studioATdenver.blogspot.com
Vertical studio between Ndip03 and Mtech01
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE – July 2014
BACKGROUND
Aformal terrain (AT) is a collaborative and collective architecture/urbanism/landscape laboratory which closely engages with complex urban conditions. AT focuses on integrating resources and skills towards promoting awareness and generating appropriate responses to the context of rapidly changing and often unstable contemporary urban phenomena. This approach is underpinned by people-driven methodologies for engagement, research, design responses and planning strategies. AT directs this purpose to three areas of action:
Aformal terrain (AT) is a collaborative and collective architecture/urbanism/landscape laboratory which closely engages with complex urban conditions. AT focuses on integrating resources and skills towards promoting awareness and generating appropriate responses to the context of rapidly changing and often unstable contemporary urban phenomena. This approach is underpinned by people-driven methodologies for engagement, research, design responses and planning strategies. AT directs this purpose to three areas of action:
Teaching-and-Learning
To generate an awareness of varying urban conditions at multiple scales ranging from regional, through neighbourhood, to specific people groups. This action relies on trans-disciplinary collaborative exchange with the aim of leading to well-informed and achievable plans that assist and support community-led development. An imbedded intention here is to further inform current professionals, settlement residents, local/city officials and current students (future professionals) about the nuances and complexities of participatory processes through immersive, real life projects (studios).
To generate an awareness of varying urban conditions at multiple scales ranging from regional, through neighbourhood, to specific people groups. This action relies on trans-disciplinary collaborative exchange with the aim of leading to well-informed and achievable plans that assist and support community-led development. An imbedded intention here is to further inform current professionals, settlement residents, local/city officials and current students (future professionals) about the nuances and complexities of participatory processes through immersive, real life projects (studios).
Awareness-and-Knowledge
Strongly tied to teaching-and-learning processes this action is underpinned by the co-production of
knowledge and information through collective and mutual exchanges. This process identifies two main
sources towards the production of relevant and useful knowledge:
1. Existing Data – sourcing, analyzing and sharing current data about the specific area of work/study.
This includes; local upgrade plans (at city level), National upgrade plans (NUSP and the like), Global
references and tools (investigating ‘Global South’ relationships and networks).
2. Local Knowledge – identifying collective community plans and objectives through discussions and
exchange with local residents. This process aims to build on local knowledge with the aim of drawing
connections between bottom-up and top-down processes.
Real Projects
AT intends to cultivate long-term sustainable relationships with the networks generated through the teaching-and-learning studios. Real Projects refers to this intention - to identify potential roles for professionals and spatial practitioners through on-the-ground collaborative processes – assisting community action plans and governmental upgrade plans through providing relevant spatial and design services fitted to contexts of informal settlements.
AT intends to cultivate long-term sustainable relationships with the networks generated through the teaching-and-learning studios. Real Projects refers to this intention - to identify potential roles for professionals and spatial practitioners through on-the-ground collaborative processes – assisting community action plans and governmental upgrade plans through providing relevant spatial and design services fitted to contexts of informal settlements.
The use of the term ‘Aformal’ frames a critical investigation (immersion) into complex spatial, social,
cultural, economic and physical urban scenarios as an ‘in-between’ condition, or terrain. This direction
is rooted in working with, and, within urban informal settlements with a focus on incremental in-situ
upgrading and organic urban growth – interrogating current polarised definitions of the ‘formal’ and
‘informal’, and the often confused interpretations between legality and illegality.
Each Studio (project, exhibition, publication etc) is aimed at identifying and interconnecting multiple role-players (actors). This occurs through an immersive, collaborative and co-produced process of engagement, establishing a platform to enable trans-disciplinary exchange and capacitation, consequently activating public, private and community joint efforts.
This trajectory of critical engagement builds on methods and intentions developed through earlier formative collaborative platforms; informalStudio: Ruimsig (2011)i and informalStudio: Marlboro South (2012)ii. The core underpinnings, purpose and relevance of AT stems from and builds on the development of, and involvement in, these preceding studios.
Each Studio (project, exhibition, publication etc) is aimed at identifying and interconnecting multiple role-players (actors). This occurs through an immersive, collaborative and co-produced process of engagement, establishing a platform to enable trans-disciplinary exchange and capacitation, consequently activating public, private and community joint efforts.
