01 Introduction
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
01_INTRODUCTION People are drawn towards cities for the of public space in cities. Free access to economic, social, cultural and recreational public space is a democratic right. This opportunities that they offer. These facili- right is infringed by privatization of public ties should be accessible to all users of the space that gives private owners the right city (Dewar & Uitenboogaardt, 1991:16). to deny access and to exclude groups of Lively cities are rich in experiences and people. Many existing public spaces have have many opportunities and public spac- been privatized as a result of being unsafe es that allow people to interact with one and underutilized. another (Gehl, 1987:23). Pretoria is a slow, empty city in desperate need of revival. Its public squares lack the This study will investigate the regenera- qualities of good public spaces that draw tion of an existing public square in the people to them, and that allow people to city of Pretoria, through its connection linger and socialize. Public spaces in the with the State Theatre, situated next to city are underutilized and empty, but they the square. It will explore the importance hold the potential to function as a system of public space in any city and methods of great public spaces that can offer the design to increase social interaction and city a unique identity, and make it a world experience in public spaces. It further ex- class destination. plores the creation of spaces for public performance and events. Lillian Ngoyi Square, situated next to the State Theatre in the Pretoria CBD, has long PROBLEM STATEMENT been a large, harsh, unused space. This Public spaces are what make cities live- site, which once held the Pretoria Market able and memorable. They are an es- Hall, is now a hard concrete surface that sential part of any community as a place provides little opportunity for seating, of interaction and exchange. There is social interaction and viewing its sur- international concern about the future roundings. The square is one of the city of II Pretoria’s most important public spaces. these opportunities are often funded by An urban design proposal will be made for Workshops have been held to find design the resources of the wealthy. The intro- the larger site, but due to time constraints, solutions to the problems, but no solu- duction of commercial and cultural ac- more focus will be given to smaller urban tions have been implemented. The city tivities to the square could provide visitors design elements and the architectural so- of Pretoria plans to transform the square and regular users of the city with opportu- lution (an architectural intervention that into a cultural marketplace. However, this nities for employment and recreation. could attract more users to the site). plan does not include the redesign of inac- tive edges of the square or physical barri- A desired outcome of this investigation ers around it, and therefore does not offer is an architectural solution that could RESEARCH METHODOLOGY a realistic solution to the problems of the enhance social interaction and encour- This project evolved from a concern about square. age public performances, meetings and the number of underutilized spaces in the events. The architecture might provide city of Pretoria. The chosen site presented This study investigates the making of place city users with a safe environment in much opportunity for redevelopment and in a contemporary South African city. It which to interact and socialize. Such an was selected as the focus of the study be- presents an in-depth investigation of the outcome could contribute to improving cause of its location and dire condition. history and context of the site, as well as the image and identity of the Pretoria CBD Data about the site was collected through its current problems, uses and condition. as a destination city. observation during site visits, interviews The theoretical component of the study with people involved with the site and sur- investigates the importance of public rounding buildings, historical documenta- spaces and squares in a city and the fac- PROJECT AIMS: tion (maps, newspaper articles, historical tors that contribute to the making of good • Create a platform for social interac- photographs and literature about Preto- public space. It then attempts to apply tion in the city of Pretoria. ria), archival research and photographic these theories to the redesign of Lillian • Increase usage of Lillian Ngoyi Square documentation. The data collected pro- Ngoyi Square. by providing new attractions that are vided a basis for analysis of the site and its linked to the State Theatre. current problems. South Africa exists in a westernized soci- • Extend the theatre experience into ety which abides by western rules of civi- the square, thereby giving all city us- Architectural and Anthropological theories lization; it finds itself at the Southern tip ers the opportunity to participate in of use and construction of public space of Africa, as a country that is neither truly and enjoy public performance art. were examined and will be presented in “Western”, nor truly “African”. Due to • Improve access to Lillian Ngoyi square the theoretical argument, which deals oral culture and the adoption of western and new facilities and improve link- with the characteristics and production of design principles by “African” architects, ages to surrounding areas. successful public space. A study of inter- very little has been written about “Afri- • Design for the needs of both local us- national public squares and buildings with can” concepts of space and culture. While ers and visitors. related functions and contexts was un- theories discussed are mainly Western • Improve comfort on the Square. dertaken by studying plans, photographs theory, it is the belief of this author, that • Provide a facility that could act as an and descriptions of these buildings/spaces the principles discussed can be applied in- attraction for International tourists to and, in some cases physical observation ternationally. the city of Pretoria. by the author. • Strengthen the new identity of the The study considers a number of similar city as proposed in the Urban Devel- The information collected was used to for- projects that have been successfully im- opment Framework (see Appendix mulate a design solution that will be pre- plemented. It will compare conventional A). sented towards the end of this book. uses of public space with more contem- porary examples, and offer an alternative LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY view of public space as an urban theatre. Lillian Ngoyi Square is a large site with many problems. This study will not pre- Dewar & Uitenboogaardt (1991:21) state sume to solve all problems that the site that positive urban areas provide easy ac- presents, but provide an alternative view cess to opportunities and public facilities of the problems it holds, and a possible to both the rich and the poor, even though solution to some of these problems. III VAN DER WALT STREET PRINSLOO STREET VERMEULEN STREET CHURCH STREET CHURCH SQUARE PRETORIUS STREET PRETORIUS SQUARE BURGERS PARK Fig. 2.1. PAUL KRUGER STREET LILLIAN NGOYI SQUARE 25°44’48”S 28°11’36”E AFRICA GREATER TSHWANE AREA Fig. 2.3. Fig. 2.2. TSHWANE JOHANNESBURG PRETORIA 2.4.Fig. SOUTH AFRICA GAUTENG PROVINCE 2 02_CONTEXT Around the same time, thought was given According to an article in the Beeld (8 Lillian Ngoyi Square is situ- to the erection of an Opera house in Pre- October 1995) citizens of Pretoria com- ated on the city block between Pretorius, toria. It was then decided that a new the- plained that the square seemed “harsh” Van der Walt, Church and Prinsloo Streets. atre had to be built, and the site next to and “cold”. The article describes inten- The site belongs to the State Theatre. The the proposed Strijdom Monument would tions of the city council to “liven up” the first market place in Pretoria was Church be the ideal site for such a large theatre square by introducing circular paving pat- Square, which was then known as Mark because of its location in the city. terns and new planters. The large con- Platz (Market Square). Paul Kruger Street crete dome collapsed on the day of the was called Market Street when the town Demolition of the Market hall began in July 29th anniversary of its unveiling (31 May was first laid out (STATE THEATRE, 1981). 1966 to make way for the construction of 2001), taking with it, a large part of the the State Theatre and a large public under- slab on which it stood. According to Hook The first market shared the square with ground parking garage that would accom- (2005:26), it was the 40th anniversary of the church. But with the growth of the modate 1500 cars. Around the same time “Republic Day”, which marked the day that town, the space in front of the old church of the commission of the State Theatre, South Africa left the Commonwealth to became too small for a market to be held a new head office for the Volkskas bank continue its pursuit of racial segregation. here. In 1889 Mr. J.D. Celliers was ap- (now known as the ABSA building) was The bronze bust crashed into a 10m deep pointed to erect a market building on a commissioned on the south-western cor- hole and split in two. A local newspaper site to the east of Church Square (the site ner of the same city block. heading stated that this would leave “a currently known as Lillian Ngoyi Square). The Strijdom monument was unveiled on large hole in the tourism industry”. Initially, the structure was confined to the 31 May 1972, Republic Day.