Graduation Project: Activating Landscapes Through Memory

Activating Landscapes Through Memory A Journey Through Cape Town’s Strand Street Quarries Chioma Obasi Master Project 2021| External Jury Hasselt University | Faculty of Architecture and Arts | Master’s of Interior Architecture (Adaptive Reuse)

INTRODUCTION The chosen site for my project is a small quarry in suburb of Bo-kaap in Cape Town, South Africa, known as the Strand Street quarries. It is divided into three areas: the Prayer Quarry, the Strand Street Quarry, and the Old Washhouse Quarry, formally known as “the Kraal”. The Strand Street quarries are seen as a symbol of public open space and are one of the few remaining slate stone quarries left in Cape Town.

Each quarry is unique, with specific historical, industrial, religious, or cultural ties to Cape Town.

2

CONTEXT Bo-kaap is a small residential neighbourhood with a population of about 6000 people. It is the oldest surviving residential neighbourhood in Cape Town and almost all sites have been declared as national heritage. It has the largest concentration of Cape Dutch architecture and is characterised by its colourful houses, cobblestoned paths and picturesque streets.

However, what truly stands out in the area is the unique culture of the people, known as the “Cape Malay”.

They are one of the few groups that survived the forced removals that took place under the Apartheid rule, 3 during the Group Area’s Act of 1950. The main goal

at the time was to force people of colour away from the city while the white citizens lived closer to the city. The area was under the treat of demolition however, with many protests from residents, the area was appreciated on architectural and aesthetic grounds and preserved to preserve the unique culture in the area. Bo-kaap became its own ethnic group and anyone who was not Muslim was forced out of the area. The houses were preserved through facadism.

Today, its beautiful streets and unique culture is a big attraction to tourists. However, due to Cape Town’s economic expansion, the property prices are rapidly increasing and the original population is at a threat of being pushed out.

The site is seen as one of the first symbols of colonial presence in S.A. Each of the quarries have unique significance to the city. The Prayer Quarry is seen as the beginning of Islam in the city.

Slaves from countries like Malaysia, India and Africa were brought to the Cape by the Dutch but they were not permitted to practice their religion.

They would then host secret open-air prayers in the Prayer Quarry. When Islam was legalised in the 1800s, these prayers were later held formally in the Washhouse Quarry until the Mosque was

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Tanu Banu Cemetery

Map of 1862 4

Mosque

Jamia Mosque

built. The Jamia Mosque may look like a church at the time it was built because the builder’s at the time had never seen a real mosque but over the years, a few addition were made to the building to improve its appearance. The Prayer Quarry is also directly below the Tanu Baru cemetery, one of the most important burial grounds in S.A. and the most sacred Muslim cemetery in Cape Town.

It is the place were Muslim saints and important Islamic leaders are buried.

Map of 1895 showing water tank in Strand Street Quarry

Castle of Good Hope 5

Slave Lodge

Map of 1944 showing footprint of washhouse

First Methodist Church

The Strand Street quarry is the largest quarry and is often seen as the foundation of Cape Town because most of the stones extracted from the quarry were used to construct certain buildings and streets around the city. To mention a few, The Castle of Good Hope, which is the oldest building in the country and the first sign of colonial presence in S.A., the Slave Lodge, which was used to house the first slaves that came to the Cape and the first Methodist Church in Greenmarket Square. The quarries have evolved quite significantly through time and has had multiple uses.

Once quarrying had ceased in 1905, it left voids within the space and these voids were soon filled. The Prayer Quarry, was filled with a few residential houses and the Washhouse Quarry with municipal washhouses that serviced the city bowl.

These washhouses were more than a place of work, rather they symbolised public open space. The Washhouse Quarry became a place for people to socialize and for children to play. Unfortunately due to the neglect of the city council, the buildings were not well maintained and were later demolished.

STRAND STREET QUARRY The Strand Street Quarry was used a park which was used by the residents of Bo-kaap and De Waterkant however these communities were separated by the construction of the high level road in Strand Street and they were further divide after the enforcement of Group Areas Act of 1950. Today, the quarry is sealed off from the public and sometimes inhabited by squatters.