This trajectory of critical engagement builds on methods and intentions developed through earlier formative collaborative platforms; informalStudio: Ruimsig (2011)i and informalStudio: Marlboro South (2012)ii. The core underpinnings, purpose and relevance of AT stems from and builds on the development of, and involvement in, these preceding studios.
AIMS
The course aims to engage students (and lecturers/teachers) of architecture in a site-specific actual
situation in which the outcomes will be identified in collaboration with settlement residents with the
intention to assist such existing communities, via existing processes, to improve their living conditions
and spatial environments.
The following intentions lead this engagement:
The following intentions lead this engagement:
Do no harm
Work ethically and sensitively in precarious spatial environments and human settlements. Respect and acknowledge the value of settlement residents in processes of research and design.
Work ethically and sensitively in precarious spatial environments and human settlements. Respect and acknowledge the value of settlement residents in processes of research and design.
Encourage awareness
With a focus on generating useful knowledge to inform and capacitate self-made (grassroots) change, involving students, lecturers, residents, professionals and local governance.
Interrogate assumed roles and definitions of spatial practitioners in a South African context.
Generate responsive ways of working within spatially chaotic and unequal scenarios.
With a focus on generating useful knowledge to inform and capacitate self-made (grassroots) change, involving students, lecturers, residents, professionals and local governance.
Interrogate assumed roles and definitions of spatial practitioners in a South African context.
Generate responsive ways of working within spatially chaotic and unequal scenarios.
Work collaboratively
Work in partnership with organised community groups, thus building on local community knowledge and objectives.
Collectively identify necessary ‘outcomes’ (with residents, NGOs, Local Gov).
Initiate and support long-term relationships.
Work in partnership with organised community groups, thus building on local community knowledge and objectives.
Collectively identify necessary ‘outcomes’ (with residents, NGOs, Local Gov).
Initiate and support long-term relationships.
Tie into existing processes
Identify and assist on-the-ground initiatives already in motion (current upgrades, clean-ups etc). Track, effect and inform governmental policies and/or initiatives in place. (NUSP, DoHS).
Assist local organisations with community focussed processes (Utshani, ISN)
Identify and assist on-the-ground initiatives already in motion (current upgrades, clean-ups etc). Track, effect and inform governmental policies and/or initiatives in place. (NUSP, DoHS).
Assist local organisations with community focussed processes (Utshani, ISN)
Investigate and develop emerging methodologies
Strategically employ and develop current and emerging methods of working in informal settlements: Re-blocking, in-situ incremental upgrading (catalytic acupuncture), adaptive occupation/ appropriation/conversion (eg. converted warehouses), community action planning etc.
Strategically employ and develop current and emerging methods of working in informal settlements: Re-blocking, in-situ incremental upgrading (catalytic acupuncture), adaptive occupation/ appropriation/conversion (eg. converted warehouses), community action planning etc.
The course takes place over 7 weeks as a vertically and horizontally integrated studio, linking 3rd and
5th year students (and teaching staff), in a focussed engagement with the community of Denver,
Johannesburg. The studio pursues both practical and theoretical methodologies (conceptual and
pragmatic) and possible outcomes. This curriculum is driven by community-based planning towards a
collection of highly responsive and co-produced ‘community action plans’. These action plans will
investigate short, medium and long term planning scenarios.
The studio recognises the settlement residents and community groups/organisations as both clients and partners. It is intended that the studio galvanises relationships with local active NGOs (CORC & uTshani) already underway with community-focussed processes on site, as well as NUSP (the National Upgrading Support Programme) and the ISN (informal Settlement Network). Denver is well located in the proximity of a number urban nodes, transport, trade and industry (among others). For this reason the studio AT Denver aims to make linkages with Denver as an informal settlement well situated in a City of Johannesburg sub-region (Region F). Identifying and working with/within Region F development plans, priorities and constraints could assist further exchange with ISN toward identifying well located learning centres within urban informal settlements, with Denver exhibiting potential as a site for on-going learning and exchange.
The course allows for students, teachers and practitioners – as valuable contributors – to engage real- life people-driven process of development. A core principle of this studio is that teaching-and-learning takes place through the action of doing and that collaborative work between the field (the context) and the studio (university) encourages strong linkages between theory, practice and research.
