Regeneration in contested post apartheid urban space : towards the design of a remediation hub in the Durban South basin.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Currently the world sits in a state of global economic, ecological and social crises. The city,
the icon of triumph of human civilisation, needs to respond to these crises with sustainable
and innovative solutions. South African cities are burdened by the history of planned
segregated urban spaces that brutally fragmented communities. This induced urban sprawl,
inequality and exclusion which was exacerbated by current global economic and
environmental strains. South Africa cities are characterised by a high Gini coefficient, low
skill levels, high unemployment contrasted by inefficient and rapidly sprawling urban forms
that promote exclusion and economic segregation.
This dissertation will seek to explore the relationship between space and place and how
architecture can act as a catalytic regenerative tool. The various urban intervention
processes will be outlined and will seek to introduce and research how architecture can
remediate and regenerate the economic, social and environmental strains in the Durban
South Basin Area. This will be explored through an urban and architectural intervention that
generates skills, economic opportunities and resources (water, energy, food).
The research method used is qualitative in nature and sought to glean research data on the
topic through a literature review, precedent and case studies and finally through informal
loose interviews and a qualitative questionnaire that utilised a random purposive sampling
method.
The findings revealed a need for an architecture that empowers and for urban interventions
that are community focused that remediate environmental and economic stresses. The need
for skills development, and economic opportunities in this empowerment process was
highlighted in this regenerative approach to architecture. The approach should induce a site
sensitive architecture that is responsive to the issues on the site while seeking to establish a
sense of place in the contested urban spaces in which it is situated.
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Theses--Architecture., Housing rehabilitation--South Africa--eThekwini Municipality Metropolitan., Urban renewal--South Africa--eThekwini Municipality Metropolitan., Apartheid.