THE IN&BETWEEN Weaving x through mixed-use development in Robertsham Ashton James 1839108 THE IN&BETWEEN Weaving social interaction through mixed-use development in Robertsham Student Name: Ashton James Student Number: 1839108 Supervisor: Sundeep Jivan School of Architecture and Planning A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional). School of Architecture and Planning University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa, 2023 I Candidate’s Declaration I Ashton James (1839108) am a student registered for the degree of Masters in Architecture in the academic year 2023. I hereby declare the following: I am aware that plagiarism (the use of someone else’s work without their permission and/or without acknowledging the original source) is wrong. I confirm that the work submitted for assessment for the above degree is my own unaided work except where I have explicitly indicated otherwise. I have followed the required conventions in referencing the thoughts and ideas of others. I understand that the University of the Witwatersrand may take disciplinary action against me if there is a belief that this is not my own unaided work or that I have failed to acknowledge the source of the ideas or words in my writing. Signature: ______________________ Date: ______________________16 February 2024 II Abstract Critically analysing the need for social interaction through communities. Robertsham is a location that contains a rich history dating back to 1948 when it was first established. The study focuses on the public park that splits the residential and industrial areas of Robertsham. The park was once a social interactive space for families within Robertsham and has now become a barren underutil ised space. The design aims to include spaces that address an issue within each sector of Robertsham. A mixed-use development aided to serve the community as well as bring back the nature of the park with the main routes being social interaction, safety, and connection. Key Words: Social Interaction, Socio-economic Theory, Recycling, Urban Farm, Safety, Community, Gathering, Weaving, Sustainability, Live, Work, Play. III Acknowledgements To my supervisor Sundeep Jivan, thank you for mentoring me through this productive year. I am thankful for the guidance, wisdom, and helpful suggestions you have aided me in this year. I would like to thank my friends that have assisted me and given me helpful insight and motivation throughout the year. My family has supported me throughout the countless years of studying architecture and throughout my school career. They have aided me in many ways that I cannot express my sincere gratitude. They have helped me progress to where I am currently and have pushed me to my limits in producing the works seen in this document. To my bursar SVA who has aided me financially as well as given me knowledge that I could use throughout my postgraduate studies. I would like to thank them for mentoring me as well as helping me achieve my postgraduate degrees. IV Table of Contents Candidate’s Declaration I Abstract II Acknowledgements III Table of Contents IV List of Figures V Table of Figures VIII List of Acronyms and Terms IX Preface X 1. CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION 01 1.1 Introduction: 02 1.2 Research Aims and Objectives: 03 1.3 Research Methodology: 07 2. CHAPTER 02: SITE HISTORY AND CONTEXT 09 2.1 Introduction to Site: 10 2.2 History of Robertsham: 13 2.3 Change over time: 14 2.4 Neighbouring Sites: 15 2.5 Contextual Analysis: 16 2.6 Site Information: 17 2.7 Community Member Interview Reflec- tion: 19 3. CHAPTER 03: THEORY 20 3.1 Socio-Economic Theory: 21 3.2 Social and Cultural Context: 21 3.3 Understanding ‘A Pattern Language’ as a literature review: 22 4. CHAPTER 04: FOOD WASTE RECYCLING 25 4.1 What is food waste? 26 4.2 Reflection on Interview with a recycling specialist: 28 4.3 Key Ideas: 28 5. CHAPTER 05: MARKETS 29 5.1 What is a food market? 30 5.2 Key Ideas: 31 6. CHAPTER 06: URBAN FARMING 32 6.1 What is urban farming? 33 6.2 Key Ideas: 34 7. CHAPTER 07: PUBLIC SPACE 35 7.1 What is a Public Space? 36 7.2 Design Considerations: 37 7.3 Revitalising Public Streets: 39 7.4 Reflection on Architects’ Perspective on public parks: 39 7.5 Key Ideas: 39 8. CHAPTER 08: SUSTAINABILITY 40 8.1 Defining Sustainability: 41 8.2 Design Implementation: 44 8.3 Conclusion: 46 9. CHAPTER 09: CONTEXT, CONCEPTS & ECOLOGY 47 9.1 Urban Context: 48 9.2 Actual Site 50 9.3 Physical and Social Sustainability: 53 9.4 Climate, Micro-climate, and Comfort: 54 9.5 Concepts: 55 10. CHAPTER 10: PRECEDENT STUDIES 60 10.1 Markthal, Netherlands - MVRDV: 61 10.2 Targ Blonie Market, Poland - Aleksan- dra Wasilkowska Architectural Studio: 63 10.3 Smestad Recycling Centre / Longva Arkitekter: 65 10.4 Jawahar Kala Kendra: Charles Correa’s Arts Centre in Jaipur: 67 10.5 Conclusion: 69 11. CHAPTER 11: PROGRAM AND CONCEPT 70 11.1 Concepts: 71 11.2 Design Brief: 75 11.3 Design Program: 76 12. CHAPTER 12: VIABILITY REPORT 79 12.1 Content Summary: 80 12.2 The Client(s): 80 12.3 Project Scope: 82 12.4 Implementation: 85 12.5 Financial Consideration: 88 12.6 Conclusion: 91 13. CHAPTER 13: SKETCH CHARRETTE AND MATERIALITY 92 13.1 Quality of Facility: 93 13.2 Three-Dimensional Exploration: 94 13.3 Building Materials: 98 13.4 Site Model - Robertsham: 99 13.5 Building Forms and Iterations: 101 14. CHAPTER 14: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 103 14.1 Design Development and Reflection: 105 14.2 Initial Concept: 107 14.2 Further Development: 109 14.3 Process: 112 14.4 Final Development: 115 14.5 Reflection: 115 15. CHAPTER 15: TECHNICAL DRAWINGS 117 15.1 Technical Workshop: 118 15.2 Reflection: 123 16. CHAPTER 16: FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS 124 16.1 Urban Strategy: 125 16.2 Urban Context - Macro: 127 16.3 Waste Analytics 129 16.4 Urban Farm - Planting 132 17. CHAPTER 17: REFERENCES 153 17.1 References 154 18. CHAPTER 18: APPENDICES 160 18.1 Ethics Clearance 161 V Fig. 1.1.Robertsham Zoning Information, Author 2023 02 Fig. 1.2 Initial methodology scheme, Author 2023 06 Fig. 2.1 Johannesburg Map with Related facilities, Author 2023 10 Fig. 2.2 In-depth analysis of Robertsham Buildings, Author 2023 11 Fig. 2.3 Surrounding streets, Author 2023 12 Fig. 2.4 Neighbouring buildings, Author 2023 12 Fig. 2.5 Timeline Illustrating the History of Robertsham, Author 2023, Images sourced from http://cdngiportal.co.za 13 Fig. 2.6 Movement of people in the Past, Author 2023 14 Fig. 2.7 Movement of people in the present, Author 2023 14 Fig. 2.8 Movement of people in the Future, Author 2023 14 Fig. 2.9 Informal activity, Author’s photograph 16 Fig. 2.10 Site cleanliness, Authors photograph 16 Fig. 2.11 Lack of upkeep, Author’s Photograph 16 Fig. 2.12 Vehicle use, Author’s photograph 16 Fig. 2.13 Site slope, Author’s photograph 16 Fig. 2.14 Site boundary condition, Author’s photograph 16 Fig. 2.15 Parked vehicles, Author’s photograph 16 Fig. 2.16 Circulation Passage, Authors Photograph 16 Fig. 2.17 Author’s photograph, neighbouring building 18 Fig. 2.18 Author’s photograph, neighbouring building 18 Fig. 2.19 Author’s photograph, neighbouring building 18 Fig. 3.1 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 13 in ‘A Pattern Lan- guage’ 24 Fig. 3.2 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 15 in ‘A Pattern Lan- guage’ 24 Fig. 3.3 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 41 in ‘A Pattern Lan- guage 24 Fig. 3.4 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 42 in ‘A Pattern Lan- guage’ 24 Fig. 3.5 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 80 in ‘A Pattern Lan- guage’ 24 Fig. 3.6 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 157 in ‘A Pattern Language’ 24 List of Figures Fig. 4.1 In-Vessel Composting, adapted by Department of Environ- ment, Forestry and Fisheries, Author 2023 26 Fig. 4.2 Composting Process, Image available at www.freepik.com, 2023 27 Fig. 5.1 Chicago Indoor Market, photo by West Side Market, n.d. 30 Fig. 5.2 Gare Maritime Food Market, photo unknown, n.d. 30 Fig. 6.1 Master Gardner Community Garden, photo unknown, 2022. 33 Fig. 6.2 Juel Park Community Gardens, photo unknown, 2022. 33 Fig. 7.1 Shibuya crosswalk, Tokyo, Japan photo by Sean Pavone 2020 36 Fig. 7.2 Minhocão Highway into a public space, Sau Paulo photo by Preliminares 2013 37 Fig. 7.3 Car Free NYC: Earth Day - Herald Square, photo by New York City Department of Transportation, 2017 37 Fig. 7.4 Domino park, privately owned public space, Brooklyn, photo by Barrett Doherty, 2020 38 Fig. 7.5 Targ Blonie Market, photo by Nate Cook 2022 38 Fig. 8.1 Sustainable Development, image by Flaura Shukla, 2020 41 Fig. 8.2 Author’s adapted drawing of double skin facades, 2023 (original image from Arch daily, 2019) 43 Fig. 8.3 Green wall sub facade, by SemperGreenWallOutdoor, n.d. (sempergreenwall.com) 45 Fig. 8.4 Green roof, photo by Josephine Chan (Green roofs.com, 2010) 45 Fig. 9.1 Traffic and busy zones 8 am, Author 2023 48 Fig. 9.2 Traffic and busy zones 12 pm, Author 2023 48 Fig. 9.3 Traffic and busy zones 4 pm, Author 2023 48 Fig. 9.4 Genius Loci, Author 2023 50 Fig. 9.5 Noise zones, Author 2023 51 Fig. 9.6 Ecological zones in Robertsham, Author 2023 52 Fig. 9.7 Physical and Social Sustainability, Author 2023 53 Fig. 9.8 Summer and winter wind rose diagrams, Adapted from, La- ban, T. (2021) ‘Approval and Control’, Author 2023 54 VI Fig. 9.9 Climatic Conditions in Robertsham, Author 2023 54 Fig. 9.10 Project’s Objectives, Author 2023 55 Fig. 9.11 Breakdown of site, Author 2023 56 Fig. 9.12 Basic understanding of community involvement and devel- opment outcome, Author 2023 56 Fig. 9.13 User Constrains to merge space together, direction of line can be mirrored to challenge the discussion, Author 2023. 57 Fig. 9.14 Sketch diagram based on analysis, Author 2023 58 Fig. 9.15 Building Form and relation to surrounding, Author 2023 58 Fig. 9.16 Building Structure and materials, Author 2023 59 Fig. 10.1 Drawing from MVRDV 2014, Author’s added representation 2023 (archdaily, 2014) 61 Fig. 10.2 Inside Markthal, photo by Nico Saieh 2014, (archdaily, 2014) 61 Fig. 10.3 Inside Markthal Entrance , photo by Nico Saieh 2014, (arch- daily, 2014) 62 Fig. 10.4 Markthal Ceiling, photo by Oosip van Duivenbode 2014, (archdaily, 2014) 62 Fig. 10.5 Authors representation of Weaving the shading device, 2023 (original image sourced from Archdaily, 2022) 63 Fig. 10.6 Axonometric of Tag Blonie Market, Poland. Drawings by Aleksandra Wasilkowska, 2022 (image sourced from Archdaily) 63 Fig. 10.7 Targ Blonie Market Aerial View, photo by Nate Cook 2022, (archdaily, 2022) 64 Fig. 10.8 Targ Blonie Market Entrance, photo by Nate Cook 2022, (archdaily, 2022) 64 Fig. 10.9 Author’s representation of multi-use zones separated by dif- ferent materials, 2023 (original image sourced from Archdaily, 2015) 65 Fig. 10.10 Floor plan of Smestad Recycling Centre. Drawn by Longva Arkitekter, 2015 (image sourced from Archdaily 2015) 65 Fig. 10.11 Photo of Smestad Recycling Centre. Photo by Ivan Brodey, 2015 (image sourced from Archdaily 2015) 65 Fig. 10.12 Smestad Recycling Centre Facade, photo by Ivan Brodey 2015, (archdaily, 2015) 66 Fig. 10.13 Smestad Recycling Centre Facade, photo by Ivan Brodey 2015, (archdaily, 2015) 66 Fig. 10.14 Jawahar Kala Kendra Steps, photo by Charles Correa 2023, (Archeyes.com, 2023) 67 Fig. 10.15 Jawahar Kala Kendra Steps, photo by Mehendra Sinh 2023, (Archeyes.com, 2023) 68 Fig. 10.16 Jawahar Kala Kendra Steps, photo by Addison Godel 2023, (Archeyes.com, 2023) 68 Fig. 11.1 Programmatic spaces, Author 2023 71 Fig. 11.2 Relation to create Social Interaction with people, Author 2023 72 Fig. 11.3 Market space, Author 2023 72 Fig. 11.4 Needs to achieve social interaction, Author 2023 73 Fig. 11.5 User Interactions, Author 2023 74 Fig. 11.6 Initial concept of the IN&Between, Author 2023 75 Fig. 12.1 cycle showing recycling, market, urban farm, social hous- ing, Author 2023 80 Fig. 12.2 Clients for the development, Author 2023 81 Fig. 12.3 Project Team, Author 2023 85 Fig. 13.1 Abstract collage - expressing quality and feel of facility, by Author 2023 