In addition to the above, the course aims to bring awareness to the broader housing crisis facing South Africa and the potential role that architects and spatial practitioners can play as responsive professionals toward this challenge. Furthermore the studio intends to assist in the capacitation of students, residents and stakeholders through meaningful exchange.
The studio recognises the settlement residents and community groups/organisations as both clients and partners. It is intended that the studio galvanises relationships with local active NGOs (CORC & uTshani) already underway with community-focussed processes on site, as well as NUSP (the National Upgrading Support Programme) and the ISN (informal Settlement Network). Denver is well located in the proximity of a number urban nodes, transport, trade and industry (among others). For this reason the studio AT Denver aims to make linkages with Denver as an informal settlement well situated in a City of Johannesburg sub-region (Region F). Identifying and working with/within Region F development plans, priorities and constraints could assist further exchange with ISN toward identifying well located learning centres within urban informal settlements, with Denver exhibiting potential as a site for on-going learning and exchange.
The course allows for students, teachers and practitioners – as valuable contributors – to engage real- life people-driven process of development. A core principle of this studio is that teaching-and-learning takes place through the action of doing and that collaborative work between the field (the context) and the studio (university) encourages strong linkages between theory, practice and research.
In addition to the above, the course aims to bring awareness to the broader housing crisis facing South Africa and the potential role that architects and spatial practitioners can play as responsive professionals toward this challenge. Furthermore the studio intends to assist in the capacitation of students, residents and stakeholders through meaningful exchange.
Despite the on-going backlog of the state’s formal housing delivery, the upgrading of informal
settlements (as defined by the DoHS) and the communities residing within these, is seen as one of
SA’s key National Delivery Targets. Yet the National Upgrade Support Programme (NUSP), tasked to
assist Government ‘to improve basic infrastructure, services and land tenure for 400 000 households
in well-located informal settlements by 2014’, is still facing a shortage of suitably qualified
professionals and officials regarding:
Diagram of Denver Settlement areas to be confirmed at public meeting on Tuesday Evening
OUTCOMES
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Meaningful community engagement around collaboratively identifying needs, challenges and
existing expertise and processes through collective efforts of immersive observation and
exchange.
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Analysis of community action plans (CAPs) in direct response to their immediate condition,
needs and means, then combining these CAPs with strategies employed by more formal
processes of infrastructural and housing delivery.
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Development of rigorous frameworks for adaptive settlements, self-made improvements and
future change.
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Co-designed strategies for small scale, allowing people to adapt ‘delivered’ responses more
suited to specific needs, challenging current professional or state definitions of housing.
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Production of architectural and urban strategies founded in rich collaborative efforts
investigating; density, economy/ies, spatial scenarios, systems, adaptability and programmatic
complexity.
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The studio thus aims to expose students to process-oriented methods of participative planning,
shifting the focus from product (delivery) to alternative approaches (responses).
For the provision of basic shelter to lead to healthy, integrated neighbourhoods, the planning of new
settlements and the re-blocking of existing ones need to be guided by robust urban frameworks which
help structure the richly complex growth typical of the informal settlement. Architects working in
collaborative constellations can offer real value through their ability to integrate both the intimate
(domestic) scale as well as the overall (settlement) scale. Yet in the absence of appropriate training
and methodological approaches this potential remains largely unfulfilled and likely to remain so unless
academia engages more directly and proactively with real world needs and demands. This course
attempts to do just this.
(excerpt from general course outline informalStudio: Marlboro South, June2012)
attempts to do just this.
(excerpt from general course outline informalStudio: Marlboro South, June2012)
CONTEXT
Denver is a light industrial zone located along the eastern edge of a broader industrial belt spanning the southern extent of Johannesburg’s CBD. It sits adjacent to the historic east/west gold mining axis (known as the ‘main reef’). This industrial belt (buffer) is embedded into the surrounding urban fabric, simultaneously woven and disconnected by multiple forces: mine dumps, railways, arterials, freeways and storm water channels. Over the past 15 years residual industrial lots and open spaces have become appropriated as living environments affording well located shelter within the inner city.