6

PRAYER QUARRY

The Prayer Quarry is mostly a ruin and uninhabited, with a few derelict buildings and trees, and overgrown vegetation. The Washhouse Quarry is currently inhabited by a slum community known as “the Kraal”. The community does not have access to clean drinking water, electricity or sanitation. It is a place characterised by crime, drugs and violence and provides an easy escape route for criminals due to its position up-hill.

This site that once held life and positive atmospheres is now characterised by crime, dereliction and seclusion.

7

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

PROPOSAL: NEW ENTRANCE AT SITE

012314542

6789 ÿ 7 ÿ 7 79ÿ 7 ÿ ÿ

ÿ 7 ÿ ÿ ÿ 7 ÿ! ÿ 7 ÿ6 " ÿ

ÿ 7 ÿ#552

$%&'(ÿ*+,-.%/-ÿ0%./+-%'ÿ1%23ÿ4-5+6ÿ7(8.(2-ÿ9%:(ÿ;ÿ<=ÿ9>/%::/-/ÿ?.6ÿ9%:( $+@-6ÿ7(8.(2-ÿ9%:(6ÿABBC DEF<ÿ3/'+G(.(28ÿHÿCCÿG/-,.(8

Table Mountain

Views and activities 8

The site is located at the foot of Signal Hill, which is connected to the network of mountains that surround Cape Town. Lion’s Head on the right, Devils Peak on the left and Table Mountain in the center. Table Mountain is a prominent landmark that overlooks the entire city. It is part of the 7 Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a major tourist attraction both internationally and locally and is known for it endemic flora and fauna, scenic views and recreational activities such as hiking. The main entrance is located at Kloof Nek.

Entrance at Kloof Nek

012314542

6789 ÿ 7 ÿ 7 798ÿ 7 ÿ 9ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ 7 797ÿ6 ÿ ÿ 9 ÿ 9ÿ ÿ 552

!"#$ÿ& $$ÿ& '"!ÿ()#$*ÿ+,-.,)"ÿ/#0,ÿ1ÿ23ÿ/4#00"ÿ .*ÿ/#0,ÿ(56"* +,-.,)"ÿ/#0,*ÿ7889 2:87ÿ'$5;,.,)-ÿ<ÿ9=ÿ; ">.,-

Signal hill Entrance at Kloof Nek

Proposed connection 214

Signal Hill is of historic significance and also a site regularly visited by tourists. It served as a defence system for the British as they overlooked the city and the harbour during World War II. They would use the gun battery system to send signals to their ships as they approached the harbour. Today the gun used to fire these signals is still used. It is known as the Noon-day Gun and is fired everyday at noon except on Sundays.

In order to hike up to Signal Hill, the only entrance is at Kloof Nek. There is only one possible entrance to embark on a hike in the mountains. Because of the site’s proximity to the mountain and its isolation from the city, I propose to create a new entrance at the quarries, thereby establishing a connection between the site and the network of mountains, and opening it up to the rest of the city.

9

CONCEPT

MEMORY AND FRAGMENTATION

Currently, the physical fragments of the site is visible. It is scared, it is harsh, however there are also missing fragments and it is these fragments that hold the most significant meaning.

Though all positive qualities of the site are no longer visible,they exist in the intangible layer of memory.

Using the concept of memory and fragmentation as a tool, I propose to try and make these mising fragments perceptible and give meaning to the quarries once again.

10

THE JOURNEY The concept is to establish links between the fragments of the quarries around the city and the site.

By creating this link, it brings the city to the quarries.

Cape Town is a city rich in history, culture and architecture, with so much for both locals and tourists to see and do. Because the site is currently isolated, I have established an urban trail that links the quarries to the places where its stones were used.

Castle of Good Hope

CONCEPT

The trail starts at the very foundation of the city, the Castle of Good Hope and moves through scenic urban spaces, restaurants and public spaces to the historic center of Cape Town, Greenmarket Square.

An alternative route would be taking the company gardens, the oldest garden in S.A., where most national galleries and museums are located, passing the Slave Lodge and leading the Greenmarket Square.

The square previously served as a slave market, a vegetable garden, and the focus of mass demonstration against the Apartheid government. Today it is used as a flea market that sells authentic African arts and crafts, souvenirs and curios.