93 Fig. 13.2 Form exploration – Passage of light and access, by Author 2023 94 Fig. 13.3 Facility and Market – Access and movement, by Author 2023 94 Fig. 13.4 Two Surfaces – exploring a second coat, by Author 2023 94 Fig. 13.5 Evaluating light through roof structure, by Author 2023 94 Fig. 13.6 Texture Exploration 01, by Author 2023 95 Fig. 13.7 Texture Exploration 01, by Author 2023 95 Fig. 13.8 Texture Exploration 01, by Author 2023 95 Fig. 13.9 Texture Exploration 01, by Author 2023 95 Fig. 13.10 Texture Exploration 01, by Author 2023 95 Fig. 13.11 Light Exploration 01, by Author 2023 96 Fig. 13.12 Light Exploration 03, by Author 2023 96 Fig. 13.13 Light Exploration 04, by Author 2023 96 Fig. 13.14 Light Exploration 02, by Author 2023 96 Fig. 13.15 Weaving, by Author 2023 97 Fig. 13.16 Recycling Material 01, by Author 2023 97 Fig. 13.17 Recycling Material 02, by Author 2023 97 VII Fig. 13.18 Reuse and growing 01, by Author 2023 97 Fig. 13.19 Reuse and growing 02, by Author 2023 97 Fig. 13.20 Brick Patterns, by Author 2023 98 Fig. 13.21 Images of Site Model, Author 2023 99 Fig. 13.22 Images of Perspective views, Author 2023 100 Fig. 13.23 Form Exploration, by Author 2023 101 Fig. 13.24 Sketches, by Author 2023 102 Fig. 14.1 Initial Planning 1:1000, by Author, June 2023 104 Fig. 14.2 Perspectives, by Author , June 2023 105 Fig. 14.3 Initial Ground Floor Plan 1:1000, by Author , June 2023 106 Fig. 14.4 Updated Site Planning 1:1000, by Author 2023 108 Fig. 14.5 Design Development Planning 1:500, by Author 2023 110 Fig. 14.6 Intense sketch overlay 1:500, by Author 2023 110 Fig. 14.7 Updated Floor Planning 1:500, by Author 2023 111 Fig. 14.8 Section A-A and B-B 1:500, by Author 2023 113 Fig. 14.9 Section C-C and D-D 1:500, by Author 2023 114 Fig. 14.10 Final Development Planning 1:1000, by Author 2023 116 Fig. 15.1 Section A-A, by Author 2023 118 Fig. 15.2 Section B-B, by Author 2023 119 Fig. 15.3 Section C-C, by Author 2023 120 Fig. 15.4 Section D-D P1, by Author 2023 121 Fig. 15.5 Section D-D P2, by Author 2023 122 Fig. 16.1 Urban Strategy, Author, November 2023 125 Fig. 16.2 Urban Context and Solutions, Author, November 2023 126 Fig. 16.3 Macro Urban Context, Author, November 2023 127 Fig. 16.4 Urban Narrative, Collage adapted from Google Earth, Goo- gle Street views and Author’s Photos, 2023 128 Fig. 16.5 Waste Analytics adapted from CSIR, 2019 Slide 11 129 Fig. 16.6 Waste Analytics adapted from CSIR, 2019 Slide 11 130 Fig. 16.7 Waste Analytics adapted from CSIR, 2019 Slide 11 130 Fig. 16.8 Waste Analytics adapted from CSIR, 2019 Slide 11 131 Fig. 16.9 Waste Analytics adapted from CSIR, 2019 Slide 11 131 Fig. 16.10 Site Plan and Axonometric, by Author , November 2023 133 Fig. 16.11 Ground Floor Plan, by Author , November 2023 134 Fig. 16.11 Sectional Perspective, by Author , November 2023 135 Fig. 16.12 North Elevation, by Author , November 2023 135 Fig. 16.12 East Elevation, by Author , November 2023 135 Fig. 16.13 West Elevation, by Author , November 2023 136 Fig. 16.14 Site Section A-A, by Author , November 2023 136 Fig. 16.15 Detail Section A-A, by Author , November 2023 136 Fig. 16.16 Renders, by Author , November 2023 137 Fig. 16.17 Site Section B-B, by Author , November 2023 137 Fig. 16.18 Detail Section B-B, by Author , November 2023 138 Fig. 16.19 Renders, by Author , November 2023 139 Fig. 16.20 Site Section C-C, by Author , November 2023 140 Fig. 16.21 Detail Section C-C, by Author , November 2023 140 Fig. 16.22 Renders, by Author , November 2023 141 Fig. 16.23 Site Section D-D, by Author , November 2023 141 Fig. 16.24 Detail Section D-D, by Author , November 2023 142 Fig. 16.25 Site Section E-E, by Author , November 2023 143 Fig. 16.26 Render, by Author , November 2023 143 Fig. 16.27 Render, by Author , November 2023 144 Fig. 16.28 Render, by Author , November 2023 145 Fig. 16.29 Structural Reference Plan, by Author , November 2023 146 Fig. 16.30 Construction Drawing, by Author , November 2023 147 Fig. 16.31 Construction Drawing, by Author , November 2023 147 Fig. 16.32 Construction Drawing, by Author , November 2023 148 Fig. 16.33 Construction Drawing, by Author , November 2023 148 Fig. 16.34 Construction Drawing, by Author , November 2023 149 Fig. 16.32 Physical Model Photo, by Author , November 2023 150 Fig. 16.33 Physical Model Photo, by Author , November 2023 151 Fig. 16.34 Physical Model Photo, by Author , November 2023 152 VIII Table. 2.1 Site Data collected through COJ Land Use Scheme 2018 & SANS 10400-A Administration 17 Table. 2.2 Schedule of Rights through COJ Land Use Scheme 2018 18 Table. 11.1 Programmatic Spaces, Author 2023 77 Table. 11.2 Parking Requirements, Author 2023 78 Table. 12.1 Professional Fees for Development, Author 2023 88 Table. 12.2 Development Cost Estimate, Author 2023 89 Table. 12.3 Fee Calculations, Author 2023 90 Table. 12.4 Monthly Revenue, Author 2023 90 Table. 16.1 Information gathered from Le Creuset.co.za 132 Table of Figures IX List of Acronyms and Terms CBD - Central Building District CCMA - The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration COJ - City of Johannesburg DHS - Department of Human Settlements EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (USA) IVC - In-Vessel Composting NBR - National Building Regulations SANS - South Africa National Standards UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles UN - United Nations Social Interaction - As a central research question, social interaction to me refers any form of social interaction (social encounters between individuals) to create a strong connection in this case for the Robertsham community. Architecture relates to this by providing adequate spaces and functions to encourage individuals to interact with one another. X Preface My family lived within Robertsham during the Apartheid. It was a difficult time for Chinese people to be situated in a predominantly white area due to Apartheid, Chinese people were required to obtain permission from the entire neighbourhood to be able to stay within the area. A reason/driver to look towards the social issues within Robertsham became important. As Chinese people, my grandparents had to request additional permission for my aunt to be able to attend a white school (Robertsham Primary School). The one thing that completely ignored the Apartheid rules was the public space of the park on my site. This is a location that my family would be able to occupy without discrimination or racial segregation within Robertsham and it almost felt like a new world with equal rights for everyone. 01The In&Between 1. CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION Chapter 01 The In&Between 1.1 Introduction: The suburb of Robertsham has gone through drastic changes since 1948 when it was first established. The ‘Old South’ was revealed as a compact working-class district consisting of residential and industrial development (Harrison and Zack, 2014). A huge spatial shift occurred post-apartheid (Census, 2011), from a safe liveable area to a space that had become isolated with criminal activity on the rise. Social interaction created through the public park, adjacent to Harry Street, has become a barren unused space in the current time period. A public park’s main goal of being a social interactive space, gathering space, and a breather space has now become an underutilised park. (Maric, J, Aleksandra, D, Antonic, B, Furundzic, D and Parezanin, V, (2021). This occurred due to the increase in crime within Robertsham. Apartheid planning has caused inefficient spatial planning across Johannesburg and can be seen in Robertsham. (Monama, Mokoele and Mokgotho, 2021). The lack of upkeep from the government has caused the park to be inefficient, with tall grass, weeds and rubbish around the area. Waste bags are seen across the public park placed there by people within Robertsham causing unhealthy spaces for the park. The suburb contained two distinct spaces; residential and industrial. The public park was a zone that could connect/ join the two sectors. The attractiveness of spaces and areas can increase if careful development of the urban space is considered through Architecture (Polyakova, 2019). An opportunity arose to activate this space and promote social interaction as well as stitch, join and connect 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial Chapter 01 Fig. 1.1.Robertsham Zoning Information, Author 2023 02 03 the ‘East (Industrial) and West (Residential)’ together. Various mixed-use developments embed within the centre of the suburb to better the community as well as re- activate the social connection that was lost. Social Issues were analysed through the suburb to understand problematic factors in Robertsham, that could be addressed (Alexander, Ishikawa, and Silverstein, 1977). Robertsham contains a diverse set of nodes, ranging from households to restaurants to light industrial spaces. These spaces have a common issue of creating waste. The recycling facility enables the sorting, shredding, and curing of all public food waste, transforming it into compost. Additionally, any recyclable materials are intended to be re-purposed for use in the new intervention. This draws onto another issue of social housing. Robertsham creates job opportunities for people outside of Robertsham. However, transportation costs in South Africa are extremely high and with the minimum wage being only R25,42 per hour, it is not enough for many people to manage both cost of living and cost of transportation (CCMA, February 27, 2023). Social Housing aims to reduce transportation for the workers in Robertsham as well as allow for people working in the facility to stay near their jobs, overall reducing costs in getting to and from work. A market integrated through these spaces can allow a public interface to connect to the development and treat the development as a socially integrated facility. This breaks down the development into a mixed-use development that serves to benefit the community and create social interactive spaces. The research proposed an impending new set of architectural interventions within this site to bring back the rich social interactions Robertsham once had. The park’s main purpose is depicted as a space, ‘that can fulfil the human needs for social interaction and attachment’ (Ujang, Kozlowski, and Maulan, 2018). Public spaces, provided users and the community with new social and cultural life (Ujang, Kozlowski, and Maulan, 2018). Social bounding as well as an emotional connection to the space and people through the public domain (Ujang, Kozlowski, and Maulan, 2018) 1.2 Research Aims and Objectives: Understanding the research aims and objectives, mixed-use development needs to be broken down into individual categories to analyse and identify important aspects of each component. An overall conclusion of how these components could be adapted together and can create the design solution for the current context. - A summary of what the development needs to achieve as well as why it needs to be achieved is understood through the various design components. - Researching and understanding each facility became important to identify the relations created for the design as well as for the user integration Chapter 01 The In&Between Architectural interventions can densify the public park and create a central node of interactive and safe space. Taking into consideration the new world era of technology. Identifying public hotspots that allow users to use social media wherever possible is crucial. The development should create an atmosphere of being at home. User comfortability could be a factor that promotes the ideal spatial effects as it allows the user to connect with the new development. 