ADAPTING TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ARCHITECTURE: AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY HUB FOR MOSHUPA VILLAGE, BOTSWANA by Mareko Marcos Gaoboe Submitted in partial fulfi lment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia July 2011 © Copyright by Mareko Marcos Gaoboe, 2011 DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE The undersigned hereby certify that they have read and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for acceptance a thesis entitled “ADAPTING TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ARCHITECTURE: AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY HUB FOR MOSHUPA VILLAGE, BOTSWANA” by Mareko Marcos Gaoboe in partial fulfi lment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture. Dated: July 6, 2011 Supervisor: Advisor: External Examiner: ii DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY Date: July 6, 2011 AUTHOR: Mareko Marcos Gaoboe TITLE: ADAPTING TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ARCHITECTURE: AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY HUB FOR MOSHUPA VILLAGE, BOTSWANA DEPARTMENT OR SCHOOL: School of Architecture DEGREE: MArch CONVOCATION: October YEAR: 2011 Permission is herewith granted to Dalhousie University to circulate and to have copied for non-commercial purposes, at its discretion, the above title upon the request of individuals or institutions. I understand that my thesis will be electronically available to the public. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither the thesis nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s written permission. The author attests that permission has been obtained for the use of any copyrighted ma- terial appearing in the thesis (other than brief excerpts requiring only proper acknowledge- ment in scholarly writing), and that all such use is clearly acknowledged. Signature of Author iii CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................viii 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background on Botswana ......................................................................................1 1.1.1 The Physical Environment ............................................................................1 1.1.2 Population and Economic Linkages..............................................................2 2.0 Socio-Economic Conditions ........................................................................................4 2.1 Overview of the Constraints ..................................................................................4 2.2 Limited Access to Education and Training .............................................................4 2.3 Agriculture-Decline in Interest and Low Productivity .............................................6 2.4 Mass Unemployment .............................................................................................8 2.5 Worsening Poverty And Differential Inequalities ....................................................9 2.6 Mass Rural- Urban Migration ..............................................................................10 2.7 Rural Decay .........................................................................................................10 3.0 Principles Learned As Opportunities To Community Economic Development ..........13 3.1 Conservation And Rehabilitation; Rejuvenating Rural Hope ...............................13 3.2 Capacity Building and Reconciliation: Reconstructing the Rural Society ............13 3.3 Infrastracture and Human Development ..............................................................15 3.4 Youth And Women Empowerment: Connecting The Disconnect .........................16 3.5 An Educated And Informed Nation: A Take On Vision 2016 Pillar .......................18 3.6 Environmental Sustainability, Land Use, Policy Implications and Planning Regulations ................................................................................................................20 4.0 Area of Study .............................................................................................................23 4.1 Urbanization Process ..........................................................................................23 4.2 Socio-Cultural Traditions: Understanding Village Patterns, Settlement Forms and Structures ...........................................................................................................26 4.2.1 The Village Structure ..................................................................................26 4.2.2 Kgotla/The Village Ward .............................................................................27 4.2.3 Lolwapa/The Compound.............................................................................34 4.2.4 The Dwelling/Hut ........................................................................................36 iv 4.3 Transformation from Tradition to Modern: An Overview ......................................39 4.4 Summary of Lessons Learned: Adapting to a Socio-Economic Transformation ..42 5.0 A Case of Moshupa Village ........................................................................................44 5.1 Location ...............................................................................................................44 5.2 Rainfall, Temperature, Wind ................................................................................44 5.3 A Short History of Moshupa .................................................................................44 5.4 Population and Economic Linkages ....................................................................45 5.5 The Village Structures and Current Infrastructure ...............................................47 5.6 Emerging Issues and Their Impacts Towards Sustainable Development ............49 6.0 Thesis Motivation .......................................................................................................52 6.1 Thesis Question ...................................................................................................54 7.0 Design .......................................................................................................................55 7.1 The Site and Area of Infl uence ............................................................................55 7.2 Site Strategies: Applying Principles Learned to the Site ......................................59 7.2.1 Overall Formal Expression .........................................................................59 7.2.2 Local Labour, Skills, Technology and Eco-friendly Materials ......................60 7.2.3 Hierarchical Spaces, Permeability and Dynamic Thresholds .....................60 7.2.4 Elevated Built Form ....................................................................................61 7.2.5 The Roof Strategy ......................................................................................61 7.3 Design Philosophy: Proposed Development and Building Programs ..................63 7.4 Workshop Building ...............................................................................................70 7.5 Administration Building ........................................................................................78 7.6 The Lowered Integrated Courtyard ......................................................................79 7.7 Productive Community Gardens & Retaining Walls ............................................84 7.8 Pavilion for Monuments and Water Features ......................................................85 7.9 Onsite-Care Taker Residence .............................................................................85 8.0 Innovation and Sustainable Strategies ......................................................................89 8.1 Furniture Design, Tool Bank Resource ................................................................89 8.2 Sustainable Design Strategies ............................................................................90 9.0 Conclusion .................................................................................................................94 9.1 Potential Growth and Future Development .........................................................94 9.2 An Opportunity for Innovation and Tourism Development in Moshupa Village ....95 v 9.3 Re-thinking Rural and National Development Approach? ...................................96 9.4 Making all Ends Meet: Inclusion of Youthful Populace at All Levels ....................98 9.5 Engaging Architects in a Larger Discourse ..........................................................99 References ....................................................................................................................101 vi ABSTRACT The thesis explores the role of Architecture in enhancing a sustainable rural livelihood in Botswana. Moshupa village is analyzed and assessed to create an alternative, self-sus- tainable model for rural development that can add value to the local economy, by fostering self-reliance, capacity building and empowerment. Through the design of an Integrated Community Hub for Moshupa, the thesis attempts to embrace the changing dynamics of a village. It explores strategies that would inject life into the village making it a desirable place for younger generations and women to live,