books (Architect & Builder, 2008).

Figure 4.9: Spatial diagram of the National Library of South Africa. By author.

Figure 4.12: Street perspective of the National Library. Source: http://www.impendulo. co.za/?portfolio_1349969562/

Figure 4.10: Spatial diagram of volumes and interaction with the street. By author.

public private

Figure 4.11: Spatial diagram indicating staff and public zones and circulation between the different zones. By author.

Figure 4.13: Reading room foyer and exhibition space. Source: http:// www.impendulo.co.za/?portfolio_1349969562/

Figure 4.14: Triple volume entrance foyer, National Library of South Africa. Source: http://www.impendulo.co.za/?portfolio_1349969562/

4.4. SYSTEM AND STORAGE Clumeq Data Silo (2009) Location: University of Laval, Quebec, Canada Architects: Winter Street Architects in collaboration with Sun Microsystems

precedent studies

BACKGROUND In 2006, the University of Laval in Quebec, Canada commissioned Winter Street Architects to develop a High Performance Computing Centre inside a defunct silo which once housed a Van De Graaff particle accelerator. The centre was intended to form a part of a greater network of centres of research in physics and other sciences (Miller, 2009).

ANALYSIS

The silo, cylindrical in form, is 19,5m tall and 10.5m in diameter with 600mm thick concrete walls. The cylinder consists of an internal “hot core” in the centre with server cabi90 nets placed in a ring with their rears facing this hot core. The front and accessible part of the cabinets face the walls of the silos while the space between the cabinets and silos is utilised as both a cold air plenum and for circulation. The server cabinets are supported on floors made of gratings in order to provide for airflow through each floor. The cooling mechanisms, air handling systems and cooling fans are kept in the basement of the facility and blow cold air upwards into the hot core which cools the air, which is then returned through pipe work in the cold air plenum to the basement and recirculated. The design utilises a free cooling system which uses air drawn from the exterior of the silo in colder months of the year and cool evenings in warmer months to cool the water pipes in the air handling system and reuse the warm air from the servers to heat the offices in the facility. This innovative cooling strategy consumes less power to cool the system and results in a smaller energy footprint as opposed to the traditional aisle configuration of typical data centres (Winter Street Architects, 2010).

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY The precedent adapts an existing building similar in form to the one which the proposed intervention seeks to modify. The data storage is resolved in a manner which reworks the existing spatial layout of the silos and employs the composition and verticality of the silo to optimise the cooling system required for this form of data storage. Because of this form of storage, the precedent also forms part of a larger network of facilities which connect through this form of technology and share information as well as backing up storage for the information held within them.

Figure 4.15: Montage of Clumeq Data Silo. Source: http://wsarchitects.com/Project_pages/DCE/clumeq/clumeq2.html

TYPICAL DATA CENTRE

CLUMEQ DATA SILO

1. cooling infrastructure 2. back up power gen erators 3. command room 4. server halls

1. cooling infrastructure 2. back up power generators

3. command room 4. server halls

4 3 3 2

precedent studies

2 1

hot air circulation

cool air circulation

Figure 4.16: Illustration illustrating the differences between the functional and cooling infrastructure of typical data centres and that of the clumeq data centre. By author.

hot air circulation

cool air circulation

4.5. ADAPTIVE REUSE The Frosilo (2005) Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Architects: MVRDV

precedent studies

BACKGROUND The project involved the refurbishment of two silos built in the 1960’s into an apartment block. The silos, located in the Island Bryge harbour area in Copenhagen, were once home to a soybean processing facility which closed its doors in 1990 (Dezeen Magazine, 2015).

ANALYSIS

A large number of warehouses in harbour areas around Europe are being turned into high end residential developments. The Frosilo, consisting of bare concrete structures, is different to the adapted warehouses the structures of which usually require minimal 92 intervention to convert them into habitable residences. The structural limitations presented by the silos, such as the size, positioning and number of possible openings within the structure, were considered opportunities, rather than limitations, by the architects. Instead of directing the habitable spaces inwards, such as typical warehouse renovations do, the architects decided to locate the liveable spaces on the outside of the silo structure. This decision gave the opportunity for the shape, scale and emptiness of the inside of the silo to be experienced and the exposed historical, bare concrete to be a memory of the old structure remaining visible. The interiors of the silos now act as futuristic lobbies containing circulation routes within them and with generous amounts of light ﬁltering in from a new glazed roof above. The apartments, placed on the exterior, provide for large balconies maximising the views towards the city and the surrounding areas (MVRDV, 2005).

PRINCIPLES TO APPLY • •

Allowing for visitors to experience the shape, scale and character of the interior of the silos by locating the majority of the habitable space on the exterior of the silos Locating a large portion of the functional space on the outside of the silo to preserve the bare concrete structure and also offer views of surrounding areas which are unrestricted by the silos’ structural system. This would afford an opportunity to give visitors an experience of the shape, scale and character of the interior of the silos. Figure 4.17: Illustration of spatial development of the Frosilo. By author.

Figure 4.18: Montage of the Frosilo. All images on this page, Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/projects/frosilio

5.1. Brief 5.2. Clients and funding 5.3. Design criteria 5.4. Programme 5.5. ClassiďŹ cation of the users

B R I E F ,

P R O G R A M M E

A N D

A C C O M O D A T I O N

Figure 5.1: Illustration of the key requirements and purpose of the facility. By author.

