D10 Process Book_The Wynberg Interchange

The Wynberg Interchange An Enabling Culturally Relevant Transit Center for Alexandra

The Wynberg Interchange An Enabling Culturally Relevant Center for Alexandra

by Richard Vilabrera Jr

Project presented to the Faculty of the Department of Architecture College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture Design 10: Research and Design Faculty Chris Harnish

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 2016

title page

The Wynberg Interchange

Through the theory of asset based community development (ABCD) juxtaposed with transit oriented design (TOD), create a sustainable economic development that is community-driven.

Therefore fostering active citizenship engagement to ensure access to public goods and services.

My intention is to make a celebrated culturally relevant public space which the main focus of the TOD activity, is to build an appreciative quality of place and community. Thus creating an enabling culturally relevant transit centre for Alexandra that is engaging and ensures access to public goods and services. ABCD programming is about looking at what we already have as a means to answer what we need. TOD is focused on the pedestrian as a way to connect between culture and transportation. Last but not least, the super colorful and talented society of Alex as a means to make critical culturally relevant decisions.

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abstract

1 2-8 9-12 13-15 16-20 21-26 27-40

research objectives investigate intent precedent site sketch final

40-44 analysis/critique 44-45 bibliography

contents

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Through the theory of asset based programming, create a sustainable economic development that is community-driven. Therefore fostering active citizenship engagement to ensure access to public goods and services.

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statement

1 Research Objectives First starting this project the biggest idea that carried it’s way through is that we as architects are always looking for problems to fix. Through the process of research and understanding the task at hand, there seems to be this overwhelming emphasis on solving the problem. However I question, can the problem be that we are looking for problems to solve? Is architecture really that prescriptive that we can make solutions to problems especially in an area which we have no real qualitative or personal connection to? My first objective was that I needed to find a way to make architecture that is about celebration of accomplishments, advancements and breakthroughs. Later on this was coined for me as asset based community development programming (ABCD).

Understanding that the problem is looking for problems rather than amplifying past and current positive conditions.

Again this is born out of the simple general notion that we must have a problem to solve but architecture can be so much more positive and progressive than reactive. This also comes out of the negative views and stereotypes of Africa as a whole, which can be defined as a problem but it isn’t the focus to build a “solution” around. In the initial research a lot of it was very negative looking at the colonialism as the “birth” of Alexandra which, in it’s naming, sure it’s new but the land and it’s people isn’t. So my research started me to look more into what was Alexandra before this “colonial birth” of Alexandra. I started to question: Who lived on this land? Between what dates? How did they use the land? What were the dwellings like? Typical food sources? The surrounding landscape? Etc. Out of these questions I saw one as a more potential departure part in order to research deeper: What was the art produced and how?

I truly believe that it’s through the arts that we can understand the people through the arts. Furthermore understanding what was being celebrated, the accomplishments, the advancements, the breakthroughs etc. can inform so much about the culture and the way of life. The arts can potentially inform the design process by allowing an understanding of what’s important in a culture. Understanding what’s important can inform program; formal qualities; proportions; material usage, adjacencies, and hierarchy. This understanding easily can create a program based upon a value system derived through the arts. Maybe the materials or what they used to create the art speaks to a more tactile, interactive architecture.

One of the pre European occupiers of Alexandra are the Khoisans

objectives

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2 Understanding Alexandra

Alexandra is this incredible place in South Africa rich of history, arts and culture, that is unlike any other.

And when discussing asset based community development, the investigation immediately becomes, what

do we have? My question to myself was what do I have to work with? I stripped this dense amount of information to say that unique to Alex is the celebrated, informal, external, and vibrant nature of the place; the

artwork and crafts; the music and dance; shebeens (pubs) and the brewed beer. These are the elements in which I played on to develop the rest of the project.

investigate

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3 Alexandra’s Landuse

Proposed Proposed Bridge NODES Bus Stop Lush Greens

Doing the research of what is in Alex I began to really question and investigate further of what’s there physically. What is the land use of Alex? What space is used for what?