04The In&Between Chapter 01 Since there is a large growing population, a substantial increase in food waste is produced annually (Recycling Training Manual, 2016). Through the investigation of each facility, it is noted that job creation is apparent (Recycling Training Manual, 2016). The definition for recycling is ‘a process of separating materials into various categories of waste, that can then be used to create new products through manufacturing ‘(A Guide to Waste Management & Recycling, 2023). Food waste can be dropped off at a recycling centre through a public drop-off area. The terminology of Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce created a core idea to learn to recreate new types of products from old recycled food waste. Recycling can save energy as well as reduce the intake from landfills. (US EPA, 2016). It creates an 1.2.1 Food Recycling Facility 1.2.2 Social Housing A drastic increase in South Africa’s population requires a revisit to social housing. The issue being addressed in this thesis is the idea of reducing transportation costs. Cheaper lands are situated on the outskirts of the municipal areas (Mtizi, 2017). People that stay in this area, therefore, require longer travel times to commute to workspaces, which add an absurd amount to travel costs when transporting to work. However, in saying so, South Africa’s public transport is still in shambles, with some mini-bus taxi drivers operating without any license to drive (Mtizi, 2017). The idea of social housing, therefore, responds to this issue of public transportation to allow workers within the industrial sector of Robertsham to stay nearby the working facilities and therefore reduce their overall cost of transportation. I am considering a limited definition of social housing as defined by ‘Capital City Housing’, defines social housing as housing for people who earn between R1850 and R22000 per month (‘What you need to know about social housing – Capital City Housing’, no date). Rent can be calculated on an average of 33.3% of the total household income. The Social Housing can ‘plug into’ the mixed-use development by allowing tenants to recycle waste responsibly. - Each program requires a basic set of terminology to learn the requirements of the space and how it will attract user interaction - Each facility focal point is aimed to create a response to the social issues of Robertsham, to create a better economy and lifestyle for its’ users. opportunity to reuse raw materials to produce new products. A method aimed to be used is creating compost through recycled materials to be used in the urban farm in the facility, therefore provides a way to address food waste issues within Robertsham but to also create awareness of the importance of recycling. 05 Chapter 01 Markets are defined as spaces where repeated exchanges may occur between a seller and a buyer (Fligstein and Calder, 2015). ‘The food and climate crises and deepening social stratification should push us towards solutions that shorten supply chains and facilitate fair access to healthy and inexpensive food.’, (Ott, 2023). In Robertsham, this would allow community members to gain access to a wide range of agricultural products within the facility. It can be used as a learning opportunity to expand personal businesses.’Local agricultural products allow a city’s resilience to grow and expand, which overall creates more opportunities for smaller businesses that tie into the community’ (Ott, 2023). The market creates an opportunity for community members around Robertsham as well as people outside of Robertsham to gather and come together to explore the diverse set of goods that will be on sale for people. It creates the node of the network and connection from outside of Robertsham. Creating an awareness of where Robertsham is and why it is important. Live, work play communities, are beneficial due to the close proximity of different districts(What is live-work- play community?, 2021). Through the apartheid planning mentioned, Robertsham already contains a distinct live and work area. The new development creates a new node of play with the rest of the ideas. Creating all three within one site. Certain characteristics of this development include: - Convenience - The convenience of working and living within the close distance to one another, emphasises how travel distances and costs can be mitigated. - Broad opportunities - This creates a node for Robertsham to represent. New home owners could see Robertsham as a place to live in order to stay near work. - Community driven - Shared amenities create a stronger community, with more trust and connection for the people in the community. The new development aims to achieve the following drivers to situate itself within a site and become part of the community. 1.2.4 Market 1.2.5 Live, Work and Play1.2.3 Urban Farming Urban farming is one of the tools aimed at creating sustainable farming within the community to localise a space to buy goods. The idea of providing food becomes apparent with the outcome of providing more liveable space and bringing people into Robertsham. ‘Access to food at the household level not only depends on secure food supplies but also stable demand or purchasing power’ (Bonti-Amkomah, 2001). Hunger is likely to exist if a family cannot buy or grow enough food (Naidoo, 2010). The Urban farm, thus, creates an opportunity for families to grow food but is maintained by the facility to ensure food grows at a stable rate. It allows families to buy food seeds to grow within the facility, providing the necessary equipment to sustain food production. The In&Between 06The In&Between Fig. 1.2 Initial methodology scheme, Author 2023 Chapter 01 07The In&Between Chapter 01 - Interviews with experts in designing public space facilities, - Documentation, and analysis through site walks. - Information gathered will explore themes of experience, past events, change in the community, and questioning ‘why’ the park went through a drastic change. Literature review and theories that deal with social interaction, and socio-economic factors in architecture will be explored through: - Books, - Online data collection, - Past research papers, and journals. Interviews carried out were done in an ethical manner, to inform the person being interviewed through the participant information sheet and consent form of the information regarding myself as well as the research being done. All questions complied with the rules of the University of Witwatersrand guidelines to ethical manners. The design will be approached from a theoretical point of view of the book, ‘A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction’, by Christopher Various interviews, analyses, and observations will be conducted within Robertsham, Johannesburg South. A link created to which this theory was defined as well as a literature review which followed as guidelines to how the development should function and address. The output of the research methodology comes through a conclusion that can be derived through the gathered data, which will then create a proposed building development. Quantitative data: - Desktop studies and online studies related to the history of Robertsham, which include historical images, background information as well as statistics on the community within Robertsham per and post Apartheid. - Interviews discussed through community members create a strategy based on the question given to the interviewee, ‘If there was one thing you could have wanted in the park, what it would be?’Furthermore, additional questions are used to understand the site and local context. Qualitative data: - Non-numerical data, which include interviews with community members, The research question at hand was constantly evaluated and the question follows as: ‘How can one design for social interaction between residential and industrial development in Robertsham?’ The objective of this thesis focused on understanding social interaction as a theory as well as an objective through architectural design. Architecture can be utilised to help aid with the issues of food waste by providing awareness and creating opportunities to learn innovations in recycling. It’s intent was to also creates a space that can be interactive for the community. A space that reactivates the public park’s domain through architectural intervention, where architecture addresses multiple issues. For this thesis, I will be focusing on Robertsham Public Park in Johannesburg South, Gauteng. The reasons for this area are stated later in the report. The research strategy for this project comes through qualitative and quantitative research methods. 1.3 Research Methodology: 08The In&Between Chapter 01 residential and industrial development in Robertsham?’ A hypothesis was defined as social interactive spaces are driven through the needs of the community. A facility that integrates itself with the community. An output that could be driven solely on the community allows for a successful development. Through this, the importance of noting that public spaces become key points in this facility, and the way architecture can create sensible spaces in and around the facility can aid the design. created. It also allowed an to understand specific elements used that worked within the case study. The site analysis and surrounding context are shown in the early stages of the research, due to the site being the issue that needs an architectural intervention and thesis to solve these issues. Social Interaction expresses itself in ideas regarding the revitalisation of Robertsham and recreating what once existed. The final design will first be initialised through a sketch charrette that will inform design decisions based on form, materiality, and experience. From the above, it was clear to understand the importance of each facil ity as well as determine the materials and programs of the facil ity. Community member interviews shall be informative to understand how Robertsham works, and might create clues as to where the design should start from. Looking back at the research question, ‘How can one design for social interaction between Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein’. This data will inform a solution as to how light industrial can link to residential areas. ‘The areas where it exists are assumed to be dirty like a disease’ (Alexander, Ishikawa, and Silverstein, 1977). As stated within ‘A Pattern Language’, people forget that the industrial zones provide the needs of a daily person (Alexander, Ishikawa, and Silverstein, 1977). The conclusion gathered through the research will create an answer (design intervention) to the question, ‘How can one design for social interaction between residential and industrial development in Robertsham?’ The programmatic spaces will be informed by the research conducted within this report. They include discussions on recycling, urban farming, social housing and market spaces. The research will also discuss the challenges faced in the various programmatic spaces. Case studies conducted on the various developments will explore the way it works, how it is successful/ unsuccessful, and why it was 09The In&Between Chapter 02 2. CHAPTER 02: SITE HISTORY AND CONTEXT 10The In&Between Fig. 2.1 Johannesburg Map with Related facilities, Author 2023 The land use scheme in South Africa was used in a discriminatory way during the apartheid and colonial era (Monama, Mokoele, and Mokgotho, 2021). The spatial design created from the apartheid planning prevented any development from connecting to the main central district (Monama, Mokoele, and Mokgotho, 2021). The Apartheid regime caused a disjunction of town planning where business districts were situated far from residential housing. ‘In addition, the influx of people into cities has resulted in a strong demand for land for housing, basic services, and infrastructure, as well as a rise in government spending.’ (Monama, Mokoele, and Mokgotho, 2021). The purpose of Robertsham was to provide housing to people returning from the war (Harrison and Zack, 2014). With the spatial shift of the central building district moving further north, people staying in the southern suburbs commute further to get to their work places. As seen in Figure 2.1 the disconnection of Johannesburg South to Johannesburg North is prevalent. The figure illustrates food production as well as recycling facilities around Johannesburg, predominately in the north. The mine dump creates the barrier lines between the north and south suburbs. Chapter 02 2.1 Introduction to Site: Legend: Food Production Facilities Recycling Facilities Mine Dump Locations Main Transportation Primary Roads City Borders Mine Dumps Mine Dumps Johannesburg North Johannesburg South 0 2.51.75 5Km 2.1.1 Larger Urban Context 11The In&Between Chapter 02 Fig. 2.2 In-depth analysis of Robertsham Buildings, Author 2023 Robertsham is a suburb situated in Johannesburg South, south of the mining belt below the famous Gold Reef City. The south of Johannesburg has grown substantially slower than that of the north of Johannesburg (Hart, 2012). The landscape drops towards the gold reef and made people hesitant to live in the south (Hart, 2012). The ‘old South’ was an area depicted as a white working-class (low-middle income) suburb that contained industrial and residential development (Harrison and Zack, 2014). Robertsham was proclaimed in 1948 and categorised as the ‘old South’, which can be seen through its land use scheme. The south of Johannesburg was seen as a less desirable location due to the harsh climatic conditions, with winds blowing dust accumulated through mine dumps (Harrison and Zack, 2014). Figure 2.2 illustrates the strong contrast between the residential and industrial with an emphasis on the mine dump situated not far off the industrial sector to the east. The park is illustrated as a barrier that separates the east and west of Robertsham. The site demarcated aims to adjoin the two areas and create a social interactive space through the public park. The street edge conditions become important to understand for the users of the site. Five distinct edges that create an opportunity to explore but the north, east and south being the most important edge conditions. 2.1.2 Zoomed in Urban Context Houses Legend Parks Apartments Other Service Buildings Manufacturing Retail Suppliers & Business Restaurants Recreational Mine Dump Medical Schools 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial 12The In&Between Chapter 02 A corner site is distinguished in the public park, having roads on four of the five sides. Harry Street is a busy road that extends north to south of Robertsham. Harry Street is used for both access routes to the main highways as well as access into the light industrial buildings. The black lines represent the main pedestrian circulation when the park is used but as seen in Figure 2.3, the circulation is very distinct. The circle demarcated is where an existing jungle gym sits and therefore creates the circulation passage. The vertical black line parallel to Harry Street is used due to the amount of shade for pedestrians to walk past. Through site observation, Norde Hoek, Gresham Road and Lynton Ave are very seldom utilised by vehicles and can be considered quiet edges. Figure 2.3 illustrates the relation of roads around the site and informed where vegetation is within the site. Ideas revolve around creating a buffer space from Harry Street to the building to create a hotspot zone where industrial workers can sit and eat during lunch. Figure 2.4 depicts the various industrial and residential sectors along the site. This park sits in a position to weave the east (industrial) and west (residential) of Robertsham through this public space. Through these two figures, it was clear that the social housing can sit along Lynton Avenue while the rest of the facility can create a connection to Harry Street Fig. 2.4 Neighbouring buildings, Author 2023 Fig. 2.3 Surrounding streets, Author 2023 Houses Legend Parks Apartments Other Service Buildings Manufacturing Retail Suppliers & Business Restaurants Recreational Mine Dump Medical Schools 13The In&Between Chapter 02 The timeline in Figure 2.5 gives an understanding of the history of Robertsham. Initially instated as a township in 1958. The park was the only space since the beginning of development to stay unchanged. It describes that from 1968 to around 1996, the park was fully functional and taken care of as a public park. The park acted as a buffer between the fast development of industrial and residential and to also block the views of the mine dump situated behind the industrial buildings. The factory workers that do access the park essentially use this space to sit under the trees while taking breaks. The trees were an aspect to be kept for this purpose, not removing a good aspect of the site. 2.2 History of Robertsham: Fig. 2.5 Timeline Illustrating the History of Robertsham, Author 2023, Images sourced from http://cdngiportal.co.za 14 Chapter 02 2.3 Change over time: Fig. 2.8 Movement of people in the Future, Author 2023Fig. 2.7 Movement of people in the present, Author 2023Fig. 2.6 Movement of people in the Past, Author 2023 The In&Between 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial 15The In&Between keep views into the new urban farm from the existing houses Essentially, setbacks are considered with public In breaking down the programs according to Figure 2.8, the idea is to move the residential interaction towards Harry Street. This creates an interactive space for both industrial and residential sectors. The placement of programs becomes clear as to where each edge becomes important. Open space towards the north west corner for pedestrians to ride bicycles and walk, and a more distant walkway on the east that sits behind the existing vegetation, then greeted by the facility. I acknowledge that the adjacent buildings would be affected with such a large development overshadowing the existing residential housing. The approach forward followed situating the industrial spaces as far away from the housing and placing the new housing in proximity with the existing housing. The large industrial building can be designed as single storey buildings to not block natural lighting to the existing houses. Between the new housing, pathways are utilised to Chapter 02 The change over time for the park is quite interesting as seen in Figures 2.6-2.8. In Figure 2.6, it is clear that the park was utilised by the residential sector and acted as a barrier from the industrial zone. Through an interview, the interviewee stated that they would only go to one space located in the industrial area which was Gino’s Pizza, other than that the industrial zone was illustrated as a private business space. Figure 2.7 looks at how the main users for the public park became the workers in the industrial space where they would sit and eat as well as a parking space for the workers and owners of the industrial area. Through both observations, I believed that both Figures 2.6 and 2.7 had different approaches where it was used by one or the other and not both at the same time. An interview illustrated that the park was an ideal space to ride bicycles and a safe community space. Figure 2.8 is the conclusionary architectural intervention that links both the sectors into one public facility. 2.4 Neighbouring Sites: 16The In&Between Chapter 02 Fig. 2.12 Vehicle use, Author’s photograph Fig. 2.15 Parked vehicles, Author’s photograph Fig. 2.11 Lack of upkeep, Author’s Photograph Fig. 2.16 Circulation Passage, Authors Photograph Fig. 2.10 Site cleanliness, Authors photograph Fig. 2.14 Site boundary condition, Author’s photograph Fig. 2.9 Informal activity, Author’s photograph Fig. 2.13 Site slope, Author’s photograph It became clear that a need for social and community space was required through the images below. Lunch breaks and parked cars along the edge of the park are the main uses. Figure 2.9, illustrates informal social activity taking place within the site. The government does not take the initiative to upkeep the public park as seen in Figures 2.10 and 2.11. It shows that there is a need for an intervention to take place and bring the park back to life through architectural design. Litter is located all around the public park for the users of this space. Through visual analysis, a handful of people would cross through the site from North to South. The majority of the people walk along the edges of the site and use the road for pedestrian movement. There are tracks of dead grass which implies that some vehicles use the site to cross into the two sectors as seen in Figures 2.12 and 2.16. Throughout the design process, the following themes are to be considered; safety, social cohesion, urban management, recycling (reducing waste), and upkeep. These themes will engage in a way to design consciously to the surrounding context of Robertsham and create a sense of place in the involvement of the community. The neighbouring buildings as stated are residential and industrial. This allows the site to design appropriately for the two sectors. However, the height restriction will be discussed through the analysis. It is also worth noting that edge conditions within Figure 2.14, needs to be re-looked at with a different material. The gradual slope of five meters across a one-hundred and forty meter length is depicted in Figure 2.13. 2.5 Contextual Analysis: 17 Chapter 02 Table. 2.1 Site Data collected through COJ Land Use Scheme 2018 & SANS 10400-A Administration Land use Public Open Space Owner City of Johannesburg Erf No. (Stand no.) 1598 Area (sqm) 17617m² Primary Land Use Rights Public Open Space Proposed development The proposed development is a mixed-use development that aids the community through architectural interventions. Recycling, Urban farming, Apartments, and public market serve to create a social connection for the community of Robertsham Proposed site zoning Residential 2 and Industrial 1 (mixed-use) A1 – Entertainment and public assembly A3 – Places of Instruction B3 – Low-risk commercial services C1 – Exhibition Hall D3 – Low-risk industrial F3 – wholesaler’s store G1 – Offices H3 – Domestic residence J3 – Low-risk storage J4 – parking garage A1 – 1 person per sqm if there are no fixed seats A3 – 1 person per 5 sqm B3 – 1 person per 15 sqm C1 – 1 person per 10 sqm D3 – 1 person per 15 sqm F3 – 1 person per 20 sqm G1 – 1 person per 15 sqm H3 – 2 person(s) per bedroom J3 – 1 person per 50 sqm J4 – 1 person per 50 sqm Site Data Proposed building use Occupancy of each use 2.6 Site Information: The In&Between 18The In&Between Chapter 02 Table. 2.2 Schedule of Rights through COJ Land Use Scheme 2018 Fig. 2.19 Author’s photograph, neighbouring buildingFig. 2.18 Author’s photograph, neighbouring buildingFig. 2.17 Author’s photograph, neighbouring building Height zone B Coverage 70% for residential 2, 85% for industrial 1 FAR 2,4 for residential, 3,0 for industrial Number of storeys 5 storeys Building line restrictions 3m street building line, 1,5m building line Topography A gradual slope from South (highest) to North (lowest) Existing facade materials Industrial buildings are of steel and exposed brickwork, and residential buildings to match facility materials Schedule of Rights 19 The privilege to understand how the community members grew up in Robertsham was important to view other perspectives. From the interviews, it was clear to see how the community was intertwined with one another and the connection that existed. The park caught the attention of the children, who would play and keep themselves busy countless hours a day, riding bicycles and going to the small restaurants in the area. However, the one predominant factor that has always been an issue even in this present day is the Industrial zone. Here lies a space where people would be hesitant to set foot, besides a lovely restaurant situated amongst the industrial buildings. Although technology has caused a drastic change in how children today act, is it still justifiable to say that children still like playing outdoors? The petty crime indicated through various interviews explained why the park became underutilised. Not only that but the government not maintaining their property made the park unusable with long grass and weeds growing around the area. This is seen through 2.7 Community Member Interview Reflection: the distinct pathways created as discussed in Figure 2.16. The park’s facilities (see-saw, swings, jungle gym) started to erode from the weather and therefore started to break. Over the years the safety of the park declined. Even riding bicycles became unsafe especially during