//memory bank

5.1. BRIEF The proposed architectural intervention in the form of a digital genealogical archival repository calls for a response to the identified inadequacies in genealogical archiving in South Africa and requires the development of an evolved model for archiving. The said intervention aims to fulfil the design objectives driven by the findings in the investigation of the cultural, social, educational and civic requirements of such a facility.

• •

//memory preservation

•

//composition of space

•

A memory bank: a secure receiver and safekeeper of deposits of valuable individual and family identity, forming part of a network of memory banks spread across the country which act as back-up facilities for one another (see pages 31-32). A digital library offering the public the opportunity to access their family history by providing an environment for personal reﬂection and an environment conducive to interaction between visitors The proposal should form a part of a greater public space. The buildings which form a part of the public space should have relevant and inter-related programmes to aid in sustaining the public space (pages: 17-18 refer). A facility exploring the composition of space to aid and relate to the story-telling process (page 19 refers) The design proposal should preserve the memory of the silos with a design solution that acknowledges the previous function of the silos and uses it as a guide to establishing its future use. //public space

•

//digital library

brief, programme and accomodation

The key requirements and purpose of the facility can be described as:

5.2. CLIENTS AND FUNDING

Through the preservation of archives in the form of public records created by governmental groups, the National Archives and Records Service (NARS) strives to preserve the memory of previous actions and circumstances, including the backgrounds linked to those actions too. The information within the public archive is of national and individual importance as it inﬂuences the positive development of a renewed democratic society, and public access to it makes it a transparent and vital tool for fostering national identity and addressing social memory (NARS, 1996). NARS has been given the task of collecting, preserving and maintaining a database of oral history, inclusive of collections from government funded and non-proﬁt organisations involved in oral history (OHASA, 2013).

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE (DAC) The Department of Arts and Culture is a governmental department aiding in the development and establishment of social cohesion in the country. Through the preservation of arts, culture and the conservation of heritage, they aim to sustain the growth of the country (Department of Arts & Culture, 2013). In 1999, Cabinet assigned the DAC (formerly the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology) to put into place a programme in the form of the National Oral History Programme (NOHP) for the country in order to bring into an archive the population’s undocumented experiences and memories (OHASA, 2013).

STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA(StatsSA) Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) is the organisation responsible for developing a credible statistical system for the gathering, production and circulation of ofﬁcial South African statistics. The organisation is further obligated to compile and document truthful, relevant, unbiased and comprehensive data organised in a systematic and transparent manner in order to assist branches of government, businesses and the public in conducting research, planning and making evidence-based decisions (StatsSA, 2015).

NATIONAL HERITAGE COUNCIL (NHC) Established in 2004, the National Heritage Council (NHC) is the constitutional organisation tasked with the responsibility of preserving the country’s heritage. The NHC strives to transform, safe-guard and uphold South Africa’s heritage in order to encourage a sense of pride in African heritage for the sustainable advancement of the country. Important issues, which the NHS places emphasis on, include public consciousness and education in issues of heritage that were formerly neglected and the provision of funding to initiatives that acknowledge heritage as an instrument for socio-economic growth (National Heritage Council of South Africa, 2015).

brief, programme and accomodation

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE (NARS)

brief, programme and accomodation

5.3. DESIGN CRITERIA

No.

Design criteria

Conﬂicting criteria

Accomodation and resolution

Flagship facility for digital archiving

Although transparency is encouraged regarding the provision of access to the material, security of this material is of utmost importance

Providing served and servant zones for staff and visitors

Digital record storage

Strict parameters set out by the existing spatial structure of the building together with strict requirements in digital data storage regarding cooling and spatial conﬁguration

Utilising the buildings’ form as a mechanism for maintaining environmental requirements needed for digital data storage

Preservation of existing landmark structures

Strict existing structural grid and the need to insert a new function within the existing building

Creating additional functional space on the peripheral edges of the silos to maintain and preserve the existing structure

Connectivity with exterior space

Building predominantly east and west facing

Utilising materials that will ﬁlter light and control heat gain as well as allow for translucency to enable visual connections with the exterior

Introducing light

Large building mass

Introduction of high volumes and creating openings within silo walls to ﬁlter light to the interior

Data collection

Although it is a digital archiving facility, records brought forward in the research process may be physical and require extended consultation from the genealogists and repair work as well. Material may also need to be retained as it may be of value and required to be taken to the National Archives

Providing temporary storage space for records which are in the process of archiving and digitisation and for records such as documents which may need to be taken to the National Archives at a later stage after digitisation

Integration into Pretoria West context

There are currently no buildings in the surrounding context that have civic functions which are similar to the repository

Repurposing existing buildings on site with cooperative functions to create a public space that will encourage their connection to the repository as well as their connection to Pretoria West

The design of such a facility is unique in the sense that it is a digital access library. The study of precedents assisted in the establishment of the requirements and programme in order to formulate a suitable accommodation schedule. The latter is based on the users and the functional facilities which will cater to their needs.

5.5. CLASSIFICATION OF THE USERS Public The public users will consist of a variety of different types of visitors: •

•

Users seeking to deposit family history information for safekeeping and consult the information stored within the facility. These users include regular visitors and ﬁrst time users who may need assistance with the use of computers and data consultation Private researchers/genealogists looking to consult with the records.