I first started to plot out where housing was, the informal and the formal housing settlements. Then started to plot out the industrial areas. Like where things were being manufac-

Industrial

School

Informal Structures

Formal Housing

Informal Housing

Proposed Site

tured, which also gave some insights on where people work. Then I started to think about the youth and plotted out where the schools were in area. I stopped there for a bit but I asked myself, how does Alex travel to the city?

This lead to a bigger exploration of the transportation around Alex.

Where were the bus stops, what are the bus routes and what was the near

future proposed bus routes in and out of Alex. I plotted those points, as well as the main train line and train stops. The intersection of these elements is what really started to drive the project forward.

Continuing the investigation of transportation I started to look at the transportation relationship of Alex

investigate

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4 Transportation in Alexandra

Taxi Routes Bus Routes Streets Railroads Highways

to the central business district of Joburg. I started to research how the people of Alex/Joburg move around if not walking or taking the train. I found very quickly that taxi’s are huge, it’s a very large part of how people get around. Public transit in Alex/Joburg isn’t as dominant as the taxi’s however that of course causes some tension amongst the two forces.

The Great Walk The Corridors of Freedom New Bus Route with Terminations Proposed Site

On these two maps I started to plot out the existing bus and taxi routes on top of the major streets/ highways. I then started to look at the proposed programs that were being implemented such as the Corridors of Freedom which is an Initiative by the JDA along the Louis Botha Corridor which seeks to increase walking, cycling and pub-

lic transport which is safe, reliable and affordable. Then nodes along the corridor should be within a short walking distance there are schools, clinics, shops and homes. The Great Walk along is about amplifying the experience along an informal walking route between Alex and Sandton.

At the intersection of these two is how I decided where the site is.

investigate

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5 Braiding in Alexandra

For my 3D Textiles course I did a research on the textiles of Alex and came across beautiful detail of Alex.

In Alex there are a slew of hair salons and barber shops of all types. The archetype as pictured above are so vast in terms of their construction and style. However I feel they all embody that external vibrant style that resonates throughout the place of Alex. I

questioned however why so many?

From my peers I learned there are somewhere between 350,000 to 500,000 people in this small area of Alex! What I also found really interesting is that the shops are heavily used as well throughout the day and night.

the research and really pull out the essence of what I have come across.

One thing I immediately picked up on was that the sign-age for the salons, bolded or highlighted that they offered braiding. From the graphics I was able to pull out that it’s something that is either big or cherished.

At this point I started to compact

Further research led to find that

investigate

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6 Braiding Alexandra

braiding is actually very big and cherished in Alex. Braiding pays homage to the ancestors and their practices which was also braiding. The braided hair is an expressive art form that signifies a certain, style, class and personality. Even though it’s heavily a female tradition males also participate in this cultural activity.

The braid for me started to talk about connections amongst people through common cultural activity. I started to think about the braid as being something sacred that can start to inform about gestures on the site that talk about the braiding of people, the braiding of cultures, the braiding of transportation etc.

investigate

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7 Shabeens

tion of the shabeen was really about studying the vernacular archetype in the area that people are accustomed to about a place that they like to be in and enjoy. Again the notion of looking at what we have and building it as Businesses which sell liquor are a way to move forward. the most numerous and significant type of micro-enterprise in Alex, yet Using the Emergent City project their role goes beyond providing ac- to examine the shabeens through cess to liquor. Many shebeens pro- an urbanism perspective, the project vide publicly accessible spaces in provides a unique insight into the which the residents of Alex can meet impact of shebeens on life within a to socially engage, watch television, settlement, highlighting the varying play pool and relax. The investiga- influence of different shebeens on Shabeens are another culturally relevant very interesting aspect of Alex. Shabeens are informal pubs or an unlicensed establishment or private house selling liquor.

the way people drink, engage socially and connect through business and cultural linkages. They are the ones who provided all the diagrams show on this page that carefully explains the objects, the seating arrangement, the layout, the opening sizes, and people all within the archetype.

investigate

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8 Shabeens

investigate

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9 Design Intentions

ABCD

John L. McKnight & John P. Kretzmann

Transit Oriented Design Principles

An Enabling Culturally Relevant Transit Center for Alexandra

Alexandra’s Unique Culture

Peter Calthorpe

TOD is about making smart peAlex’s culture will create an enabling culturally relevant transit center for destrian friendly design decisions in ALexandra. regards to the public transportation in the urban fabric.

