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Re-Presenting Groote Schuur: of Exploring Phenomenological Notions in Architecture and Landscape

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Re-Presenting Groote Schuur: of Exploring Phenomenological Notions in Architecture and Landscape Town Cape of University Re-presenting Groote Schuur: Exploring Phenomenological Notions in Architecture and Landscape Thaufir Davids The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgementTown of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Cape Published by the University ofof Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University Town Cape of University Project Information Re-presenting Groote Dissertation Name: Schuur: Exploring Phenomenological Notions in Architecture and Landscape Student’s Name: Thaufir Davids Student Number: DVDTHA006 Supervisor’s Names: Professor Jo Noero (First Semester) Associate Professor Nic Coetzer Rob de Jager Francis Carter (Second Semester) This dissertation is presented as part fulfillment of the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town Town “I hereby: 1. Grant the University free license to reproduce the above dissertation in whole or in part, for the purpose of research. 2. Declare that: Cape • The above dissertation is my own unaided work, both in conception and execution, and that apart of from the normal guidance of my supervisors, I have received no assistance. • Except as stated below, neither the substance or any part of the dissertation has been submitted for a degree in the University or any other university. • I am presenting the dissertation for examination for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)” Plagiarism Declaration University 1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend that it one’s own. 2. I have used the Harvard convention for citing and referencing. Each contribution to and quotation in, this dissertation from the works of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced. 4. This dissertation is my own work. 5. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work. Signature: Date: i Town Cape of University Acknowledgements With sincere thanks to my supervisors; Jo Noero, Nic Coetzer, Rob de Jager and Francis Carter, for their invaluable advice, critisism and input as well as the CoCT for their financial support. Town Cape of University iii Devil’s Peak Town Cape of University Rhodes Zoo UCT Figure 1. 1:10000 Orthophoto of the Groote Schuur upper estate, the University of Capetown and Devil’s iv Peak. The saturated portion marks the site of the old Rhodes Zoo. Photo manipulation by the Author, 2013 Town Cape Figure 2. A model of the landscape’s topography, of highlighting the manipulation of the ground plain to Abstract form the platforms for the enclosures This dissertation is about the re-presentation and the terrain, mapping the histories and topographic changes appropriation of a contrived culturally manipulated landscape, that have shaped the site. the decaying and neglected site of the old Rhodes Zoo. The richness and complexity of these devices comes It uses the phenomenological notions of boundary, from being essentially relevant to the site, as adjectives and horizon, transparency and memory to re-appropriate the site maps describing its variations, measuring its slopes, noting its as a literal and metaphoric gateway, a park and an experience. inflections and underlining its folds. While their complexity, While the project attempts to appropriate the landscape like that of the landscape, means they cannot be described into a park, it does so neither byUniversity demarcating or restricting solely in terms of their function or syntax: strolling, respite its surface, nor by gardening or loading it with anything or leisure. superficially related to the programme or convention of an The project, always careful to stimulate the visitor’s urban park. attention and signal various strata rather than materialise Instead, as an acknowledgement of the landscape’s inherent them, engages the landscape’s phenomenal memory. Thanks complexity, the project utilises familiar archetypes; the wall, to the project’s articulations, the landscape of the zoo site, steps, a pergola etc., to reconstitute the site through the act although barely touched by the project, is transformed into a of describing. It is a strategy which depends on articulating generative metaphor of its own substrate. The single univocal differences between the familiar and unfamiliar, and making ground plane of the existing site is changed into an active the variety of layers inherent in a site legible and resonant. terrain. Endowed with a certain depth through transparency The project attempts to execute architectural gestures and dignity as an instigator of the architectural process, the which are complex or generative in a metaphoric sense but landscape is converted into a vehicle for the