Staff The staff consists of a number of people involved in the day to day running of the different parts of the building working together. They are: • •

• •

The security and volunteers: These staff members keep the building secure and help the visitor seeking to consult the information contained within the building The genealogists: These staff members collect information in varying formats from visitors making deposits and document this information into the system. Genealogists also aid in collating information to create family groups and pedigree charts for visitors The network administrators: These staff members oversee the management and maintenance of the digital systems for data storage The exhibition staff: These staff members manage and maintain the exhibitions at the repository.

brief, programme and accomodation

5.4. PROGRAMME

5.6. ACCOMODATION SCHEDULE PUBLIC

This includes a security and reception space, security and access control desk, lobby and circulation space for both visitors and staff; it incorporates the ablution facilities.

STORAGE FACILITIES AND PLANT ROOMS •

•

• •

100

Digital storage facilities with data servers, back-up power supplies, network communications control rooms, maintenance rooms and equipment storage space, accessible solely by network administration staff. Physical artefact storage space, including document and material reception and processing space, document repair space, temporary storage space, dispatch zone and records management ofﬁce. Storage space for exhibition material Plant rooms housing cooling machinery for ventilation of servers and the building envelope

PUBLIC ACCESS FACILITIES

SHARED

The public will have limited access to spaces in the building. Accessible spaces will be: • • • •

Computer access libraries for visitors to access the digital records including spaces for users wishing to utilise their own computers/laptops Multi-media rooms for group viewing of multi-media material Ofﬁce space for visitors to consult with genealogists and deposit archival material. Auditoriums for public and private use

ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES •

Private conference rooms, ofﬁce space and managerial ofﬁces, training rooms, kitchenettes and ablutions.

EXHIBITION FACILITIES •

Flexible exhibition spaces, kitchenettes, service area, ablutions, admin, gathering and object making studio space for visitors to create objects relating to their family history.

brief, programme and accomodation

•

RECEPTION FACILITIES

PRIVATE

101

brief, programme and accomodation

6.1. Concept 6.2. Response to context 6.3. Response to existing buildings on site 6.4. Building morphology and design generators 6.5. Landscape

C O N C E P T

A N D

C O N C E P T

D E V E L O P M E N T

concept development

6.1. CONCEPT

104

COLLECTIVE CONNECTION According to Ampatitzidou and Molenda (2014), a story consists of a timeline of events which collectively form a narrative. In a similar way, the story-telling environment consists of role-players connected to one another, each playing a role to create an ambience which enables the story and experience of hearing it to stick in the mind of the listener and act as a memory aid to remembering the said story. Essentially, the ambience inďŹ&#x201A;uences the success of the engagement between the listener and the story.

Figure 6.1: A story being told. By author.

The Story-teller Whose role is to convey the story to the audience in a captivating and notable manner to keep the audience’s attention and engrave the story within their minds The Story

The Audience Whose role is to listen attentively to the story conveyed by the story-teller The Location Whose role is to play host to all of the other role players and enhance the ambience that is generated by the story-teller It can be argued that the act of seeking one’s family history is essentially a person’s seeking their life story. It is an experience of a timeline composed of different ages and role-players in the form of relatives and ancestors, which form one’s story. The quest to find one’s history is based on curiosity, which can be satisfied in a sequential way by the building. It can receive the visitor, identify what she or he seeks, resolve this by providing the visitor with what they seek and finally allow him or her to reflect on what they have found and been given. The buildings function collectively, coming together to convey the stories of each visitor. The Story-teller becomes the staff and spaces within the building The Story is the visitor’s family history communicated to the user in the sequence of spaces within the building The Audience is the visitor The Location is the building

Figure 6.2: Illustration of the role players. By author.

concept development

The main role player whose role is central to the entire story-telling process

105

6.2. RESPONSE TO CONTEXT

concept development

As much as the design aims to address the issues on site, it also aims to respond to the surrounding context and acknowledge the elements that form part of the site and also those that surround the latter. This will enable the formulation of a response inﬂuenced by contextual conditions and produce a relevant and site speciﬁc intervention. In an essay titled Popular Sovereignty and Public Space: David Adjaye’s Architecture of Immanence, published by Peter Allison, Okwui Enwezor (2006:11) explains that social space is a meeting space for any and every one and ties together diverse and multiethnic communities and memories. By upgrading the public transport route and system on Charlotte Maxeke Street and the greater Pretoria West area, and linking the various public spaces within the precinct, the design aims to create and form part of an integrated public environment providing greater access to and connection within the precinct.

106

Figure 6.3: Sketch illustrating location of public and soft spaces in Pretoria-West with Charlotte Maxeke as the organisational spine linking the spaces. By author.

6.3. RESPONSE TO EXISTING BUILDINGS ON SITE Enwezor (2006:11) further states that social space is not a space amongst other spaces but is, rather, an incorporation of various functions and their interrelationships in their cohabitation. The response to the existing buildings on site is determined by this notion, as well as by integrating the existing buildings on site and creating a neighbourhood room which combines building programmes that aim to cater for communal interaction and connection for the people of Pretoria-West while also sustaining the social neighbourhood room.

Open parking space Current Function: Abandoned Architectural value: High Reason: Possible parking space for staff working at the building. Intervention: Reinstatement of parking space.

Green space Current function: Inaccessible and unmaintained space. Architectural value: High Reason: Opportunity to become an anchor and the centre of public space.

5 4

2 2.

Silos Current function: Grain storage Architectural value: High Reason: Landmark building with functional value, opportunity for reuse.