Denver Hostels and other surrounding settlements emerged, accompanying the city’s development, to accommodate migrant workers arriving in the city, controlled by previous apartheid planning approaches. The numerous hostels in the broader township vary dynamically in terms of spatial and social conditions. Such differences are largely informed by management and leadership. Denver (township/informal settlement) contains minimal established residential areas within its confines – The closest larger established (‘formal’) residential suburb is Malvern East, to the North. Other nearby townships include; Benrose and Jeppestown to the east, City Deep and Heritodale to the south and Gables to the east.
The larger Denver area sits well connected to various mobility lines; the M2 motorway, Main Reef road, The railway line (Denver and Tooronga stations closeby) and taxi routes. From this is can be considered an area with high levels of accessibility, mobility and visibility. Through these well developed transport networks and as an industrial node offering employment, many people transit the CBD and surrounds en route to jobs in Denver and surrounding industrial areas. Denver can be considered as both a regional destination and transit point taking the provision of employment and other services (manufacturing, motor repairs etc.) into account.
The fabric of Denver comprises of mainly older industrial stock, many of these large factories and warehouses are disused. The area developed rapidly from 1920-1940 and much of the disuse is due to the fact that most buildings are now either unsuitable or less competitive for contemporary industrial uses.
Denver is a light industrial zone located along the eastern edge of a broader industrial belt spanning the southern extent of Johannesburg’s CBD. It sits adjacent to the historic east/west gold mining axis (known as the ‘main reef’). This industrial belt (buffer) is embedded into the surrounding urban fabric, simultaneously woven and disconnected by multiple forces: mine dumps, railways, arterials, freeways and storm water channels. Over the past 15 years residual industrial lots and open spaces have become appropriated as living environments affording well located shelter within the inner city.
Denver Hostels and other surrounding settlements emerged, accompanying the city’s development, to accommodate migrant workers arriving in the city, controlled by previous apartheid planning approaches. The numerous hostels in the broader township vary dynamically in terms of spatial and social conditions. Such differences are largely informed by management and leadership. Denver (township/informal settlement) contains minimal established residential areas within its confines – The closest larger established (‘formal’) residential suburb is Malvern East, to the North. Other nearby townships include; Benrose and Jeppestown to the east, City Deep and Heritodale to the south and Gables to the east.
The larger Denver area sits well connected to various mobility lines; the M2 motorway, Main Reef road, The railway line (Denver and Tooronga stations closeby) and taxi routes. From this is can be considered an area with high levels of accessibility, mobility and visibility. Through these well developed transport networks and as an industrial node offering employment, many people transit the CBD and surrounds en route to jobs in Denver and surrounding industrial areas. Denver can be considered as both a regional destination and transit point taking the provision of employment and other services (manufacturing, motor repairs etc.) into account.
The fabric of Denver comprises of mainly older industrial stock, many of these large factories and warehouses are disused. The area developed rapidly from 1920-1940 and much of the disuse is due to the fact that most buildings are now either unsuitable or less competitive for contemporary industrial uses.
RELEVANCE
The following themes have been identified as key concepts for the studio. Each theme has a potential scale and timeframe considerations i.e. short-medium-long term strategies at dwelling scale, interface scale, system scale, settlement scale, regional scale etc.
SPATIAL JUSTICE
Developing a grounded and critical understanding of ‘on the ground’ realities with, and for, the residents. This understanding is aimed at promoting spatial justice through social, economic, political and physical factors as influences in aformal scenarios.
HUMANE ENVIRONMENTS
Settlements that promote sustainable and equitable dwelling (living) through social, economic and communal opportunity through the planning for; improvement of systems, spaces and places that allow equitable co-existence.
A focus on housing, services and healthcare.
SCENARIO PLANNING
The co-production of visions, action plans and joint objectives towards short, medium and long-term potentials. Community action plans as mobilising elements for spatial justice and humane environments.
Within each of these key themes the following (more quantitative and qualitative) considerations have been identified as sub-focuses: (Note: a diagram of this matrix will be included in the studio info pack)
CONTEXT
- scenario typologies (open lot, walled stand, residual space, unused, abandoned, vacant)
- narratives (culture, heritage, history)
- community/ies (leadership and people groups)
SPATIAL/PHYSICAL/SOCIAL
- wellbeing/healthscapes
(A rhizomatic healthscape is defined as non-fixed health provision which minimises obduracy (inflexibility) and follows open building theory (Habraken), and extending it to design scales around and above architecture.)