the late afternoon. The residential roads in Robertsham are very quiet, which created an opportunity for crime to occur. Currently, the community is isolated due to the increase in crime but also due to no social interaction occurring in the parks. The community has however created a community watch that attempts to reduce the crime within Robertsham. The reflection bases off a conclusion that the park is a key space that can overlook the quiet streets as well as create a connection that is not present. Through one specific interview, the interviewee explained that they light up their area to create a sense of safety for guests. The idea was to continue this through the park and create a safe passage into the residential zone. Furthermore, the idea of utilising the Chapter 02 entire site and activating it, creates less dead space, and this results in people being on the site, which increases safety for anyone on the site. By creating a community spot for Robertsham as well as a hotspot for people outside of Robertsham, allows the public side of the facility to operate through the late afternoons and create a night market. From a users input, the following conclusions can be used within the facility : - Creating a safe park space observed by the facility, - Large walkways for walking, running and cycling, - A new node of inclusionary space for industrial and residential, - Open views creates safe spaces, - Lights along the residential areas to light up spaces around the site - Late afternoon operation (night market) The In&Between 20The In&Between Chapter 03 3. CHAPTER 03: THEORY 21 The socio-economic theory is based on an idea to strategise a new standpoint on how the quality of life can change (Khurana, 2010). Socio-economic strategies aim to create new attractions, and development as well as produce tourism gatherings (Polyakova, 2019). The theory bases itself on the principles of social and economic factors that aid in the design, analysis, and planning of the development. Architecture involves the design and construction of physical environments, considering how people will interact with and inhabit these spaces. Understanding the importance of how architecture can integrate into a specific context and address issues of concern. Socio-economic theories play emphasis on how development may affect economic patterns. Social behaviour is important to examine how a space works before implementing architecture (Gordon, 2023). Economic values focus on how architecture becomes a part of the market (Piatkowska, 2012). It leads to the question, ‘How can architecture improve the economy?’ Essentially an idea of architecture that can better improve a community. An example is shopping centres that contain the goal of selling goods to the community as well as provide profits to the tenants. Architecture is not solely based on economic factors however the economic factor starts to become more relevant after the architecture is completed (Piatkowska, 2012). Robertsham contains a diverse community. As stated in Chapter 01: Introduction, Robertsham has two distinctive sectors, residential and industrial. The ethnic group was initially low-middle-class white workers, now shifting to majority Indian and Asian (Census, 2011). The park was a central point where the community could gather and enjoy the public facilities provided by the government. According to an interview conducted, with the majority of the community being of one ethnicity, it has proven to create a safer space, by having Social Architecture refers to the exploration of people, places, and activities. The theory involves the understanding of how the three aspects are linked to one another (Chek, n.d.). ‘People should be at the heart of any architectural design project’ (Chek, n.d.). Ensuring that the design responds to the users’ needs. The three explorations of social theory require an understanding of how a design should interconnect through the various factors to achieve a habitable space. 3.1 Socio-Economic Theory: Chapter 03 3.1.1 Social Theory 3.1.2 Economic Theory 3.2 Social and Cultural Context: 3.1.3 Selected Aspects of the Suburb 1. Improving and providing safety factors to the public park through densifying the site. 2. Increasing attraction for Robertsham by creating a space for tourism. 3. Improving waste issues within Robertsham to provide a cleaner and safer space. 4. Increasing social interaction within the community The In&Between 22 community patrols at night. This plays a role in the future market as a market containing more diversity creates a sense of equality and is not dominated by ethnic groups. A Pattern language focuses on specific patterns that are arranged where it will address issues from large to small scales (Alexander, Ishikawa and Silverstein, 1977). The book focuses on how each pattern can be connected. The book describes, ‘No pattern is an isolated entity’ (Alexander, Ishikawa and Silverstein, 1977). Additionally, when something is built it cannot exist on its own. The identity defined through the creation fits into the ‘web of nature’ (Alexander, Ishikawa and Silverstein, 1977). Each pattern defined within the book creates a way for the reader to adapt it to their scenario. According to pattern nine, scattered work can be seen within Robertsham. Zones of housing and working were created during the apartheid planning where work would be found in the CBD and living would 3.3 Understanding ‘A Pattern Language’ as a literature review: be on the outskirts of the business areas. Creating workspaces in the community provides people to work within a maximum of ten minutes walking distance from their homes. These workplaces will also be within walking distance of the surrounding schools of Robertsham. As a larger pattern, it can then start to bounce off various other patterns within the book. These include: - Pattern 13 (Subculture Boundary), - Pattern 15 (Neighbourhood Boundary), - Pattern 41 (Work Community), - Pattern 42 (Industrial ribbon), - Pattern 80 (Shops and Offices) and, - Pattern 157 (Home workshop) (Alexander, Ishikawa and Silverstein, 1977). It then becomes important to critically analyse each of the above patterns to determine what may or may not work within the Robertsham community. These patterns listed become the base guide to understanding the development. 1. Pattern 13 – Subculture Boundary Subculture boundaries refer to the oppression neighbours pursue on one another to create dominance within the community. However, Robertsham is a culturally diverse area with the majority of the people staying here being Indian, but the primary spoken language is English (census, 2011). The space provided through the development creates that boundary to present itself as a large diverse area equal to all who occupy the space. 2. Pattern 15 – Neighbourhood Boundary Robertsham is known for its historical reference to mining. The mine acts as its boundary to the neighbouring context. In a smaller picture, the park, therefore, creates a new boundary within Robertsham using the roads to differentiate between current and new. 3. Pattern 41 – Work Community Work and live can create a sense of being. If working for eight hours requires someone to spend eight hours outside of their home, why can work not be considered home? It, therefore, makes sense that work should be available to the larger community whereby the community can interact with these spaces. 4. Pattern 42 – Industrial Ribbon Industrial zoning separates itself The In&Between Chapter 03 23 Chapter 03 from the urban areas as a whole. In Robertsham, it is quite the opposite. The industrial zones are situated within the residential zones. There are plenty of trucks that create traffic within Harry Street. Creating a cycling facility will create more traffic, so a program needs to be made to accommodate the trucks to prevent more traffic from occurring on Harry Street. 5. Pattern 157 – Home and workshop Specific units within the apartment phase can accommodate working from home. It provides users with an opportunity to work from home if possible and enjoy the communal space within their homes or outside in spaces demarcated for work use. 6. Pattern 80 – Shops and Offices Within the recycling facility, there will be various shops and offices provided for public and private use. It creates an aspect of job creation for the community as well as a space to sell and buy. The understanding of each of these patterns drawn and theorised can be adapted to how the new development will work. Listed below are conclusions as to how the following patterns can be used within the facility: - Creating spaces that are equal for everyone, drawing back on the idea that a park is a public domain without any segregation. - Adapting both residential and industrial boundaries and merging them through the public park. - Creating work, live and play spaces to emphasise the need to reduce travel distances and costs. - Identifying that with a new development creates density. With Harry Street already being busy throughout the day, the idea was to start using the other streets for vehicular movement. - Allowing people to work from home, views and sense of space can benefit users’ mentality overlooking large farms and facilities to promote work. - Designating the private and public domains within the site and identifying the dead and live spaces. The In&Between 24 Chapter 03 Fig. 3.5 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 80 in ‘A Pattern Language’ Fig. 3.6 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 157 in ‘A Pattern Language’ Fig. 3.2 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 15 in ‘A Pattern Language’ Fig. 3.1 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 13 in ‘A Pattern Language’ Fig. 3.4 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 42 in ‘A Pattern Language’ Fig. 3.3 Author’s drawing adapted from pattern 41 in ‘A Pattern Language The In&Between 25The In&Between 4. CHAPTER 04: FOOD WASTE RECYCLING Chapter 04 26 4.1 What is food waste? 4.1.1 Recycling food waste Food Waste is derived by the idea of food that is discarded but is edible for consumption (Food Waste, 2022). ‘Counting “off-date” disposals, restaurant and food-service waste, and other sources, an estimated 40 percent of all food is thrown away’ (Sweet, 2021). Through the definition, there are benefits of reducing food waste according to Harvard. Below are the benefits: 1. Efficient handling and preparation of food can increase labour cost savings. 2. Buying only what can be consumed and not spending on additional food that will be disposed of. 3. Less food waste allows for less emissions from landfills which overall can reduce the carbon footprint. 