107

1 5

Old ďŹ&#x201A;our mill Current function: Abandoned Architectural value: High Reason: Landmark building and remnant of historic industrial Pretoria West.

Grain storage sheds, surplus store and dispatch shed Current Function: Abandoned Architectural value: Low Reason: Footprints of the buildings are well placed along the edges of green space Intervention: Reuse foot-prints.

Railway lines Current function: Abandoned Architectural value: High Reason: Railway lines link up to the network of lines that played a role in the forma tion of the industrial Pretoria-West; the railway siding was an important component of the ďŹ&#x201A;our mill and silo complex.

3 5

Administration building Current Function: Abandoned Architectural value: Medium Reason: Opportunity to be repurposed, adequate street interaction and connection to the rest of the site.

concept development

The intervention proposes the reuse of the buildings on site, utilising the open green space on site and the footprints of the buildings surrounding it for the construction of new buildings within them that will surround the green space. The following is a description of the current functions of the buildings on site as well and their architectural value.

site retaining

N 0m

50m

100m

Figure 6.4: Illustration indicating value of existing buildings on site. By author.

200m

demolishing

concept development

108

Figure 6.5: Photograph of model illustrating proposed development of site. By author.

concept development

109

Figure 6.6: Photograph of model illustrating early proposed site plan. By author.

6.4. BUILDING MORPHOLOGY AND DESIGN GENERATORS

concept development

In order to produce a meaningful design response, the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s step by step functional logic and existing spatial features were analysed and became the main generators, which inďŹ&#x201A;uenced the design decisions that followed.

110

Figure 6.7: Sketch illustrating movement of grain through site. By author.

GENERATORS The building is then broken down into a sequence of four sections connected to one another. Their sequential composition is based on the four stages the building aims to provide for the visitor in his\her quest for knowledge as they make their way through to the top of the building. Reception and Inception:

concept development

this is where the visitors enter the building and the process begins, where they are sorted, organised and directed upwards to where they either seek to deposit family history or seek to learn about it Resolution: divided into two parts, these are spaces where material (oral testimonies, audio-visual material, etc.) is either: 1. deposited: visitors consult the genealogists who aid in capturing and storing the archival material that is brought forward into the system. Document reproduction rooms and recording facilities are provided for audio-visual testimonies

111

2. withdrawn: computer access facilities for visitors to consult the material stored within the building. Media rooms are provided for the viewing of visual material such as videos and for the projection of photographs for group viewing ReďŹ&#x201A;ection: this is envisaged as a gathering space where physical and digital exhibits of material relating to family history is exhibited and visitors are given an opportunity to reďŹ&#x201A;ect on the family histories, gather and create objects relating to their family history which they can leave with as a reminder of their visit to the memory bank. The existing buildingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mass and form are maintained for their spatial qualities. The hypostyle hall is used as the reception space where visitors are greeted and directed to their desired function within the building. The remainder of the space is used as storage space for physical material, services and auditoriums.

Figure 6.8: Sketch illustrating proposed movement of people through building. By author.

concept development

Figure 6.9

112

Creating a heart within the building and utilising it as a space connecting the various levels an utilising the buildings height to establish a landmark and visual connections from above.

Figure 6.10 Figure 6.9 - 6.10: Sketches illustrating the creation of an atrium space to connect the various levels. By author.

Figure 6.11: Sketch illustrating building as a landmark and utilising the height of the structure to create visual connections with the outside and take advantage of the views. By author.

concept development

Figure 6.12

The railway is re-established as a means of arrival and departure for visitors arriving and departing by train. This is done as a reference to the grain that once arrived and departed by train from the building and places the visitor in the position the grain once occupied. An apron following the railway beside the building is introduced to create a canopy leading visitors into the building and to reduce the scale of the building from the usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perspective upon arrival and departure.

113

Figure 6.13

Figure 6.12- 6.14: Concept sketches illustrating the proposed canopy over the railway lines wrapping around the silos . By author.

Figure 6.14:

concept development

114

Figure 6.15: Concept sketches illustrating visual connections between levels and developing the form of the overhead canopy on the arrival and departure railway platforms. By author.

concept development

The pedestrian entrance into the building is through the northern edge on Charlotte Maxeke Street. This allows for the building to make use of the street edge, providing access for staff and visitors

115

Figure 6.16

Figure 6.17

Figure 6.16 - 6.19: Concept sketches illustrating the establishment of the main entrance on Charlotte Maxeke Street by utilising the hypostyle hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structural walls and spatial layout to create entrances. By author.

Figure 6.18

Figure 6.19

concept development

The exhibition and gathering space, situated at the top of silos, is where the journey of seeking family history ends. It is the point of departure after withdrawing or depositing at the memory bank. The roof of the proposed intervention lends its form from a bag of grain as reference to the bag being the object where the grain is collected and packaged before leaving the site, much like visitors coming together before leaving the memory bank. The curved form of the bag when placed on the ďŹ&#x201A;oor and the soft material which it is made up of. The western facade is seen as a continuation of the soft material the bag is made of wrapping down to cover and protect the contents within the building.

116

Figure 6.20: Sketch of a bag of grain. By author.

Figure 6.21: Sketch illustrating form being generated from the curved nature of the grain bag. By author.

Figure 6.22 - 6.23: Developing the form of the roof. By author.

concept development

117

Figure 6.24

Figure 6.24 - 6.26: Perspective views of the development of the roofs form. By author.