ABCD is about looking at what we have as a means to build on what ABCD informs program and TOD we need. The principles outlined in informs spatial relationships of the Merging my thesis and wast that theory helps frame research in program. Alex’s culture overall is the I’ve research I feel that the theories what I build on from Alex’s culture to program and what make the space of ABCD and TOD combined with fold into the project. special and alive.

By making celebrated culturally relevant public spaces the focus of TOD activity, it builds an appreciative quality of place and community.

Thus creating an enabling culturally relevant transit centre for Alexandra.

intent

2 The Wynberg Interchange

10 Asset Based Community Development Appreciative Inquiry

search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them.

Active Citizenship Engagement

getting involved in local communities and democracy at all levels, from towns to cities to nationwide activity

Participatory Paradigm

expressive participants creating change people centred design based upon the popular participation

Social Capital

paying attention to the assets inherent in social relationships, as evident in formal and informal associations and networks

Community Economic Development

relying on community level actors and macro-level actors in public and private sectors to have sustainable economic development

Asset-based community development (ABCD) is an alternative to needs-based approaches to development.

ABCD builds on the assets that are already found in the community and mobilizes individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to build on their assets-- not concentrate on their needs.

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intent

11 Transit Oriented Design Walking Distance

place commercial, housing, jobs, parks, and civic uses within walking distance of transit stops

Pedestrian Focus

create pedestrian-friendly street networks that directly connect local destinations

Public Space Inform Building

make public spaces the focus of building orientation and neighbourhood activity

Preserve Open Space

preserve sensitive habitat, riparian zones, and high quality open space

Organize Growth

organize growth on a regional level to be compact and transit supportive

The fundamental structure of the TOD is nodal—focused on a commercial center, civic uses and a potential transit stop. Defined by a comfortable walking distance, the TOD is made up of a core commercial area, with civic and transit uses integrated, and a flexible program of housing, jobs, and public space surrounding

intent

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12 Alex’s Culture REcap Trend Setting Talents

Alex has a history of setting trends from in the 90’s fighting against apartheid to present day where Alex is setting hair, fashion, music and dance trends.

External & Vibrant Nature In Alex a lot of the activity is on the streets from kids to playing, to informal sellers selling goods. The streetscape embodies an infinite amount of color singing back to the activity taking place on the street

Unique Dishes & Homebrewed Beer Alex is home to the brewed beer of umqombothi and the informal pubs, shabeens, that sell the product. Just like any culture there are dishes that are distinct to Alex but the scale of the township set in context of Joburg/ South Africa is what makes it more interesting

“Super-talented, colourful society. Put those words together and you have Alex!”

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-Sello Makgotho

intent

13 Precedent Research Doing research in Alexandra the first thing I noticed was the ample amount of informal vendors that sold throughout the entire region. Markets embodied everything I was looking for in my research objectives: food, art, dwelling, conversation, people, and life.

My initial research was more about exploring different markets that represents how space allows for such life and vibrancy to occur. Also the markets also had to have some type of dialogue to the past as a way to really give it a sense of place.

(Top to Bottom) The Mercat Encants’ main objective was to maintain the open nature of the traditional outdoor market Els Encants. The Warwick Junction currently this is the only informally structured market in a public space of this magnitude, and thus establishes itself as the single most authentic African market that South Africa has to offer. The Malcom Shabazz Harlem’s Market is a semiclosed market full of vendors selling all types of good imported from Africa mainly. There is a mosque and a salon in this one stop shop market.

