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a cultural infusion | the celebration of collective difference[s] in contemporary south africa

Part 2 Project 2004
Tshego Moiloa
Vanik Nicolas Margossian
 University of Cape Town | South Africa
Q What is it to celebrate a collective culture of difference in contemporary South Africa?

A latent utopia that exists in our world; Post Apartheid South Africa.

Exploring a language of architecture responding to this disjointed reality of contemporary was the journey I chose for which I still find myself. The site is located at a major point of cultural interchange- Cape Town, CBD station. Each model was made of a different material; each drawing represented using different medium. Intentional as difference and disequilibria of conventions were the motivation that transformed the site, institution and place into 'a festival'.



this investigation interrogates the prospect for architecture at the heart of the apartheid city.
as an outsider tshego has identified cultural difference as the new commons, and speculated upon a fieldwork to heighten collective experience. the insertion of an unfamiliar terrain with critical programmes establishes a network of spaces. their architectural formalisation creates a fluid surface of places to encourage urban encounters.
in re-imagining the forecourt of the central station, this project reconfigures the stereometricity of the contemporary urban order, affording a condition wherein radical difference may co-exist.
this is the challenge for space in the so-called post modern condition.
Tutor(s)
2004
[4]A contested terrain: burdened with competing demands and a continuing tension between high expectations and limited resources.
[5]Network: site relationships with existing places of culture.
[8]Transformation: towards a program of activity. A look at what exists on site at different times of the day.
[9]Disequilibria: program disturbed and fragmented. A collapse of a state of mind to liberate and engage in intellectual culture. Readjusting the lens.
[10]Reconstructing the urban landscape: links with existing mall to establish a base to layer the terrain. Past. Present. Roots. This shows the transitional plan at base of centre.
[11]Sculpted urban landscape: Fragments to facilitate horizontal circulation and markets. The neutral landscape that allows manipulation on a site with historical incidence.
[12]Cultural weave: the upper floor. On enters into the realm of anonymity represented through elements of cultural diversity: music, dance, gallery and knowledge.
[14]Transparency: the urban carpet is stitched without interference from the surrounding.
[15]A catalyst is born
[16]The organs: that give life to the forming infusion to be fuelled by the diversity on site
[18] The landmark: the building becomes a gem in the rough. Fractal facades give identity to the building and ultimately it’s users.
[19] Rooted: designed to be built close to the major route into the city, gives it an innate sense of belonging (human scale).
[20]Superimposition!! Re configuring the station forecourt.
[21]At night it illuminates…at a corner where one both enters the street and is most accessible to all cultural activities,
[3] Dispersed: belonging to and held together by a global network of meaningful places
• Page Hits: 5436         • Entry Date: 03 September 2004         • Last Update: 03 September 2004