Figure 6.25

Figure 6.26

concept development

118

Figure 6.27

Figure 6.28

Figure 6.29

Figure 6.27 - : Breaking through the silos to introduce light into the interior and create visual connections from the atrium. By author.

Figure 6.28: Sketch of north elevation showing the new glazed openings through the silos. By author.

Figure 6.29: Sketch of north western perspective showing the roof and its connections with the western facade. By author.

concept development

119

Figure 6.30

Figure 6.30 - 6.35: Illustrations of the detail development of the design proposalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structural system. By author.

Figure 6.31

Figure 6.32

concept development

120

Figure 6.33

Figure 6.34

Figure 6.35

concept development

The proposed landscape park situated in the public space is a mixture of terraced soft surfaces of grass and wheat. It is proposed that different strains of wheat be planted as a reference to the history of the site as a granary. The wheat garden consists of an array of soft terraced surfaces with the plan formed by the circular form of the silos with circilation routes cutting through the space.

121

Figure 6.36: Section through proposed wheat and grass terraced garden. By author.

D E S I G N

R E S O L U T I O N

design resolution

124

memory bank 01 repurposed visitor arrival railway line 02 repurposed visitor departure railway line 03 proposed future cultural centre 04 staff parking 05 proposed main administration building 06 proposed future library 07 proposed future ofďŹ ce block 08 public square 09 wheat and grass landscape garden 10

SITE PLAN 0m

50m

100m

charlotte max

eke street

10 6

8 1

5 4

carl street

reception

design resolution

private public vertical circulation services

main entrance 01 entrance lobby and exhibition 02 security and access control desk 03 public elevator and stair lobby 04 security office 05 store 06 foyer and exhibition space 07 lounge 08 auditorium 09 store 10 exhibition store 11 plant room 12 staff and service lift lobby 13 records acquisitions office 14 board room 15 physical records stack room & book store 16 document repair office 17 staff and visitor ablutions18 staff break room19 staff kitchen 20 fire escape staircase 21 main circulation staircase 22

126

SEMI BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

-01

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

16 17

15 18

07 02

20 21

03 22

08 21

06 21

new existing

reception and request counter 01 public elevator and stair lobby 02 staircase to entrance from street level 03 staff and visitor ablutions 04 machinery maintenance store 05 cooling pipe duct 06 admin store 07 manager office 08 library books 09 reading room 10 entrance level below 11 group discussion room 12 scan and photocopy station 13 paper store 14 main circulation staircase15 fire escape staircase16 staff and service lift lobby 17 staff break room 18 staff kitchen 19 service entrance 20 train arrival platform 21 ramp to main entrance 22 ramp to departure train platform 23 train departure platform 24 courtyard and passage 25 abandoned flour mill 26 water harvesting tanks 27 walkway between buildings 28 driveway to parking lot 29 access control turnstiles 30 cooling machinery rooms 31 services 32

design resolution

training

private public vertical circulation services

128

GROUND FLOOR PLAN - GENEALOGIST TRAINING

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

21 22 22 27

31 06

17 25

32 18

11 16

eke charlotte max

10 07

20 09

16 24 23

street

27 A 28

new existing

design resolution

withdrawals

private public vertical circulation services

130

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 passage 04 network communications ofďŹ ce 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 lounge 11 computer access points 12 ďŹ re escape staircase 13 main circulation staircase 14

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 02 03

void

10 09

08 13

B 13

11 void

void

new existing

design resolution

withdrawals

private public vertical circulation services

132

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 staff and visitor ablutions 04 network communications office 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 scan and photocopy station 11 paper store 12 fire escape staircase 13 genealogist consultation office 14 main circulation staircase 15 waiting area 16 media projection and viewing room 17 reception 18 computer access points 19

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 03

10 09

08 13

13 14

16 17

11 12

17 19

new existing

design resolution

withdrawals

private public vertical circulation services

134

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 passage 04 network communications office 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 waiting area 11 genealogist consultation office 12 fire escape staircase 13 computer access points 14 main circulation staircase 15 boardroom 16

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 02 03

void

04 10

01 08 B

12 12

void

B 09

void

new existing

design resolution

deposits

private public vertical circulation services

136

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 staff and visitor ablutions 04 network communications office 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 scan and photocopy station 11 paper store 12 fire escape staircase 13 record deposit office 14 main circulation staircase 15 audio and video recording booth 16 waiting area 17 reception 18

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 03

10 09

08 13

B 13 14

17 14

11 12

17 14

new existing

design resolution

deposits

private public vertical circulation services

138

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 passage 04 network communications office 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 waiting area 11 record deposit office 12 fire escape staircase 13 boardroom 14 main circulation staircase 15

FIFTH FLOOR & SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN

05+07

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 02 03

void

04 10

08 13

12 12

void

new existing

design resolution

deposits

private public vertical circulation services

140

public elevator and stair lobby 01 server rooms 02 cooling pipe duct 03 staff and visitor ablutions 04 network communications office 05 machinery maintenance store 06 staff and service lift lobby 07 staff break room 08 staff kitchen 09 services 10 scan and photocopy station 11 paper store 12 fire escape staircase 13 record deposit office 14 main circulation staircase 15 audio and video recording booth 16 waiting area 17 reception 18

