Agro - pod an ecosystem of agriculral knowledge exchange in the Groblersdal area, Limpopo
Date
2018
Authors
Sithole, Lebogang Sinah
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Abstract
There are many threats facing the world’s population. Population growth, global warming and especially food security are challenging
the conventional methods of food production that have used for centuries. These methods continue to impact the earth negatively and
its ecosystems, hence the prevalence of the devastating effects of climate change on the earth. The resulting effects, coupled with our
continued use of fossil fuels to keep up with a growing population can only harm the earth even further and therefore harm our very
existence.
My chosen site is an abandoned location along a T-junction just outside the town of Groblersdal in Limpopo. The site is already populated
with street vendors who originate from the rural area surrounding the towns in the district. These vendors sell fresh produce sourced
from the surrounding commercial farms. I find myself confounded by these vendors and their lack of produce variety and always wonder
how they sustain their businesses with this typology. What especially bothers me about this dynamic is that these rural communities have
been farming traditional crops historically and these highly nutritious crops have managed sustained to sustain them and their ancestors
for centuries. These rural communities are native to the places where the crops are grown (or have become part of the culinary culture
over time) and these crops are particularly well adapted to the prevailing conditions.
With all this considered my intention is to design a self-sustaining hybrid agricultural support center and training facility. This facility will
utilise community participation in the building process to promote economic empowerment and the preservation of local vernacular
architectural methods and techniques. The programme aims to be inclusive in order to allow for all stakeholders to gain and impart
knowledge, promoting a cycle of knowledge exchange
By employing sustainable architectural interventions such as rainwater and energy harvesting, passive cooling systems and the
preservation and re-use of resources, the architecture can become a transformative mechanism for change in the rural context and
restore the pride of the Pedi people
Description
This document is submitted in partial fulfillment for the
Degree: Master of Architecture [Professional] at the
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in the year 2018
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Citation
Sithole, Lebogang Sinah (2018) Agro-pod agricultural symposium: an ecosystem of agricultural knowledge exchange in the Globlersdal area, Limpopo, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25983