4. Efficient management of resources and energy in the process of producing, transporting, growing and selling of the goods. Food waste consists of plant nutrients that have originated from its growing point of agriculture (Chiew et al., 2015). It also consists of other compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and various traces of inorganic material (Paritosh et al., 2017). Specific food waste can be collected in the facility. Commercial composting facilities such as this can include meat and dairy for the composting process (Hughes, 2022). For this facility,‘In- vessel Composting’, the process of mixing food waste with garden waste which can go through a process of shredding and turning with the surrounding conditions monitored. The waste goes through an extensive process of curing to create a new material, compost. The conditions include temperature, moisture content and aeration through In-Vessel Composting Volume Reduction / Pre-treatment Shredders Chippers Biological Treatment Forced Agitation in-vessel CompostOutput Preparation for markets and farming Rotating Drum Composting Packaging Farming Fig. 4.1 In-Vessel Composting, adapted by Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Author 2023 Chapter 04 the composting bins. (EPA, 2023). The advantages of the figure below are faster production days, the process can take place within an enclosed environment, therefore allowing the internal condition to be manipulated all year round. (Technologies overview - in-vessel composting, n.d.) Some disadvantages are listed as constant management to ensure good ratio of mixes, odour issues and high use of water. (Technologies overview - in-vessel composting, n.d.) In saying so, it can be seen that there will need to be certain issues that are addressed within this facility. The In&Between 27 Fig. 4.2 Composting Process, Image available at www.freepik.com, 2023 Chapter 04 4.1.2 Purpose As discussed briefly within Chapter 01: Introduction, the purpose for the food waste recycling facility was to address a huge issue of food waste. South Africa is deeply reliant on the agricultural sector to produce food, however due to loadshedding and increase in demand, the sector cannot keep up with the demands. (BusinessTech, 2023) The idea for this facility is to secure food wastes to create fertiliser through composting of food waste materials. The compost will be used within the urban farm to grow fruits and vegetables throughout the season, and can also be sold from the plant nursery. Overall, the recycling facility can then reduce the total landfills as well as improve the state of Robertsham and accommodating to everyone within the community. The In&Between 28 4.1.3 Architectural Ideas The design and aesthetic of the recycling facility could be that of industrial look consisting of saw- tooth roofs and industrial facades. The idea of the program was surrounded by thick concrete walls with vertical strips of openings, that allow pedestrians to view the contents of the recycling centre but cannot access into the space. The walls will contain a steel sub structure in front of the openings to accommodate for a green wall system. The water collected through drainage can be used to water and maintain the system. The architectural intent was to create a green wall system that blocks out harsh light as well as hide the down pipes dropping from the roof. The saw-tooth roofs act in a way to collect water through its drainage channels and reticulate the water into the water storage collection. An additional aspect of this roof was to allow for solar energy harvesting to be collected its specific angles to maximise the amount of solar energy collected. Within the facility, smells and odours are a big thing to consider and specific ventilation of the smells should be thought about. A reflection on an interview with a recycling specialist was important not only to understand the process but to understand the benefits of recycling. Overall reducing the carbon footprint, less pollution is created, preserving natural resources, and reducing the landfill space which South Africa is running out of. By recycling naturally and for a purpose of reusing, allows new materials such as compost to be created with minimal natural resources. A process reusing what is wasted into something that can help the community (food). It was also important to ensure the food waste is sorted correctly and to ensure other types of materials are included within the recycling sorting area. Concluding from the information gathered, it is clear to state that the following should be taken into consideration for the development of the design: - Composting food waste generated through the community as well as the new development’s market and housing. - The new compost can be sold and used in the facility. - Monitored conditions for the facility - Isolated from the rest of the facility due to smells. - Green wall systems can utilise soil and compost to grow plants. - Due to composting requiring a large amount of water, collection of water becomes important for the facility. 4.2 Reflection on Interview with a recycling specialist: 4.3 Key Ideas: The In&Between Chapter 04 29The In&Between 5. CHAPTER 05: MARKETS Chapter 05 30The In&Between Chapter 05 5.1 What is a food market? By definition, a food market is a space demarcated for sales of food and drinks for on and off-site consumption. (Law Insider, n.d.) ‘Food markets build communities for people, that is, they generate footfall l and bring neighborhoods to life’,(Crespi- Vallbona and Dimitrovski, 2017). Food markets become a hotspot for tourist resources (Crespi- Vallbona and Dimitrovski, 2017). The urban attractions are seeing an increase in the time and money spent by tourists who describe themselves as fans of food markets (Crespi- Vallbona and Dimitrovski, 2017). The spaces depicted in the food markets become a space where local culture becomes an attraction point for the market. This can be achieved by using cultural elements into the food stall designs, hosting cultural events or performances, which allow visitors to engage and interact with different cultures. Therefore, the market becomes a space where first-hand reflection of a specific culture is shown to people outside of that (Crespi- Vallbona and Dimitrovski, 2017). The food market aims at providing a public interaction to the site and increases the number of users within the site. This also benefits the food waste recycling facility. More users, creates more food waste which can be delivered to the recycling centre, therefore creating more compost for the site. Any excess compost not needed for that specific month can be sold in the plant nursery. Essentially as mentioned before the cycle of reuse was implemented to ensure that the production of compost can always be maintained. The market follows a concept of populating the space and to bring attention to the importance of this facility. This facility aims to address local and national issues and was not just a design concept for one specific area, but as a prototype for other suburbs. Markets are key spaces that reduce stress levels and promote social interaction, it allows people to be socially active within this mixed-use development. 5.1.1 Purpose Fig. 5.2 Gare Maritime Food Market, photo unknown, n.d. Fig. 5.1 Chicago Indoor Market, photo by West Side Market, n.d. 31The In&Between Chapter 05 5.1.2 Architectural Ideas As seen in Figures 5.1 and 5.2, the primary elements of markets include circulation (movement), natural lighting, designated areas for resting (pause areas) and seating spaces, which form the key aspects taken into consideration. Natural lighting is a key design driver for the market as it promotes emphasis on the openness of the space. The market’s materials are derived from being open and public hence large glazing and openings with minimal solid materials can be accommodated within this space. Another key point was to understand which spaces overlook the market which start to differentiate public to semi public spaces. Promoting both indoor and outdoor market space to first allow a user to experience the space without actually entering the building. It also promotes an outdoor feature for cars and people passing by to give them a sense of experience from the outdoor market. Circulation poses a big role in the layout of the market. This should consist of primary and secondary routes to move through the direction of the market. The primary routes should lead to the direction of the other programmatic spaces, whilst the secondary routes keep the user in the market space. The colour of materials used internally should be lighter colours, so they can reflect natural light that enters the space. Skylights throughout the market enhances openness and floods the area with natural light, promoting a vibrant and luminous environment for the public. From the information gathered, some key points that are important for the design are as follows: - Natural Lighting is an important factor for market spaces. - Large circulation passages for people to sit and walk should be accommodated in and out of the market. - Indoor and outdoor integration. - Light or exposed brickwork to be used within the market. - Large open area for seating and viewing the facility. 5.2 Key Ideas: 32The In&Between 6. CHAPTER 06: URBAN FARMING Chapter 06 33 Chapter 06 6.1 What is urban farming? Agriculture is the process of growing crops to cultivate for the food industry. Urban farming is defined by performing agriculture within urban areas, where buildings such as commercial and residential sectors exists (StudySmarter, n.d.). Urban farming can include community gardens. This is defined by a space located within parks where maintenance and harvesting is done through volunteers and workers. It provides fresh food for the community. Urban farming is proven to reduce the carbon footprint of the city by absorbing gases such as carbon dioxide (StudySmarter, n.d.). Transportation impacts are addressed once again. Due to food being closer to the consumers, less fuel is used, which overall reduce carbon emissions (StudySmarter, n.d.). Each garden requires planning and maintenance. The communities involvement is required to create jobs and provide food. The improvement of social well-being becomes distinct as the farm provides for the community and creates an upliftment from poverty. The aim of urban farming as stated before was to create an upliftment in food security within Robertsham. A community garden is an aspect where involvement and security can be created within the community. The idea is to create preliminary spots for community growing and separate spaces for the facility. The Figures on the right depict spaces to rent. The purchase includes the involvement to work as a team to ensure the crops grow. A proposal was created with a similar strategy for the community of Robertsham. The facility will provide the space, water and maintenance whilst the community ensures regular checkup, collection and seeds. One issue that came about, was the amount of water that would be required for the urban farm. This is something that was focused on through the design development and is addressed by accumulating as much greywater harvesting as possible for the facility. 6.1.1 Purpose Fig. 6.2 Juel Park Community Gardens, photo unknown, 2022. Fig. 6.1 Master Gardner Community Garden, photo un- known, 2022. The In&Between 34 6.1.2 Architectural Ideas Chapter 06 The In&Between Some ideas that came about were that of a plant nursery. From a case study of Lifestyle Home Gardens, Randpark. This shop was a good example to use as the layout and attraction point to keep the space busy. A industrial envelope with indoor and outdoor plants. The layout and circulation become important for the Urban Farm. Security becomes apparent to ensure that crops and soil do not get stolen from the facility. A proposal for the community gardens to be situated closer to the road whilst the facility gardens are more privatised towards the back end. The urban farm will face north with no obstructions in the way, therefore, providing maximum sunlight throughout the day. Stepping the garden with the natural slope of the topography can improve water usage and catchment on site. Each step can contain a water reticulation to conserve as much greywater as possible. Urban Farming is a key program that helps facilitate the whole development. Below are key points that are important to take across into the architectural intervention of the project. - Spaces for growing food for the community of Robertsham. - Semi-Private Spaces for growing food that are maintained and up- kept by the facility that can be sold in the market. - Private Spaces for growing food between the proposed housing units were utilised as community gardens just for residents. - Using the topography as a way to circulate water movement as well as aesthetics for the farm. - Allowing interaction around the farm for cycling, walking and viewing. - Using openings to view the farm as a way to create security. - Careful thought process on how to collect and store greywater for the facility needs to be considered . 