- lifestyle
- shared space (public, common, open)
The following themes have been identified as key concepts for the studio. Each theme has a potential scale and timeframe considerations i.e. short-medium-long term strategies at dwelling scale, interface scale, system scale, settlement scale, regional scale etc.
SPATIAL JUSTICE
Developing a grounded and critical understanding of ‘on the ground’ realities with, and for, the residents. This understanding is aimed at promoting spatial justice through social, economic, political and physical factors as influences in aformal scenarios.
HUMANE ENVIRONMENTS
Settlements that promote sustainable and equitable dwelling (living) through social, economic and communal opportunity through the planning for; improvement of systems, spaces and places that allow equitable co-existence.
A focus on housing, services and healthcare.
SCENARIO PLANNING
The co-production of visions, action plans and joint objectives towards short, medium and long-term potentials. Community action plans as mobilising elements for spatial justice and humane environments.
Within each of these key themes the following (more quantitative and qualitative) considerations have been identified as sub-focuses: (Note: a diagram of this matrix will be included in the studio info pack)
CONTEXT
- scenario typologies (open lot, walled stand, residual space, unused, abandoned, vacant)
- narratives (culture, heritage, history)
- community/ies (leadership and people groups)
SPATIAL/PHYSICAL/SOCIAL
- wellbeing/healthscapes
(A rhizomatic healthscape is defined as non-fixed health provision which minimises obduracy (inflexibility) and follows open building theory (Habraken), and extending it to design scales around and above architecture.)
- lifestyle
- shared space (public, common, open)
SYSTEMS/NETWORKS- opportunity
- services
- mobility
- ecological/ies
- hierarchies (tribal, leadership etc)
INTERFACES/THRESHOLDS - access, permeability, codes
- opportunity
UNDERCURRENTS/THREATS - community knowledge
- surrounding conditions
ASPIRATIONS/PERCEPTIONS - community objectives
- long-term engagement
- services
- mobility
- ecological/ies
- hierarchies (tribal, leadership etc)
INTERFACES/THRESHOLDS - access, permeability, codes
- opportunity
UNDERCURRENTS/THREATS - community knowledge
- surrounding conditions
ASPIRATIONS/PERCEPTIONS - community objectives
- long-term engagement
- governmental objectives (city, national)
PRACTICALITIES
In the aim co-identifying specific necessary outputs (through collaborative efforts with residents) we
are fortunate to engage multiple motivated and skilled people currently working in the context of
Denver settlement. Of considerable value is the ISN and the potential long term relationship working
towards well located informal settlement learning centres within a broader intention of mobilising
people in efforts towards humane and sustainable living conditions and achieving increased security of
tenure.
As previously mentioned above CORC (Community Organization Resource Centre) and uTshani are NGOs which are part of this partnership and committed to integrating the academic and developmental agendas of the course.
In conversation with above organisations, and through collaborative pre-course discussions with community leadership several areas on site have been identified for investigation under the key themes outlined above. The class will be split into 12 groups with approximately 7 members each. Each group will partner with two or more residents of Denver settlement as designated ‘community planners’. Groups will be designated by lecturers and each group will include one 5th year student.
An info pack containing further background and relevant base information as well as templates for documentation is being compiled and will be issued to each group during the first week.
As previously mentioned above CORC (Community Organization Resource Centre) and uTshani are NGOs which are part of this partnership and committed to integrating the academic and developmental agendas of the course.
In conversation with above organisations, and through collaborative pre-course discussions with community leadership several areas on site have been identified for investigation under the key themes outlined above. The class will be split into 12 groups with approximately 7 members each. Each group will partner with two or more residents of Denver settlement as designated ‘community planners’. Groups will be designated by lecturers and each group will include one 5th year student.
An info pack containing further background and relevant base information as well as templates for documentation is being compiled and will be issued to each group during the first week.