Mercat Encants | b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos

Warwick Junction in Durban

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem’s Market

precedent

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14 More Relevant Precedent Research

2.6m

Analyzing the research I did on the markets I realized all except one were not fitting for the context of Alexandra. The markets I looked at previously were not in the same climate, culture, and responded to different contexts. I needed to find more Alexandra/South Africa markets that responded to the same climate, culture, context and demographics.

4m

8m

4m

The Herb Market, Warwick Junction, Durban 16m

18m

10m

4m

3m

4m

4m

2.5m

9.3m

Muti Market AKA Kwa-Mai Mai Market, North Doornkloof, Joburg

2.5m

2.6m

6.1m

3.5m

2m

Warwick Junction, Durban

10.2m

2.5m

3.5m

Boiled down to 3 precedents (top to bottom), Perched 4 meters above traffic and reused highway is The Herb Market, Warwick Junction, Durban. Customers approach the herb sellers and traditional healers with their complaints and the healers supply them with medicine accordingly. Approximately holds 700 Vendors!

Smaller but more known the Muti Market AKA Kwa-Mai Mai Market, North Doornkloof, Joburg. Well-known herbalists, whose small shops selling herbs, animal extracts, snake skins and dried snake venom.

Warwick Junction, Durban.

Selling pinafores’, traditional Zulu apparel and household products all beneath the roof, which was donated by the Badsha Peer Mazaar Society in 2000.

precedent

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24m

15 More Relevant Precedent Research Stepping back from the market typology wanted to look at transit centres as well as programmaticality different/challenging spaces.

(Top to Bottom) Taxi Rink 2 “seeks to integrate the facility with the day-to-day life of Diepsloot.

To this effect, an existing market has been integrated into the public edge of the rank, conceived as a giant veranda or concourse.”

27 Boxes is an indoor/outdoor shopping and lifestyle experience with an exciting and evolving mix of stores, from the permanent to the pop-up. Tailored for designers, artists and craftsmen to showcase their wares;staffed by a community of people committed to excellence and innovation.

Idea Bank “Detected through an anthropological lens, rather than a strictly economical one. It is pitted against often contradictory and interchanging consciousness of opportunity in the so-called formalised and informalised markets; and within the flaring gap that exists between the two. This gap finds spatiality in South African post-Apartheid cities, in which physical buffers to dense marginalised communities remain visible in Joburg.”

Taxi Rink No. 2 | 26’10 South Architects

27 Boxes | Citiq Property Developers

Idea Bank | Sarah de Villiers

precedent

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16 The Wynberg Interchange, Wynberg, SA

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site

17 The JDA’s Plans to Site The JDA’s plans for the site is to create an Iconic public space; Provide an underground public transport interchange; Rea Vaya BRT Trunk buses; Walking and cycling facilities; Focus of pedestrian movement between Alexandra & Sandton; Landscaping of surrounding environment opportunities In this diagram this is what I received from the JDA, which is supposed to hit all of the points described above.

It’s very hard to believe that that was the intent however the idea for me was to take this adapt a bit with culturally relevant programming and better spatially planning to create a space that is recognizable enjoyable and appreciated.

Many transportation centres are quick snap places that are uneasy, bland, and full of commercial global market companies that couldn’t care less for the community they are within. I wanted to use this project as a way to change that notion of our transportation systems.

site

Bus Lanes

Pedestrian Path

Vehicular Lanes

Proposed JDA Hub

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18 Current Dynamism 10,000

People through the site per day.

traverse

40,000

The JDA projects after all the proposed work is finished

Informal Taxi Rank, heavily used

When I first started looking at the site I gathered some photos from Sarah de Villers who is the designer of the Idea Bank which is project proposed on the same exact site. Looking at the photos, there are so much exiting things that I saw to use when applying the program on the site.