6.2 Key Ideas: 35The In&Between Chapter 07 7. CHAPTER 07: PUBLIC SPACE 36The In&Between Chapter 07 Fig. 7.1 Shibuya crosswalk, Tokyo, Japan photo by Sean Pavone 2020 Section G ‘Public open space – The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide’, states that the purpose of public open space is to support various activities which can take various forms and plays an important part in keeping the community healthy (DHS Section G, n.d.) It then speaks about responding to community needs. ‘All users need to feel safe from crime. The design of public open space should aim to reduce the actual and perceived levels of crime and violence’ (DHS Section G, n.d.) Emphasising the need for development within the demarcated site is recognised through the characteristics of what a public space function should be. The park should therefore create a space that brings back the definition of public space according to the above, as well as mitigate crime and the feeling of unsafety within the area. Bringing back a densified area, can increase the community’s connection, create social interaction, and reduce crime within the site. Public spaces aim to serve the public and connect people socially. (SaferSpaces, n.d.). A public space is accessible to all, creating an equal space for everyone. (SaferSpaces, n.d.). They exist in various forms ranging from open spaces, or enclosed spaces. Public spaces should have three main attributes; safe, well-maintained, and lively (SaferSpaces, n.d.). Figure 7.1 depicts that any space can be a public space. Here is an example of how the designation of vehicular and pedestrian clash with one another . It draws its attention to designing demarcated spaces for the program and the users. 7.1 What is a Public Space? 37 Chapter 07 There are various design considerations outlined within Section G ‘Public open Space – The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide’ as well as Section F ‘Neighbourhood Layout and Structure – The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide’. These guidelines illustrate possible solutions for bettering a public open space. Understanding what is already existing on the site, can be of use to what can be developed. The existing vegetation is utilised to provide shade in the outdoor market and new planting can be used to create passive ventilation Providing distinct access routes for the public to enter into the space created by a set number of nodes for the public. (DHS Section F, n.d.). Due to the park being a long stretch from North to South, utilising the space for architectural intervention can be done. The building therefore aims to provide a sense of direction from public to private from the north to south, whilst the east to west connection follows the same direction of openness. Soft edges and setbacks can be used to create better interaction for the users of the space (DHS Section G, n.d.). Using these soft edges can demarcate entrances and differentiate between public and private. Materiality becomes apparent. Understanding the difference of public to private also justifies the various materials for the spaces. Fig. 7.2 Minhocão Highway into a public space, Sau Paulo photo by Preliminares 2013 7.2 Design Considerations: 7.2.1 Interfaces and Street Edges Fig. 7.3 Car Free NYC: Earth Day - Herald Square, photo by New York City Department of Transportation, 2017 The In&Between 38The In&Between Chapter 07 Understanding what surfaces will be used is essential for the users. Materials for surfaces such as floors, walls roofs, etc., need to be determined to what the advantages and disadvantages of each materials will be. The idea is therefore to design surfaces that are conscious of the WSD (Water Sensitive Design). Vegetation is chosen according to what will be suitable for the location as well as ensuring that vegetation does not require large amounts of water consumption (DHS Section G, n.d.). Vegetation plays a key role to reduce the smells of the surroundings and can be used within the facility to reduce smells from the recycling facility. Predominant movement routes should accommodate ‘pocket’ zones that branch off from the movement route to create pause areas. Multi-functional furniture looks at providing a function for the user and a function for the development. The plan to create multi-functional spaces that allow people to sit and eat products bought from the market as well as overview the spaces. Overall creating fixed retaining walls that can be used for seating. 7.2.3 Surfaces and Vegetation 7.2.4 Public Amenities and Furniture Fig. 7.4 Domino park, privately owned public space, Brooklyn, photo by Barrett Doherty, 2020 Fig. 7.5 Targ Blonie Market, photo by Nate Cook 2022 Due to the close connection of the park to the residential areas as well as understanding interviews, it became clear to design for cyclists. Creating zones within the park for them to ride and park their bikes. Specific areas should be designed according to users such as vehicles and pedestrians to ensure safety across both routes (DHS Section G, n.d.). Accessibility should be taken into consideration for the future facility to provide equal amenities to all. 7.2.2 Movement and Access 39 Reviving the streets plays a crucial role in the new development. Users need to pass through this threshold before accessing the development. The way to open up a facility is to open it fully to street access, inclusive of various activities that can strengthen the opening, pattern 165 (Alexander, Ishikawa, and Silverstein, 1977). The streets of Robertsham require careful attention to reactivate them. Public density can create a lost node of cycling within the area. Street edge businesses can aid to improve edge conditions. Currently, the street edge of the site is used as lunch breaks for workers in the industrial sector as well as workers parking areas. Including their function in the development looks at social seating spaces for lunch breaks which build onto the street edge condition. The site should accommodate various street edge conditions to provide a function of inclusivity for people before accessing the site. What better way to invite a user into a site where they can see ongoing density around the area? Characteristics that play an important role in streets are defined as land use, physical and social qualities. (Mehta and Bosson, 2021). Each quality looks at various factors (Mehta and Bosson, 2021). Factors include; - Seating, - Sidewalk ethics, - Business, - Materiality, - Building articulation, and more. These factors are what determine the density of the street. 7.3 Revitalising Public Streets: Chapter 07 An interview with two architects took place. Through the questions provided, the interviewees’ explained the main goals and purposes of public parks. ‘Public parks should address the need for safe and secure spaces to gather, play and relax outdoors specifically within densely populated cities where most residences do not have access to a private green space.’ (Architect 02, 2023) Utilising public spaces provides a space where people are brought together in an informal environment (Architect 01, 2023). Both architects stated the importance of interventions within public parks to create ‘pockets’ for individuals to enjoy the space through different experiences. If a park is underutilised, it can become derelict and create a criminal activity node. Mixed-use spaces can continue to grow within the park to create physical, cultural, and social activities. Public spaces are important design drivers for all architectural projects. For this site specifically, due to the nature of the site being a public park, the idea is to not take away from what its current use zone is but rather build on top of what it defines and create a better space for the economy and the well-being of the community. 7.4 Reflection on Architects’ Perspective on public parks: 7.5 Key Ideas: The In&Between 40The In&Between Chapter 08 8. CHAPTER 08: SUSTAINABILITY 41 Chapter 08 8.1 Defining Sustainability: Sustainability is a definition that has quite a broad set of rules that it follows. The UCLA Sustainability Committee has defined the definition as follows, ‘the integration of environmental health, social equity and economic vitality in order to create thriving, healthy, diverse and resilient communities for this generation and generations to come. The practice of sustainability recognizes how these issues are interconnected and requires a systems approach and an acknowledgment of complexity.’ (UCLA, n.d.) Figure 8.1 Illustrates the three main categories that create a sustainable development. 1. Society 2. Economy 3. Environmental A breakdown as to what each sustainable factor and how it drives the design development will be discussed. Stated in Chapter 03: Theory, explains the theoretical stand point of socio-economic theory, within in this chapter will look at various components that drive the following factors. Fig. 8.1 Sustainable Development, image by Flaura Shukla, 2020 The In&Between 42 8.1.1 Social Sustainability 8.1.2 Economic Sustainability 8.1.3 Environmental Sustainability Social Sustainability is defined by a measure of one’s welfare (Mohamed and Paleologos, 2021). One of the most important aspects of this theory is ‘Intergenerational equity’ (Mohamed and Paleologos, 2021). Everyone should have the right to shelter, food and water to survive (Mohamed and Paleologos, 2021). Through this reading, there are various factors to take into consideration to promote social sustainability, these include: - Community involvement - Social costs that involve the process of cradle-to-grave - Promoting social organisation improvements and the well-being of communities. - The use of materials that are easy to recycle or the use of natural materials. Furthermore, social sustainability is an aspect that is forgotten in the three components of sustainability (Kandachar, 2014). Resource strain becomes apparent in the everlasting crisis of human population increasing (Kandachar, 2014). This Economic sustainability is a method of conserving resources such as natural and financial to create a long term stability (Indeed Editorial Team, 2022). This draws onto financial implications of new and existing developments. A long term goal to set as a benchmark. By reducing usage of fossil fuels, can lead to less global emissions generated daily. Another version looks at job creations. With South Africa’s unemployment rate being so high. This puts strain on the economy. This facility creates jobs, which has a benefit on peoples lives, and a positive impact on the economy. A sustainable econmy creates a better lifestyle, putting less strain on financial implications. Environmental Sustainability defined by the ‘Sphera editorial team’ states, ‘The responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing, now and in the future’, (Sphera, 2020). The importance to consider and preserve natural resources for the future generations of the world (Patterson, 2022). Zero Waste and Zero net energy are important aspects for environmental sustainability. The United Nations created a set of goals to adhere to achieve a sustainable future. - Clean water and hygiene - Climate reduction - Sanitary life for other species - Responsibility for people on their consumption and production - Sustainable cities and communities Chapter 08 The In&Between creates an issue over the ideas of basic food needs, with the demand for food increasing drastically. 