Inhabiting the in-between: the transitional locations of urban settings
Date
2015-04-30
Authors
Chihota, Rufaro Benjamin
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Abstract
Movement between spaces ordinarily creates an in-between place in
space, a place which is neither the precise place of departure nor the
precise place of arrival, but is related to both. This generates another re-
ality, a short-lived, momentary transitional place. Every day people travel
great distances from one edge of the city to another by means of public
transportation. We move through spaces such as airports, train and bus
stations which exist as purely transitional spaces, and ironically many
of these environments have certain emptiness about them even though
there is a large convergence of people that come through these spaces
on a daily basis.
This thesis presents an architectural proposal that addresses the issues
of transitional locations, by identifying the architectural possibilities within
a liminal context. I investigate how architecture and infrastructure can be
integrated by allowing for programmatic hybridization in a South African
urban context of the Johannesburg inner city. I propose a multimodal
transit station where different modes of public transport intersect. The site
is the existing Westgate station in the south western corner of the inner
city of Johannesburg. The objectives of the building are to facilitate the
functional aims of a multimodal transit station, to establish the station as
a destination and to enable connection and exchange between different
people. These are achieved by upgrading the existing public transport
facilities and introducing educational, commercial, and recreational functions This architectural exploration aims to enrich public life in transitional spac-
es of urban settings. Many of the challenges associated with the typolo-
gy of transit, including the sense of void and isolation that comes with
mobility nodes that act as merely a transit zone, are addressed through
the integration of mixed programmes that will enhance public space and
create opportunity to linger. The aim is to provide an attractive and lively
pedestrian environment starting at the transit station to make the experi-
ence of arrival and being in the area a satisfying one.