The photos show a taxi rink that is heavily used as explained earlier the importance of taxis. Informal vendors also explained earlier that are selling all over the site and the views from the combined pedestrian and car bridge that is corroding.

Informal vendors along the kerbs

Sarah also provided me with some of her research of the site which I compiled to make the diagram to the left showing mostly pedestrian movement, the existing transit stops and taxi routes.

This dynamism helped show what I needed to use in order make the program on the site be active. If you play into what’s already there how can you go wrong, right?

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site

19 Movement on the Site

After feeling that I jumped too far into the site programming I looked more at the movement on the site. Looking at the movement of people, cars, buses and taxis. Then how I can massage the street edges to allow the space to slow down traffic, allow more separation of services so there isn’t clashes.

site

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20 Refinement

After evaluating the movement on the site I started looking at how to refine the spaces to accommodate the transportation as well as the market and bar. I started to look at the center circle of the site as a way to radially plan on the site as well as become the touch down part of the bridge. The bridge I wanted to stand proud and be a marquee for those travelling along the Corridors of Freedom.

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site

21 Braided Bridge Sketch 1

When I thought about this bridge, I saw this bridge as the marquee for those travelling along the Corridors of Freedom. I wanted the transportation to run below the bridge to allow this pedestrian bridge to really stand out. Furthermore the bridge would become a significant marker that talks about the relationship between Alex and Sandton which I interpreted as a braiding of the two sides. Thus how the idea of the braided bridge came about.

sketch

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22 Bridge Experience

I really wanted this bridge to be pedestrian focused and more about the experience of shadows and lights, places to hang our just to catch shade. Wanted to be able to hang over and peer into the site and also over the Corridors of Freedom. The current bridge is so narrow, corroded and lack any time for a break only fast movement of both people and traffic.

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sketch

23 Market Experience

Using the proportions I learned from my precedents I developed this market. I was thinking about just creating a simple space that is bought to life by the people and products that they bring.

sketch

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24 Aerial of Site

Combining all the elements together, the transportation center which is raised for air quality assurance, and allow pedestrians below. The market as explained a simple radial planned market off of the center circle where the braided bridge touches down and create that point of relief.

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sketch

25 Pleated Column Sketch

This is the initial sketch I did to develop a structural system for the site. It was a development of 2 different pleated concrete columns/beams that were based of the pleating of braids.

sketch

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26 Rotating Market Sketch

Using the same concrete pleated structure as the let this sketch was developing the market’s tectonics that would utilize the same concrete structure.

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sketch

organize growth on a regional level to be compact and transit supportive.

preserve sensitive habitat, riparian zones, and high quality open space.

make public spaces the focus of building orientation and neighborhood activity.

create pedestrian-friendly street networks that directly connect local destinations.

place commercial, jobs, parks, and civic uses within walking distance of transit stops.

Peter Calthorpe

Transit Oriented Design Principles

final An Enabling Culturally Relevant Transit Center for Alexandra

4

Alexandra’s Unique Culture

1 ABCD

John L. McKnight & John P. Kretzmann

shebeens (pubs) and the brewed beer. the artwork and crafts the music and dance

2

celebrated, informal, external, and vibrant nature of place

transit hub

27 Applying Thesis to Program to Site

3 4 5

2

4 1

3

After establishing a more direct program I used my the TOD principles as a guide to place the program on the site and relate it back to the existing dynamism on the site.

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shebeens (pubs) and the brewed beer.

the artwork and crafts

the music and dance

2

celebrated, informal, external, and vibrant nature of place

transit hub

Peter Calthorpe

community economic development

Alexandra’s Unique Culture

social capital

Transit Oriented Design Principles

An Enabling Culturally Relevant Transit Center for Alexandra

participatory paradigm

John L. McKnight & John P. Kretzmann

appreciative inquiry

ABCD

active citizenship engagement

28 Applying Thesis to Program to Site

3

4

5

2

4

4

3

After establishing a more direct program I used my the ABCD principles as a guide to amplify and validate the program on the site as well as relate it back to the existing dynamism on the site.