43 Chapter 08 Fig. 8.2 Author’s adapted drawing of double skin facades, 2023 (original image from Arch daily, 2019) 44 8.2.1 Roof System 8.2.2 Wall System Emphasising this chapter and Chapter 03, An important thing to note was sustainability being a big part of this project. With recycling and farming, large amounts of water is used for the process and the idea is to allow greywater harvesting to allow these processes to happen. The following components become important to understand: 1. Roof 2. Walls 3. Floors The roof system is extremely important to understand. What it does and how it functions are questions that need to be answered. A list of requirements are set out to determine the shapes and constructibility of the roof: - Solar panels - Grey water harvesting - Natural lighting - Ventilation Through the requirements, it can be derived by consisting of several Through the development, various wall materials can be used to define the public and private domain. The following wall types can be used: - Green Walls - Exposed face brick - Shopfront walls - Concrete Walls Green Walls: - Allow the facade to intake the feel of a park. - Hide services such as downpipes from being exposed. - Structural steel system can be broken down and recycled - Enhances the interior of the building by allowing cool air to enter. Exposed face-brick: - Utilising clay brick to be exposed - Less maintenance required - Fits in with the surrounding housing - Face-brick can be recycled Shopfront Walls: - Creates a sense of openness - Allowing views and lighting to enter the space 8.2 Design Implementation: Chapter 08 roof systems within the design development. Saw tooth roofs: - Can create ways of allowing south light as well as angled in a way to place solar panels on top of the sheeting. - Allows for management of rainwater to a distinct location - Has a look and feel of industrial - Steel system can be recycled. Green roofs: - Can be used to reduce the heat gain of a building - Aesthetically appealing - Uses rainwater to filtrate and keep the grass from dying - Excess water can be drained and used as greywater - Components within the system can be recycled Glass box: - Allows natural light penetration through spaces - Passive ventilation can occur through the space. - Steel and glass can be recycled after cradle-to-grave. The In&Between 45 Concrete Walls: - Adds structural stability - Good for soundproofing - Pest resistant to prevent vermin from entering the recycling facility. 8.2.3 Floor System Fig. 8.3 Green wall sub facade, by SemperGreenWallOut- door, n.d. (sempergreenwall.com) Fig. 8.4 Green roof, photo by Josephine Chan (Green roofs. com, 2010) The Floor systems are what users walk on. It becomes a way of separating different thresholds inside and outside of buildings. Various materials for the floor systems can be utilised: - Brick paving - Stone paving - Concrete flooring - Soil and grass Brick Paving: - Easy to walk - Easy installation - Ages with greenery sprouting through the gaps Stone Paving: - Can be used as features - Threshold placements Concrete Flooring: - Internal use support heavier loads Soil and grass: - Mimic what is existing, - Allows for green spaces The In&Between Chapter 08 46 Understanding the diverse components of the social facility is paramount. this facility aims to implements strategies that that address these aspects (list aspects) this enhances development throught the following sustainable methods (list them), which moves beyond environmental sustainability. the design approach explores how architectural design can enrich communities through multiple programmes. food production, food sales, compost sales, where users waste is kept, and processes on the facility, and recyled, creating a cyle of resource utilisation. 8.3 Conclusion:An exploration of sustainability was done to understand second skin facades. Figure 8.3 illustrates a green wall system connected through a steel sub-frame structure. Second skins are useful ways of creating passive design strategies as well as creating sustainable options. As seen in Figure 8.2, the advantages of a second skin create a barrier for air and heat to rise up through the building. Not only does it provide an opportunity to have a second skin from the main building but also allows for a sustainable impact on top of a new façade. The double skin façade diagrams illustrated look at how passive ventilation systems can work (Souza, 2019). Additionally, these can be incorporated into green walls to cool down the heat that travels through these paths. Similarly, services need to flow vertically through service cores and then distribute them onto every floor. Downpipes can be hidden behind the green wall to hide away the outlets. Chapter 08 The In&Between 47The In&Between 9. CHAPTER 09: CONTEXT, CONCEPTS & ECOLOGY Chapter 09 48 Chapter 09 9.1 Urban Context: Fig. 9.3 Traffic and busy zones 4 pm, Author 2023Fig. 9.2 Traffic and busy zones 12 pm, Author 2023Fig. 9.1 Traffic and busy zones 8 am, Author 2023 The In&Between 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial 49The In&Between The diagrams represented in Figures 9.1-9.3 look at which streets are busy to identify a central node of access. Due to the building being a food recycling centre, a drop off space for users’ food waste would be required. Identifying a road that is not busy throughout the day can be the point of interaction for a vehicle entrance. Not only does it prevent traffic build-up on the Harry Street, but it also enables the less busy streets to become safe and prevents crime within these areas as there will be more cars that travel on quiet roads. As seen in the Figures, a conclusion can arise that the south west of the site will be the best position to create circulation for vehicles, and to include a new road that runs along the south boundary. Furthermore, a new road may be implemented along the south of the boundary line to create a quick access to drop off food waste and then get back on to Harry Street. Schools are situated in close proximity to the proposed site, allowing children to use this facility as a waiting space. This serves as a safe spot for children with cameras as well as vision from surrounding buildings and the new development on the site. Chapter 09 The space can then serve as the pedestrian waiting zone on the east of the site where the predominant public domain is positioned. 50 Chapter 09 Fig. 9.4 Genius Loci, Author 2023 9.2 Actual Site 9.2.1 Genius Loci An emphasis on the scale of people compared to the buildings is utilised. This illustrates the importance of the public space around the site and concludes with the public space being the priority of this project. The people are the importance of this project and it became significant in Figure 9.4 where it created the focal point around people and movement. The building’s form manipulates the site to create a constant flow of movement and accessibility through the site. The project focuses on a space that is characterised by three features; Live, Work, and Play. Food Recycling is a factor that not only aids in helping communities with waste management but also allows people to learn the importance of recycling. The facility creates a densified space to gather, learn and explore. Houses Legend Parks Apartments Other Service Buildings Manufacturing Retail Suppliers & Business Restaurants Recreational Mine Dump Medical Schools The In&Between 51 Fig. 9.5 Noise zones, Author 2023 Chapter 09 The car noises depicted in Figure 9.5 identifies temporary noise vs permanent noise. Seen on the west of the site, there is minimal noise and a facility located in the west zone would not be ideal for the neighbouring buildings. With Harry Street situated adjacent to the east of the Site, allows for an opportunity to create a facility that responds to the road and industrial zone. The space can be as tall as the industrial zones to almost create an emphasis on the new development that is situated in the public park. Viewed as a gateway that weaves the two zones together. Car noise is almost always temporary. The conclusion through this drawing determines where the access points should be referring back to Chapter 3 literature review, ‘A Pattern Language’ to determine how to address street edge conditions, safety, movement, and exploration through materials. The site presents itself as the centre of both schools located in the district and therefore will provide space for children to play after school and on the weekends. 9.2.2 Problems and Opportunities The In&Between 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial 52The In&Between Chapter 09 Fig. 9.6 Ecological zones in Robertsham, Author 2023 The green spaces are located along a strip that creates a boundary through the centre of Robertsham. The public park is a stretch of 1.5km from north to south that serves no function currently. This was explained in Chapter 2 from interviews with community members. Through the 75 years of establishment, the park has remained the same with minor interventions being created on the northern park. The space located, deemed to be an ideal spot to create an architectural intervention. It lies directly in line with the industrial zones as well as the residential network of roads connected through one another. It provides easy access from Harry Street for people driving past. Taking into consideration that the architectural intervention occurs on a public park, the idea is to minimise the amount of trees demolished and work around the areas where there is planting. Therefore the building will set back from the east edge and accommodate a access zone that runs along the edge. 9.2.3 Green Spaces 0 10 40 100m Legend: Residential Parks Industrial Schools Commercial 53 Chapter 09 Fig. 9.7 Physical and Social Sustainability, Author 2023 The graphs represented above focus on key factors in achieving sustainable design. Physical sustainability looks at methods that can assist the building post-construction to ensure that the design uses natural environmental systems to create a positive impact on the building. Social sustainability focuses on creating a safe and equal space in the heart of Robertsham as well as connecting both industrial and residential sectors. 9.3 Physical and Social Sustainability: C onsum ption vs Prod uctionSu st ai na bl e C om m un ity Efficient D esignEc ol og ic al U se The In&Between 54 Chapter 09 Fig. 9.9 Climatic Conditions in Robertsham, Author 2023 Fig. 9.8 Summer and winter wind rose diagrams, Adapted from, Laban, T. (2021) ‘Approval and Control’, Author 2023 The average summer temperature for Johannesburg based on data gathered from 1991 to 2020 is roughly less than 22 degrees Celsius (Laban, 2021). Having a high of 28 degrees Celsius and a low of 16 degrees Celsius over summer (Laban, 2021). During winter, the average temperature is 10-12 degrees Celsius with a high and low of 18-20 and 3-5 degrees Celsius respectively (Laban, 2021). The climatic conditions gave the author an understanding as to how typologies of the development should be orientated according to the quantitative information gathered on sun and wind. Passive design strategies can benefit a building. Orientation and placement are important to understand for my building. Essentially if the main development is situated on the East of the site it blocks out the east wind. The food waste recycling centre can be situated south containing south light entering into the space. The public facilities will be situated north allow natural light entering into the space and a large open farm on the north to north west edge will be designated for the urban farm. 9.4 Climate, Micro-climate, and Comfort: The In&Between 55 Chapter 09 Residential Commercial Industrial Social Farming methods Recycling Methods Food Waste Delivery Recycling, Arranging, storing, crushing, curing etc Selling and Using Growing Storing and Selling Food Marketing Exhibition & Creative Use Crafting and building Community Methods Social Involvement Learning and experimenting Buying and Selling within Market Fig. 9.10 Project’s Objectives, Author 2023 9.5 Concepts: 9.5.1 Building Objective The In&Between 56 Chapter 09 Fig. 9.12 Basic understanding of community involvement and development outcome, Author 2023 Housing Re cr ea tio na l The building objectives look at several aspects of the community from a local and regional scale. Figure 9.12 illustrates the requirements from the community to achieve the architectural development. Figure 9.11 breaks the site down into various factors and programs of which spaces are important for this development. The Recycling facility looks to recycle food and organic waste provided by the community. A composting process will break down the material with additives such as nitrogen and carbon-rich materials to create an output of fertiliser. The overall cycle is as follows: 1. Food waste is dropped off and collected from the community, social housing, restaurant and market spaces. 2. The waste is then broken down through crushing and turning and later cured to create compost. 3. The compost can be sold in the plant nursery as w