Regenerating the underutilised: a catalytic intervention for reactivation within a revived urban green artery
Date
2016-01-15
Authors
Musiker, Rick
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Abstract
Abstract
This thesis focuses on identifying and
satisfying opportunities through the
regeneration of underutilised land in our
cities. It investigates the potential and
benefits of transforming these land parcels
to maximise accessibility, use, and function.
Consequently influencing urban renewal
and urban connection.
The thesis initiated through identifying
the possibilities and opportunities which
exist upon the Killarney Country Club site
in Lower Houghton, Johannesburg. Its
location, size and exposure are key to its
potential, furthermore its current status
makes transformation plausible and
desirable. The Killarney Country Club is a
sizeable strip of greenery centrally located
in the Johannesburg context. It offers
significant linkage opportunities throughout
Johannesburg and high public exposure.
In its current state it is heavily underutilised,
allowing access to a select elite minority
and in turn creating a stifling element in the
city.
Theoretically the Killarney Country Club
can be described as a Heterotopic space.
A space without a place, juxtaposing its
context and existing as a world within a
world. However, it ultimately possesses
the ability to transform to meet the needs
of an evolving society. These heterotopic
concepts, debated by Michel Foucault, are
regenerating the underutilised A Catalytic Intervention for Reactivation Within a Revived Urban Green Artery
a b s t r a c t
influential theories which I explore during
this thesis.
The success of this regenerative intervention
requires a comprehensive urban framework
which lays the foundations for an equally
significant architectural intervention at the
core of the proposal. The urban intervention
includes elements of linkage, activity, high
density, mixed-use and place making. The
improvements see the transformation of the
Killarney Country Club into an accessible,
connected and active city node, which
embodies a social and recreation facility.
The facility promotes outdoor activity,
wellness and interaction amidst a heavily
altered and environmentally conscious new
urban context.
To attract and generate activity to the
site I have proposed a public square
at the heart of the transformation, on-to
which is placed a catalytic architectural
intervention for regeneration. The proposed
built intervention is a Social + Recreation
Complex which is comprised of three
interconnected but separate buildings. The
Social+ Recreation Centre, the Conference
+ Events Centre and The Exhibition Centre.
The building becomes a threshold between
urbanity and nature. It promotes, and most
significantly, initiates and sustains the
regenerative transformation.
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Citation
Musiker, Rick (2016) Regenerating the underutilised: a catalytic intervention for reactivation within a revived urban green artery, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, < http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/21473>