SIXTH FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

02 03

10 09

08 B

13 14

17 14

11 12

17 14

new existing

design resolution

reﬂection

private public vertical circulation services

142

public elevator and stair lobby 01 reception 02 open exhibition space 03 panoramic exhibition screens 04 viewing deck/balcony 05 lounge 06 graphic design and digital studio 07 staff and service lift lobby 07 exhibition manager ofﬁce 08 store 09 photo editing booth 10 object art studio 11 staff and service lift lobby 12 staff break room 13 staff kitchen 14 services 16 ﬁre escape staircase 17 staff and visitor ablutions 18

EIGHTH FLOOR PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

05 06

04 04

03 03

12 16 14

13 17

06 04

10 11

17 07

new existing

roof

ROOF PLAN

N 0m 2m

10m

20m

146 design resolution

public square

proposed future ofﬁce block

train departure platform

computer access points and genealogist consultation ofﬁces

media projection rooms and recording booths

atrium

exhibition and gathering space

reception spaces

server rooms

network communications ofﬁces

train arrival platform

proposed main administration building

147

A A

SECTION

design resolution

wheat and grass landscape garden

148 design resolution

charlotte maxeke street

main entrance

viewing deck/balcony

atrium

foyer and exhibition space

exhibition and gathering space

service and staff circulation core

courtyard and passage

abandoned ďŹ&#x201A;our mill/proposed future cultural center

149

SECTION

BB B design resolution

design resolution

150

Figure 7.1: Aerial view of the site with the proposed memory bank and public space. By author.

design resolution

152

Figure 7.1: Northern elevation. By author.

design resolution

154

Figure 7.2: Perspective facing western facade and train departure platform. By author.

design resolution

156

KLIPLOK SHEETING

PERFORATED SHEET METAL

PERFORATED KLIPLOK

BUILT-IN PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

Figure 7.3: North western view towards the memory bank from Charlotte Maxeke Street. By author.

design resolution

158

KLIPLOK SHEETING

ISOWALL INSULATED SANDWICH PANELS

EXISTING CONCRETE

BUILT-IN PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

Figure 7.4: North eastern view towards the main entrance from Charlotte Maxeke Street. By author.

design resolution

160

STRUCTURAL STEEL

EXISTING CONCRETE

Figure 7.5: Interior perspective of the atrium from the hypostyle hall . By author.

design resolution

162

EXISTING CONCRETE

STRUCTURAL STEEL

GLASS

ORIENTED STRAND BOARD

Figure 7.6: View of the atrium from a mid level bridge. By author.

design resolution

164

STRUCTURAL STEEL

ORIENTED STRAND BOARD

GLASS

EXISTING CONCRETE

Figure 7.7: Perspective view of exhibition and gathering space. By author.

design resolution

166

STRUCTURAL STEEL

EXISTING CONCRETE

ORIENTED STRAND BOARD

Figure 7.8: View of lounge lounge space in the exhibition and gathering space. By author.

design resolution

168

MENTIS GRID GRATING

KLIPLOK SHEETING

MENTIS GRID GRATING

GLASS

Figure 7.9: Perspective towards the viewing deck. By author.

design resolution

170

BUILT-IN PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

GLASS

EXISTING CONCRETE

Figure 7.10: View of approach to ramp on the train arrival platform. By author.

design resolution

172

KLIPLOK SHEETING

GLASS

EXISTING CONCRETE

Figure 7.11: View towards the ramp on the train departure platform. By author.

8.1. Materials 8.2. Structural analysis 8.3. Sustainable design systems 8.4. Working drawings

T E C H N I C A L

R E S O L U T I O N

8.1. MATERIALS Material use was inﬂuenced by the industrial context of Pretoria West together with the intent of preserving the character of the silos. This would be made possible by the introduction of a tectonic intervention to contrast with the existing stereotomic concrete structure, allowing for a clear distinction between the existing building and the new intervention.

technical resolution

KLIP-LOK ROOF SHEETING The choice to use Klip-lok roof sheeting was influenced by the contextual application of steel roofing within the existing industrial buildings in the context. The klip-lok sheeting provides for easier installation over a greater surface area by utilising a clip system as opposed to nails which pierce the sheeting in order to fix the sheeting to the roof. The sheeting profile also allows overlapping sheets to clip onto one another.

ISOWALL INSULATED SANDWICH PANELS

176

Isowall insulated sandwich panels consisting of a 120mm thick insulated core and cladded with Chromadek roof sheeting were selected to form walls which enclose certain parts of the intervention. These sandwich panels are thin, yet provide high insulative properties while the sheet metal cladding provides an exterior finish, matching that of the roof sheeting to create a seamless flow of sheet metal from floor to roof. The panels are fixed to a lightweight mild steel stud frame which can be rolled and assembled on site.

PERFORATED KLIP-LOK SHEETING The selection of perforated Klip-lok sheeting was influenced by the intent to create visual connections between and with the exterior of the building, to filter and control sunlight and to form part of a double skin system to control solar heat gain. This will result in a textured and semi-transparent material which produces various effects on the façade when viewed from different angles. Prior to rolling the sheet metal to achive the klip-lok profile, the sheet metal is perforated and once it has been rolled, it is the clipped to a frame on the facade for support.

ORIENTED STRAND BOARD Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is an engineered wooden panel board made from strands of various types of timber which are layered and pressed together. Dry layers are then bound together with a synthetic resin binder to form long and large sheets which can be cut to size and smoothed out by sanding; the ﬁnished product can be sealed with a clear epoxy sealant which gives it a polished appearance. OSB is used throughout the building as a ﬂoor covering, wall covering and ceiling to provide a softer internal environment which contrasts with the bare concrete of the existing silos.

