General

Whenever we intervene on the landscape, we alter the existing context.  Thus it becomes imperative to fully comprehend what exactly the existing context is, and how best to deal with it[1] in order to promote and unleash its full performance potential.

Your intial book reference for the future development of Vrededorp is the Urban Development Framework by Ikemeleng Architects and 26’10 Architects.  You may use and learn from the information from that document and other existing data to feed your analysis, however, you CANNOT simply duplicate the work. We want to see what you see that goes beyond information available already.  All groups start from a PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD of the status quo NOW. You then produce analytical drawings framed by your research question and method. Check ‘Envisioning Information’ by Edward R. Tufte (library) and InfoGraphics (http://www.coolinfographics.com/, http://visual.ly/, http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/40-useful-and-creative-infographics/)

1.

Produce a research book, A4 portrait format, based on the in design template handed out.

Your book has to have

-        title page

-        content page

-        introduction

-        chapter divide pages

-        conclusion, resumee

-        reference page

-        page numbers

-        name of authors

-         

You have to hand in a PDF version and pin up a printed version.

The resolution of images and graphics has to be excellent.

Font: Arial

2.

Each tutor group has one theme, all four themes are outlined on your research matrix.

Within the tutor group, students split up into 4 subgroups and address the relevant issue from the following angles. The idea is to re-construct site through narrative and documentary structure.

History

-        Photography: Re-visit David Goldblatt’s photo documentary on Fietas. Take photos from the same viewpoints, compare the difference and find out the reason for the changes. Visualize these in drawings and diagrams.

-        Politics of empty plots: start from a google earth aerial photograph and document the empty spaces in the area. Draw a map of before and after. Try to find historical photographs. Document, what is happening today on the empty plots (photographic storyboard). What is their potential?

-        People: find 4-5 people who live in Vrededorp and record their personal history and their spaces.

-        Planning: Study the UDF of 26’10 and find out what has been implemented, what has changed since their study, what are the biggest challenges?

Streets

-        Intersection: Document the following intersection, their role in Vrededorp and on a larger scale (metropolitan). Produce a photographic record (panorama) and analyse what is happening on the corners: how do the buildings relate to the street, are there traffic lights, bins, who is selling, who is buying what? What is the accident rate? How can pedestrians cross?

Intersection: 8^th Street / De La Rey, 14^th Street/ De La Rey, 11^th Street/ Hull Street, Krause/ 8^th Street

All investigations have to cover at least 500m into each street of the intersection.

-        Pathways and sidewalks: Document the pedestrian movement in the area. Who is walking where, when and why (from where to where?). How is the related infrastructure (benches, bins, streetlights)?. Where does it feel safe/ unsafe? Why? Where is it clean/ dirty? How are businesses relating to pedestrians?

-        Public/ private transport: where are taxi routes? Bus routes? Major car routes? Recycling trolleys? Rhythm of traffic flow? Taxi stops? Bus stops? On street parking for cars? Deliveries? Recycling offload? Challenges? Conflict? Where do people drive to?

-        Waiting areas: spaces of delay: where do people wait for taxis, busses? How are they integrated in the urban fabric? Linked to small scale commerce (spaza)?

Public + Private Spaces

-        Morphology:  map of public and private, open and closed spaces (nolli diagram), sections, aerial photography

-        Thresholds: sequences, elements (roofs, doors, windows, curtains, stoeps, walls), safety (Indicate safe and unsafe places in the public and private realm) photographs

-        Programme: what is happening in the public and private spaces? Are their hybrid conditions? Day and night changes? Map out the timetable of the area.

Building Typology

-        Types of buildings, photographic catalogue, analysis in terms of type, programme, relation to street (threshold), age (when was it build?), condition, market price, current use (how many people are using it how?), conversions, additions

A 2^nd street, 5^th street, Krause, Solomon

B 6^th street 9^th street, Krause, Solomon

C 10^th street, 13^th street, Krause, Solomon

D 14^th street, 17^th street, Krause, Solomon

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[1] Catalyst in Context, Tomoyuki Haramura, the Berlage cahiers 4, Studio ’94-’95, p 124