Grand Parade

From the square, the trail leads into the site. The journey to the site allows travellers to enjoy moments of local culture on route to site and this adds a richer layer to their experience.

Company Gardens Greenmarket Square

Proposed trail 11

Bo-kaap

Greenmarket Square

Company Gardens

Acropolis Path- Dimitris Pikionis

12

URBAN WALK The trail towards the site has to be easily recognisable by its users to ensue that it is effective in leading them to the site. Creating a green walk in a busy city fabric will not be effective so I drew inspiration from the Acropolis path by Dimitris Pikionis. He uses an interesting strategy of re-using reclaimed materials from demolished classical buildings to create a path of interesting patterns toward Acropolis. An interesting aspect of the design is the concept of making the path less elaborate when he wants people to focus on the scenery and more elaborate the higher they climb, when there is not much to look at in the surroundings.

Adapting this concept to my design, I propose to integrate the unique slate stones from the quarries to the existing pavings along the trail and creating interesting patterns that lead to the site. In areas where travellers are meant to appreciate the scenes or public spaces, the patterns will be less elaborate but when getting closer to the site, where the scenery is not very interesting, the patterns will be more elaborate.

Path through city I Street scene showing floor patterns! Red highlighting new iintegration of quarry stones

Upon reaching the site, the journey becomes a bit more intricate. The quarries represent an expansive landscape that embodies the history, culture and memories of the city and community. And to emphasize this quality, the spaces are divided into scenes or moments along this trail that allows you to have an encounter with one of these qualities. This creates a bridge between the present and the intangible past/memories and places emphasis on the immaterial qualities of the site.

CONCEPT FRAGMENTARY MOMENTS ON A JOURNEY

The trail leads to an entrance at Hout Street, directly in front of the Washhouse Quarry. This point and the existing entrance at Strand Street (in orange, indicated in the program diagram), will act as welcoming spaces that prepare the traveller for the journey ahead.

Transitional space

The next space is the transitional space (in blue) that creates a link between the quarries allowing for a seamless transition from one quarry to another.

The next area, is an area of activity (in green) were the traveller comes in direct contact with the quarry faces before finally reaching the desired point (red) to embark on the journey to Signal Hill and potentially, Lion’s Head and beyond.

Because the fragments are no longer visible, these moments are meant to make them perceptible, especially through the evocation of emotion, the triggering of memory with reference made to history and the interaction of local culture. It helps to enhance the significant immaterial qualities hidden to the naked eye.

13

The path is not structured but rather follows the contours of the landscape. The designer does little to dictate its flow but allows it to materialise according to the will of the landscape. The organisation of the spaces draws references to history and memory.

The main entrance of the design is at the Washhouse Quarry and this is the first point of contact with the site. The design will be centered on the Kraal community, though they are a marginalised group, I believe this is an interesting quality that could add a richer layer to the intervention. This quarry creates an opportunity to link the other quarries together. First physically, because the Strand Street Quarry is separated from the other two quarries by a two story level difference. Then to link them conceptually by creating a seamless journey throughout the trail.

Due to religious significance of the Prayer Quarry and its location below the sacred Tanu Baru cemetery, I plan to use the space as a contemplative garden.

SITE PLAN

The Strand Street Quarry with reference to the labour that once took place and its past use as a park, will be used as a recreational space for the public.

14

Original Arrangement

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

New Staircase section

15

I plan to develop this area in a way that improves the community’s quality of life and ensues their existence on site. One of the basic needs that they lack is access to clean drinking water. I plan to address this issue by using the existing water tank in the Strand Street Quarry and a water purification system, to provide water for the community. This water will be located at a point right next to the biggest tree in the quarry. This creates an informal centralised meeting point in the quarry. It could be used as a play space for children or a small gathering space for the residents due to the shade provided by the tree. The trail directly crosses this community and this water point can act as a moment of pause along the journey. To ensue that the privacy of the people is not compromised by the visitors, I plan to re-organise the positioning of the settlements. The new arrangement allows the opportunity for new alleyways, providing perfectly framed scenic views into the landscape, or activity in the quarry.