GLASS The intervention aims to create visual links between the interior and the exterior of the building and to celebrate and expose distinctions between new and existing materials. This is made possible by the use of glass in various applications, such as balustrades and elevator enclosures to create transparency, and in double glazed curtain walls and windows in order to reduce solar heat gain and insulate interior spaces. The glazing on the northern and western façade is protected from harsh sunlight by a lightweight shading device.

STEEL Steel was selected for its lightweight nature, ﬂexibility for the purpose of construction, structural properties and low maintenance requirements. Steel is the primary material used throughout the intervention, which is done so in an effort to contrast with the robust mass of the existing concrete structure. Figures on opposite page: 4.1+4.2: Klip-lok roof sheeting. Source: http://metalrooftodays.blogspot.co.za/2012/03/nu-metal-rooﬁng.html 4.3+4.4: Isowall insulated sandwich panels. Source: http://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/87265/insulatedmetal-panel.html 4.5+4.6: Perforated klip-lok sheeting. Source: http://www.archdaily.com/322101/rooftecture-ot2-shuhei-endo 4.7+4.8: Oriented strand board. Source: http://www.homedsgn.com/2012/04/17/stealth-barn-by-carl-turner-architects/ 4.9+4.10: Glass. Source: http://aphotostock.com/category/building/ 4.1+4.12: Steel. Source: http://www.metropolismag.com/Point-of-View/July-2013/Green-Team-Part-16/

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

4.10

4.11

4.12

technical resolution

Figure 4.13: Illustration of the proposed building’s structural system. By author.

178

8.2. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS The existing silos sit atop a 400mm thick reinforced concrete slab which rests on 800mm thick reinforced concrete walls with another slab beneath the walls. The slabs along with the walls between them, form a large raft foundation which carries the weight of the silos. The primary structure of the proposed intervention is ordered by the 7m x 7m grid of the existing silos. This structural frame is comprised mainly of standard sized steel profiles in order to produce a cost effective solution. The frame is made from I-section steel columns and I-beams set out in a consistent grid which follows that of the silos to accommodate an insulated deck on steel floor system and composite panel walls. A double skin system is proposed on the western façade to control solar heat gain and is supported by the primary structural frame. The roof structure is composed of I-sections and steel angles bolted together to form a truss which can be assembled on site. The entire structure allows the edifice to be easily dismantled for future alterations while the finish allows for minimum maintenance over the life span of the building. Figure 4.13 illustrates the structural system of the design proposal which was developed with the aid of civil engineer and lecturer, Dr Stephen Nyende-Byakika, from the Department of Civil Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology.

1. existing

overhead

new

demolished

Existing conditions with the silos resting atop the hypostyle hall walls and the cupola atop the silos.

technical resolution

179

Openings created on the hypostyle hall walls at positions where the point loads of the silos are not in effect in order to create possible circulation routes between the grids. The cupola is also removed.

A row of silos is removed to create an atrium between the silos.

Silos act as a cellular structure. The removal of the row of silos compromises the structural integrity of the structure. Diagonal bracing is introduced to aid in ďŹ lling the void and providing structural support.

The primary steel structure which supports the ďŹ&#x201A;oor and connects with the roof truss at the top of the building is introduced on the outside of the building where the majority of the functional space is located.

8.3. SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SYSTEMS

technical resolution

SOLAR HARVESTING

180

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) panels were introduced as the covering for the roof canopies which run the full length of the railway platform. The BIPV panels aid in ďŹ ltering sunlight from above which allows visual connections to be maintained with the top of the silos from the train platform. The system harvests solar energy which is then used as additional power for the cooling system machinery.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

technical resolution

The design intervention proposes a roof with a large span which provides the opportunity to harvest rainwater from the roof. The rain water will be harvested in storage tanks situated on the eastern and western wings of the building. The water will then be used within the building and additionally used to irrigate the vegetation in the landscape.

181

DOUBLE-SKIN SYSTEM

technical resolution

A double skin system is proposed on the western faĂ§ade which directly faces the proposed space. The perforated sheet metal applied on the system allows for a degree of transparency whilst ďŹ ltering light into the building. The harsh western sunlight heats the air within the cavity which creates a chimney effect and draws the warm air within the cavity upwards and the air is then released at the top of the double-skin system.

182

SERVER COOLING SYSTEM AND WARM AIR RECYCLING The servers in the building are positioned in a circular arrangement on a mentis grid ﬂoor grating system in order to create a “hot core” in the centre of the room with the heat emitting rears of the server cabinets facing the core. Cold air is blown upwards in the hot core and which cools the rising air which is then returned to the cooling machinery at the lowest level of the silo and recirculated for further cooling.

cold aisle

technical resolution

cold air

hot-core: server rear ends emitting heat

183

servers

col d air air cold

cold-aisle: circulation space and operable face of server cabinets

cold-air pipe duct

hot air

cooling machinery

hot-core

cold-air pipe duct

back up power storage

Typical Server Room Layout Scale 1:100

cooling machinery

SERVER ROOM FLOOR SYSTEM

technical resolution

0.6mm thick galvanized MILD STEEL sheeting ﬁxed to STEEL server cabinet frame to form hot core enclosure