imagination of the attainable with limited means. Their simplicity and familiarity site-seers who adventure there. gives each archetype a powerful tectonic, material and poetic presence. While each element strikes a specific relationship to v Town Cape of University Contents Project Information i Acknowledgements iii Abstract v Table of Figures viii Preface 1 Introduction: Heterogeneous Landscape 3 Tamed with a Fist: a brief background to the estate and zoo parklands 4 Architectural inquiry: 7 • The conversation metaphor 7 • Phenomenal Memory: Descombes and the Park of Lancy 8 • However, 10 • Mapping the land with/in and out 11 • On Spiral Jetty 12 Architectural proposition: 13 • Rhodes Zoo, the landscape as a gateway 13 • Expanding the horizon 14Town • A transparent landscape 15 • Reinterpreting the axis 17 • Materiality 18 The Archetypes Cape 19 • The running path and jetty 20 • The speed-bump and pedestrian-crossing of 21 • The roofed terrace 22 • The platform and wall 23 • The footpath 24 • The window 25 • The pergola 26 • The bridge and boundary 27 • Program: the DPW, SANParks and lion enclosure 29 Conclusion University 35 References 37 Annexure: Park of Lancy Case Studies 39 1. tunnel-bridge 39 2. riverside pathway 40 3. linear machines 41 vii Town Cape of University List of Figures Figure 1: Authors own, 2013 IV Figure 2: Authors own, 2013 V Figure 3: Authors own, 2013 1 Figure 4: Authors own, 2013 4 Figure 5: Ommanney, S., 2012. Lacuna: Groote Schuur Zoo. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape 5 Town, Centre for Curating the Archive, p. 37. Figure 6: Ommanney, S., 2012. Lacuna: Groote Schuur Zoo. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape 5 Town, Centre for Curating the Archive, p. 74. Figure 7: Authors own, 2013 6 Figure 8: Marot, S., 2003. Sub-Urbanism and the Art of Memory. London: AA Publications. p.75 8 Figure 9: CoCTGroote Schuur Zoo site redevelopment proposals. 1991. Cape Town: City Council. p. 19 9 Figure 10: CoCTGroote Schuur Zoo site redevelopment proposals. 1991. Cape Town: City Council. p. 19 10 Figure 11: Authors own, 2013 11 Figure 12: Casey, E. S., 2005. Earth-Mapping: Artists Reshaping Landscape. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 12 23) Figure 13: Authors own, 2013 13 Figure 14: Authors own, 2013 14 Figure 15: Authors own, 2013 15 Figure 16: Authors own, 2013 16 Figure 17: Authors own, 2013 17 Figure 18: Authors own, 2013 18 Figure 19: Authors own, 2013 1`8 Figure 20: Authors own, 2013 19 Figure 21: Authors own, 2013 Town 20 Figure 22: Authors own, 2013 21 Figure 23: Authors own, 2013 22 Figure 24: Authors own, 2013 22 Figure 26: Authors own, 2013 23 Figure 27: Authors own, 2013 Cape 24 Figure 28: Authors own, 2013 25 Figure 29: Authors own, 2013 of 25 Figure 30: Authors own, 2013 26 Figure 31: Ommanney, S., 2012. Lacuna: Groote Schuur Zoo. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape 27 Town, Centre for Curating the Archive, p. 11 27 Figure 32: Authors own, 2013 28 Figure 33: Authors own, 2013 29 Figure 34: Authors own, 2013 29 Figure 35: van der Merwe, 2007, http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvdmerwe/355123326/in/photostream/ (Accessed: 27 July 2013) Figure 36: mallix, 2008, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mallix/2632974625/sizes/o/in/photostream/ (Accessed: 27 30 July 2013) University Figure 37: Theatre for Africa, 2008, http://theoldzoo.blogspot.com (Accessed: 15 September 2013 31 Figure 38: Marot, S., 2003. Sub-Urbanism and the Art of Memory. London: AA Publications. p. 61 37 Figure 39: Marot, S., 2003. Sub-Urbanism and the Art of Memory. London: AA Publications. p. 77 38 Figure 40: Marot, S., 2003. Sub-Urbanism and the Art of Memory. London: AA Publications. p. 71 39 ix Town Cape of University Town Cape Figure 3. Sketch of two lions playing, by the of Author, 2013 Preface For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with a potential site for the breeding and reintroduction of the the extinct Cape mountain lion, the Cape’s only indigenous species. lion and one of the largest ever species. The idea of a large I developed an odd affection for the landscape; a sort beast, which freely roameAd the mountainside, captivated to of love-hate relationship. I think it is because it had been me. I have been gripped by how today’s built environment the lions’ old stomping ground and the site of the first lion- would have to engage with this animate other, something more settler encounters, leading to a bounty being placed on their than human and untameable. head and ultimately their extinction. This sparked my interest Late last year, while studyingUniversity for my honours degree, I in the landscape, which I have chosen to engage with for my came a across a story about the late John Spence, previously the dissertation. head of the Tygerberg Zoo, and his search for what remained of the Cape lion species.
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