The introduction of the new staircase to compensate the height difference allows for scenic views into the Strand Street Quarry or Bokaap area as the traveller descends.

WASHHOUSE QUARRY 16

Slum Community Organisation

Views through alleway

WASHHOUSE QUARRY 17

VISUALISATION: water point as a meeting space Introducing water to the site and creating this central informal meeting point draws reference to the washhouse space that was used for social interaction. It does not just become a water point, or a place of work but a place where the community gathers to socialize or for children to play.

18

Bunkbeds to be used

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

NEW HOUSING TYPOLOGY

Tourist cabin possible arragement

The introduction of cabins for tourists allow travellers the opportunity to explicitly engage with the community. These cabins are managed by the Kraal and will help improve their quality of life. The cabins also become a housing typology that can be used for the future growth of the community

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

Cabins adaptable by community

19

Various styles of housing units/cabins

CONSTRUCTION AND DETAILS

Roof detail

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

Windowr detail

20

Foundation detail Bo-kaap is known for having highly skilled artisans so it would be interesting to engage with the community for the construction of the new elements on site. The new units are of local materials, they are easy to construct and easily demountable if necessary. It consists of a simple timber frame structure with timber cladding. The walls are insulated because of the cold winters and lack of heating in units. The roofs are pitched to allow for water collection during rainy seasons.

Timber is a natural material. It not only blends in with the landscape, but is flexible and easy to work with.

FUTURE EXPANSION

WASHHOUSE QUARRY

Connection and gutter detail

21

Currently, the type of structures existent in the Washhouse Quarry are old shipping containers, timber structures, corrugated sheeting walls and some brick structures. The simple form of the new housing units can be easily integrated with what is already existing and can be easily adaptable in case of the future expansion of the community.

PRAYER QUARRY 22

The Prayer Quarry is used as a quiet contemplative space. It will also function as a vegetable garden to help the Kraal community grow fresh produce. In addition to the water point provided and rain water collected, water collected from the storm water channels nearest to the site will be used to irrigate crops. The existing ruins will be used for the quiet reflective space while the rest of the area will function as a garden.

PRAYER QUARRY

VISUALISATION:

23

Ruins as intimate space for reflection The history of the space for prayer and its location below the Tanu Baru enhances the atmosphere for a quiet introspective space.

dug-in seating Children’s play structure

STRAND STREET QUARRY

Public amenties and office

24

informal theatre

Entrance for hike

Entranceat Strand Street

Dug-in seating

STRAND STREET QUARRY

Section A-A

25

The Strand Street Quarry will be used as a public recreational park. There is an interesting quality in the existing void because it presents limitless opportunities for possible uses (i.e. a market, a soccer field, a concert space, etc.). In respect of that, I do not want to fill it up with too much but allow for the public appropriation of the space.

As the traveller descends the stairs from the Washhouse Quarry, the path splits in two. One, shorter, leads directly to the existing entrance of the quarry. Utilizing this entrance allows for the space to be available to the public and open to the locals in the city, not only the tourists. The second path moves closer the rock faces, towards the entrance for the hike to Signal Hill.

An interesting quality about the landscape is the idea that it has been dug out to create its current form. Adapting the same strategy of digging or carving adheres to the sensitivity of the site and creates a clear architectural language. The landscape then becomes a guide to drive the design. For instance, the trail materialising according to the landscape, the new informal theatre carved from the bowled edge of the quarry, the seating places dug out from the landscape. Where elements cannot e dug out, natural materials are used and integrated into the landscape as far as possible. For example, the timber play structure for children is embedded into the landscape and utilizes the topography to take form.

At the corner of the quarry, just before the journey to signal hill, the traveller is confronted by a small structure that provides public amenities and a small bag-packers office where they can store personal belongings or receive information about the hiking trails. The roof of the building creates an entrance gate that pulls the traveller towards the carved stone path to the mountain.

Recreational Space

STRAND STREET QUARRY

Seating in form of theatre carved out from landscape. Play structure for children, integrated into the landscape

26

STRAND STREET QUARRY 27

New staircase carved from landscape

Stone stairs towards Signal Hill

28

STRAND STREET QUARRY

END