3mm galvanized MILD STEEL ‘Vastrap’ ﬂoor ﬁxed to mentis grid grating

184 50mm galvanized MILD STEEL mentis grid grating ﬁxed to I-Beams

458x305x10mm galvanized MILD STEEL I-Beams ﬁxed to unequal angle

480x330x10mm purpose made galvanized MILD STEEL unequal angle ﬁxed to existing concrete silo wall with chemical bolts

TYPICAL SILO FLOOR SYSTEM

18mm thick Kronoply ﬁre resistant ORIENTED STRAND BOARD ﬁxed to galvanized MILD STEEL purlins

100mm thick Isotherm POLYESTER insulation laid between purlins 18mm thick OSB ﬁxed to underside of purlins

technical resolution

100x50x25mm galvanized MILD STEEL Purlins spaced @ max. 600mm c/c

185

18mm thick Kronoply ﬁre resistant ORIENTED STRAND BOARD ﬁxed to galvanized MILD STEEL purlins

458x305x10mm galvanized MILD STEEL I-Beams ﬁxed to unequal angle

480x330x10mm purpose made galvanized MILD STEEL unequal angle ﬁxed to existing concrete silo wall with chemical bolts

WARM AIR RECYCLING

hot air external air oulet pipework

technical resolution

cold air

Summer conditions Cold air is blown upwards in the hot core and recirculated in the cooling process. Excess hot air is released out of the building through ventilation pipes situated on the outter edge of the ďŹ re escape core.

186

hot air cold air castellated pipes with HVAC pipework

Winter conditions The warm air emitted by the servers is recycled and redirected to heat the ofďŹ ces and functional areas of the building through HVAC pipes running through the castellated beams.

technical resolution

8.4. WORKING DRAWINGS

187

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191

technical resolution

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technical resolution

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195

technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

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technical resolution

C O N C L U S I O N

214 conclusion

The silos in Pretoria West proved to be an interesting building to work with taking into account the site’s history, the given parameters of the existing silos and the industrial context of Pretoria West. The proposal does not only intend to preserve and give access to the genealogical material stored within it, but to establish the Memory Bank as a catalyst for adaptive reuse within post-industrial areas such as Pretoria West. A challenging aspect of the design was necessitating public accessibility to the proposed digital archival repository and formulating a design solution which would effectively communicate, document and store the heritage of the nation. Further exploration and design regarding spaces and techniques of using architecture in the narrative process and the detailed design of the landscape on site would have been enjoyed. In essence, this dissertation has afforded me the opportunity to study a ﬁeld in which I have a personal interest in and the research conducted and insights uncovered through the process of the dissertation are far from ﬁnal as there is still much to be discovered and explored regarding the topic of architecture and genealogy.

conclusion

The Memory Bank is an intervention which responds to the current shortfalls of genealogical research in the country. The proposal intends to bring into archive the valuable heritage of the nation’s people in order to inform the curious of their personal origins, safeguard the valuable heritage for future generations and foster a uniﬁed society through the understanding of each other’s heritage.

215

Final exhibition photographs

A P P E N D I X

ďŹ nal presentation

218

Photographs from the ďŹ nal presentation which took place on the 19th November 2015. All photographs by: Christelle Coetzee

220 ďŹ nal presentation

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ďŹ nal presentation

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ďŹ nal presentation

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

234 acknowledgements

My thanks to:

To my mentors, Prof. Gerald Steyn, Prof. Jacques Laubscher, Prof. Sheila Kennedy and Marinda Bolt for expanding my knowledge and understanding of Architecture. To my bursar, dhk Architects, for ﬁnancial support. Your assistance is immensely appreciated. To my institution, Tshwane University of Technology for ﬁnancial support.

acknowledgements

My heavenly father for the guidance and courage you have continuously bestowed upon me throughout my studies. My love for you goes beyond what words can describe.

235

To my family, for the unconditional love and support throughout. You complete me. To my signiﬁcant other, Dineo, thank you for your love, patience, understanding and constant words of encouragement, I love you very much. To my fellow students, Graeme, Juan, Pieter, Christelle, Ivan, ‘Gingi’ La Mayne, Sipho, Chawa, Paul, Susan and Bayanda. I thank you for the constant motivation throughout our years in studio. To my friends, especially Travolta, Marcellus, Nyiko, Mologadi, Dezi, Lwazi, Gopolang a.k.a ‘Sniper’ and Lala a.k.a ‘Teko’ for your constant inspiration, understanding and motivation over the years to ﬁnish strong.

R E F E R E N C E S

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Dezeen Magazine, 2015. Frosilo Apartments Offer A “Great Combination of Old and New”. [Online] Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/14/frosilo-apartments-offer-great-combination-old-new-mvrdv-movie-jacob-van-rijs-copenhagen/ [Accessed 11/09/2015].

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Greenwood, V. 2000. The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy. 3rd ed. Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing Company. Haley, A. 2007. Roots: The Saga of an American Family. New York: Vanguard Books.

references

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nealogical Research. Journal of Popular Culture, 41(3), 393–412.

Bohmer, J. 2012. Treadmill: A Haptic Machine for Idiosyncrasy and Collective Public Space. Unpublished M.Arch. dissertation, University of Pretoria.

Johnson, A. 1996. Building Maintenance and Preservation: A Guide to Design and Management. 2nd ed. Oxford: Architectural Press. Joubert, O. 2009. 10 Years + 100 Buildings. Cape Town: Bell-Roberts Publishing.

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