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final

29 Applying Thesis to Program to Site

After establishing a more direct program I started to think about the circulation in-between them. I used the Great Walk as a means of the main circulation through the site, called out a secondary route through the center circle, and two tertiary routes off of the main route to access the program. Using TOD principle I am preserving the center circle as my node at which to develop off of. Lastly, I am proposing to demo it and create a more expressive bridge that speaks to the culture of Alex but also carries out the goals of the Great Walk.

final

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30 Applying Thesis to Program to Site

After establishing a more rigid form to the program on the site It started to inform the change in circulation.

Refining the program helped inform the circulation along the site but maintain integrity to the major axis along the great walk and the existing node. Also due to the sun angles it helped place certain program. The sun also helped form the bridge to give more shade to the part the curled more inward since that is when it’s at it’s highest to allow trucks to pass underneath.

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final

31 It All Comes Together

This is current site plan, this is a braided bridge across Louis Botha that slips into a wooden canopy and disperses people at the node at which you can go to the transportation center, the market, hang out, eat catch a beer, or just continue onto work.

final

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32 Applying Thesis to Program to Site • Braiding Canopy

This wooden canopy highlights the main circulation paths to braid the transportation center and the market together. It allows the braided bridge to slip into and drop off onto the site effortlessly. The size of the openings match the openings of the bridge and ungulate to highlight points along the circulation paths.

• Market and Brewery

On the back end umqombothi is brewed and anchors the street edge along with the space under the braided bridge. The beer is taken through its cooked process and taken through the restaurant, bar and rooftop bar for enjoyment. The market, made up of it’s modules, is wrapped around the site for all access. This market is home to more than regular fruits and vegetables but services as well like a salon or barber shop.

• Transportation

Keeping the integrity of the JDA’s proposal of transportation on the site the buses ramp off the street or series of underground tunnels to give the visual air space along Louis Botha to the braided bridge. Keeping the taxi rink that’s existing they go on the ground level, the second level is the buses and the top level dedicated to pedestrian movement.

• Braided Bridge/Landscape

The braided bridge is to be a way finding element, an anchor to the Alex community and signifying the tie between Alex and Sandton. The landscaping is to give more open space to the lacking green space of Alex as well give the circulation and programmatic less or more hierarchy.

Looking at the exploded isometric the braided bridge is a real marker of the tie between Alex and Sandton, the landscape of the site is formed to meet the street edge but create multiple levels of hierarchy. The buses travel off the street edge through ramps and underground tunnels to an elevated bus terminal. The pedestrians use the elevated walkways to enter into the transportation zones and at level with the market to improve active citizenship engagement and social capital. Lastly the braiding canopy highlights the main circulation paths, creates shade, and adds a level of intimacy that can be easily lost in such a large site.

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final

33 Site Sections

JDA Bus Shelters

Braided Bridge

Market Module

Parklets

In section we can see how the programmatic elements stack up and relate the surrounding context. I’ll be discussing the market module.

final

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34 Market Module Breakdown

10m

10m

4m Informal Extended Market Space

C

B C A

C C B A B C

Using the pleating of the braid as inspiration I development a structural tectonic that is adapted in 3 configurations to accommodate different program throughout the site. A: Circulation B: Commercial w/ Circulation C: Double loaded booths (2-4 vendors).

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final

35 Market Experience

The market isn’t just your typical fruits and vegetables but integrates services as well such as a barber shop or salon.

final

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36 Market Lounge Bridge Experience

This smaller bridge connects the market and transportation together by an outdoor shaded hang out area

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final

37 The Great Walk Experience

These parklets are intended for quick gatherings and hanging out with friends/family. People can sit outward or inward for more a collective gathering.

final

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38 The Braided Bridge Experience

The progression of the bridge is really to be pedestrian focused and much about experience both from exterior and within. Both at day and at night.

