Fort Merensky : Abditory & Observatory : Narrating the Botshabelo story through acts of hiding and revealing

In a culturally diverse South Africa, the debate concerning whose history to commemorate, is an increasingly controvertial issue. In light of this, a refreshing opportunity for the celebration of a shared memory has been identified in the forgotten Mpumalanga mission station, Botshabelo. It is remembered as a place of harmony between different cultures, the natural and man-made landscape, this once self-sustainable, flourishing settlement that now stands abandoned and in a state of decay (Langhan, 2000:25). This dissertation research focuses on design within sensitive heritage environments at various scales, through acts of layering. At the urban scale, the research investigates the possible mediation between heritage conservation and development for a returning local community. At a more detailed scale, the project focuses on the rediscovery of Botshabelo’s cultural precinct through layering of the old fabric with new ritual. And finally, at the precinct vision’s climax, Fort Merensky (which overlooks the Botshabelo valley) forms the dissertation’s site of design focus. Finally, through the reinterpretation of Fort Merensky as a device for ‘hiding’ and ‘revealing’, a cumulative moment is formed by which a (figurative and physical) vantage point for the unlocking and celebration of Botshabelo’s meaningful landscape is enabled. The project intends to create an architectural device for the safekeeping, showcasing and testing of ideas that mark Botshabelo’s memory, learning from it as a model for the development of South African self-sustainable, creative communities.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jekot, Barbara P.

• Fort
• Botshabelo
• Mission Station
• Heritage
• Palimpsest
• Abditory
• Observatory
• UCTD

Statement dc:rights

• © 2018 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

A2018

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/63630