Diagram of Denver Settlement areas to be confirmed at public meeting on Tuesday Evening
OUTCOMES
An imperative principle of this studio is that all outcomes must be equitable for, and co-produced by,
both the university (UJ) and the community (residents of Denver). The process of engagement needs
to be of relevance to residents and affiliated organisations (ISN, CORC, uTshani) in their pursuit of
improving living conditions. Further to these intentions the studio argues, through these processes,
that sustainable and equitable development is generated through participative processes in
which professionals and spatial practitioners partner and collaborate, not as the decreed
experts but by engaging with residents as rightful experts of their own living conditions.
Students and teachers are hereby called to develop insights and concepts through processes of
listening, observing and collaborating.
The engagement of UJ in this process is welcomed by the leadership representing the settlement of Denver, as it can begin to articulate the potential of the area in meeting the current community’s needs. Outcomes need to demonstrate the short term as well as long term improvements that can be achieved by working together with residents. The material generated will be used by residents to pro-actively demonstrate to the city what spatial, social and economic possibilities exist based on a bottom-up approach.
Under the assumption that the formal housing subsidy will at some point be coming to an end, and the difficulty around access and provision of basic services (healthcare included), potential studio outputs may include proposing the feasibility of a number of incremental and mixed use typologies for future development.
The engagement of UJ in this process is welcomed by the leadership representing the settlement of Denver, as it can begin to articulate the potential of the area in meeting the current community’s needs. Outcomes need to demonstrate the short term as well as long term improvements that can be achieved by working together with residents. The material generated will be used by residents to pro-actively demonstrate to the city what spatial, social and economic possibilities exist based on a bottom-up approach.
Under the assumption that the formal housing subsidy will at some point be coming to an end, and the difficulty around access and provision of basic services (healthcare included), potential studio outputs may include proposing the feasibility of a number of incremental and mixed use typologies for future development.
By studying the broader spatial fabric (including public interchanges, higher order services, urban
nodes, movement and circulation patterns), existing Spatial Development Frameworks (at multiple
levels; city, municipal, national), and accessing local knowledge and objectives through collaboration,
the specificity of ‘outputs’ will be co-defined through communication between all role players –
residents, students, lecturers, professionals, NGOs, ward councilors, etc.
Through conversation with community leadership and guidance from CORC it is foreseeable that
these agreed outputs should include the following as base outputs:
- Accurate measured figure ground (clearly showing inhabited and open space)
- Actual land-use map (indicating multiplicity of uses and programmatic complexity)
- Urban locality and nodal map (indicating linkages to nearby nodes, interchanges, etc.)
And could include the following as agreed co-produced outcomes:
- Existing planning and upgrade overview (catalogue document of relevant RSDFs etc)
- Community action plan (proposing/investigating multiple scenarios linked to key themes above,
toward short, medium and long term strategies)
The co-produced outputs should demonstrate rhizomatic responses – developing
theoretical/conceptual investigations related to critical urban and spatial theory, and working towards
more pragmatic methods and definitions of ‘rhizomatic’ responses for aformal terrains.
Students will be encouraged to think about designing responses (systems) which could be less fixed
and inflexible than existing provision, more open and flexible, and ultimately more successful in
resistance to forces of unequal spatial production which prevent appropriate improvement in a rapidly
globalising, increasingly connected world.
The above possible outputs also intend to contribute to a better understanding of Denver as a well
located urban informal settlement, as well as co-producing a strong developmental vision for the
settlement situated within the larger context of Region F.
Further to the above required and suggested outputs (as hard copy elements) student groups are
tasked to initiate a live cataloguing process via blog interfaces. The group blogs will be utilized for
cross group discourse allowing access to up to date information as the process unfolds. These
collections of emerging/raw information will be utilized when strategising CAPs and for post-course
refinements of info towards medium and long term intentions. There will be a ‘home’ blog address for
the studio where group URLs will be listed along with any updates and helpful information regarding
the studio programme.
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course should enable students to
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Comprehend current methodologies of working within informal settlements
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Identify and adapt current relevant urban and spatial theory specific to context
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Analyse an existing urban condition and its structures through on-site measuring and
documentation
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Understand the purpose and relevance co-produced action plans and strategies
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Engage and collaborate productively with residents as clients and partners
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Understand density and its different iterations
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Generate and illustrate responsive and appropriate architectural and urban strategies
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Build study models at 1:500, 1:200, 1:50, 1:20
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Engage in the debate on the sustainable housing challenge and provision of services
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Communicate to and format a presentation accessible to a general audience
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
Participation and Immersive collaboration (field work)
Students will learn through observation of a specific context through the act of drawing, walking, interacting, observing, discussion and exchange. These processes (acts) of exchange hinge on meaningful community engagement and discussions with multiple stakeholders (residents, leadership, CBOs, NGOs etc).