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final

39 Bird’s Eye View During Day

final

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40 Bird’s Eye View at Night

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final

41 Assessment First starting this project the biggest idea that carried it’s way through is that we as architects are always looking for problems to fix. Through the process of research and understanding the task at hand, there seems to be this overwhelming emphasis on solving the problem. However I question, can the problem be that we are looking for problems to solve? Is architecture really that prescriptive that we can make solutions to problems especially in an area which we have no real qualitative or personal connection to? My first objective was that I needed to find a way to make architecture that is about celebration of accomplishments, advancements and breakthroughs.

Later on this was coined for me as asset based community development programming (ABCD).

Understanding that the problem is looking for problems rather than amplifying past and current positive conditions. Again this is born out of the simple general notion that we must have a problem to solve but architecture can be so much more positive and progressive than reactive. This also comes out of the negative views and stereotypes of Africa as a whole, which can be defined as a problem but it isn’t the focus to build a “solution” around. In the initial research a lot of it was very negative looking at the colonialism as the “birth” of Alexandra which, in it’s naming, sure it’s new but the land and it’s people isn’t. So my research started me to look more into what was Alexandra before this “colonial birth” of Alexandra. I started to question: Who lived on this land? Between what dates? How did they use the land? What were the dwellings like? Typical food sources? The surrounding landscape? Etc. Out of these questions I saw one as a more potential departure part in order to research deeper: What was the art produced and how?

I truly believe that it’s through the arts that we can understand the people through the arts.

Furthermore understanding what was being celebrated, the accomplishments, the advancements, the breakthroughs etc. can inform so much about the culture and the way of life. The arts can potentially inform the design process by allowing an understanding of what’s important in a culture.

Understanding what’s important can inform program; formal qualities; proportions; material usage, adjacencies, and hierarchy. This understanding easily can create a program based upon a value system derived through the arts. Maybe the materials or what they used to create the art speaks to a more tactile, interactive architecture.

Those were the words that drove the initial part of this project and over time it surely got changed quite a bit. I kept the idea of ABCD because that’s crucial in understanding about people and what they have. The historic art’s approach took sort of a back seat for sure, mainly because the Kohsian people were more passer byers not actual dwellers of Alex so it would have been very tangential to use that research as a way to develop a solid scheme.

At the end the merge of the TOD, ABCD and Alex’s culture I feel like was the right way to go.

I feel like each one of the pieces came to the table with different mindsets of addressing the issue and it was up to me to mitigate who’s ideas goes where. However I feel like I could have done better job graphically and maybe even in the design to show how the thesis is really strung through the project. It was enough that people understood it but I think some of it was made up in people’s had

thoughts

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42 Assessment through their imagination. Having people use their imagination is great but for me I think I needed to show more that I knew what I was doing.

Honestly, in the last stretch of the project I had many doubts about the direction, the aggressiveness and struggling to find meaning in my work. I think not being able to get into such a detailed as some of my peers who were in building mode made me feel away. However, I picked my self back up and was able to be proud of the work and the process I took to get to where I am now. Looking forward though I would love to be able to get some more focus on how the development interacts with the street edges. I think the project is presented to be very inward focused when there was development about how it related to the street but the context being in an industrial neighbourhood made it seem less important in my eyes to have that relationship. But even though its less important it’s still important.

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thoughts

43 Talks with Harnish

thoughts

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44 Talks with Harnish

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thoughts

45 “27 Boxes | Where It All Happens.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.

“A Study on Street Furniture in Warwick Junction: The Trestle Table Asiye eTafuleni.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11

May 2016.

“AfriGIS - South Africa.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.

“Afrofusion: Dance in South Africa.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.

“Alexandra Township in Johannesburg – in Pictures | Art and Design | The Guardian.” N.p., n.d. Web.

11 May 2016.

“Apartheid on a Black Isle: Removal and Resistance in Alexandra, South Africa - D. Curry - Google

Books.” N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.

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