Studio / Design work
A process driven methodology of design-as-research (design-led research) will encourage the design and strategic projection of co-produced strategies, illustrated through the actions of drawing and model making. Deliverables for each week will be further clarified during the process and explained as the studio progresses. Along with active participation, these emergent deliverables have to be met in order to benefit from this course.
Students will learn through observation of a specific context through the act of drawing, walking, interacting, observing, discussion and exchange. These processes (acts) of exchange hinge on meaningful community engagement and discussions with multiple stakeholders (residents, leadership, CBOs, NGOs etc).
Studio / Design work
A process driven methodology of design-as-research (design-led research) will encourage the design and strategic projection of co-produced strategies, illustrated through the actions of drawing and model making. Deliverables for each week will be further clarified during the process and explained as the studio progresses. Along with active participation, these emergent deliverables have to be met in order to benefit from this course.
COLLABORATION
This studio builds as a continuation of informalStudio, a multidisciplinary platform that pools resources
and skills on in-situ teaching, research and actual projects located in complex urban conditions.
(www.informalstudio.co.za).
It is intended that that this studio establishes a long term collaborative partnership between the University of Johannesburg, Department of Architecture and the Denver community and other stakeholders to the area.
Studio AT Denver, Johannesburg 2014 is made possible through collaboration with:
It is intended that that this studio establishes a long term collaborative partnership between the University of Johannesburg, Department of Architecture and the Denver community and other stakeholders to the area.
Studio AT Denver, Johannesburg 2014 is made possible through collaboration with:
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University of Johannesburg
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Denver Community Leadership
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1to1 Agency of Engagement
-
CORC – Community Organisation Resource Centre
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uT shani Fund
-
ISN - Informal Settlement Network
-
BOOM Architects
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Further collaborators to be invited and confirmed during the process
Studio coordinators:
Alexander Opper [Senior Lecturer & Coordinator of MTech Architectural Technology (Prof)]
Claudia Morgado [3rd Year Lecturer & Partner at BOOM architects]
Eric Wright [3rd Year Coordinator, Lecturer & Partner at BOOM architects]
Key collaborators:
Jhono Bennett [3rd Year Lecturer & Director 1to1 Agency of Engagement]
Philip Astley [Fellow, The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London]
Staff:
Jason Frenkel (Lecturer: Construction - ATC311)
Finzi Saidi (Lecturer: Landscape - ALS311)
Ken Stucke (Lecturer: Studio Work - ATS311)
Gregory Katz (Lecturer: Design Technology – MADT19X)
Suzette Grace (Lecturer: Design Theory – MAAT19X)
Tom Chapman (Lecturer: Urban Design – MAUD19X)
Tariq Toffa (Lecturer: Research Methodology – MARM19X)
Christo Vosloo (Lecturer: Professional Practice – MAPP19X)
Critical Friends:
Motebang Matsela (CORC)
Alexander Opper [Senior Lecturer & Coordinator of MTech Architectural Technology (Prof)]
Claudia Morgado [3rd Year Lecturer & Partner at BOOM architects]
Eric Wright [3rd Year Coordinator, Lecturer & Partner at BOOM architects]
Key collaborators:
Jhono Bennett [3rd Year Lecturer & Director 1to1 Agency of Engagement]
Philip Astley [Fellow, The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London]
Staff:
Jason Frenkel (Lecturer: Construction - ATC311)
Finzi Saidi (Lecturer: Landscape - ALS311)
Ken Stucke (Lecturer: Studio Work - ATS311)
Gregory Katz (Lecturer: Design Technology – MADT19X)
Suzette Grace (Lecturer: Design Theory – MAAT19X)
Tom Chapman (Lecturer: Urban Design – MAUD19X)
Tariq Toffa (Lecturer: Research Methodology – MARM19X)
Christo Vosloo (Lecturer: Professional Practice – MAPP19X)
Critical Friends:
Motebang Matsela (CORC)
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