Architecture as a Means of Upliftment in South Africa, post-apartheid
HATA 4
Essay
October 2011
Architecture as a Means of Upliftment in South Africa, post-apartheid
Introduction
The end of Apartheid allowed for “new ways of describing public institutions” according to Jo Noero, in an interview for the Small Scale, Big Change exhibition. And as a result, architecture can be seen as a means of cultural upliftment in post-apartheid South Africa. So the question is, how does architecture affect social change and identity in this country? This a two-fold question. This essay will look to address this question, in an analysis and comparison of Jo Noero’s Red Location Museum in Port Elizabeth, and the Alexandra Heritage Centre in Johannesburg. We will start with a brief history of apartheid, and the sites, to put the buildings into context. Followed by a look at the purposes and concepts of the afore mentioned buildings. From there, we will address the structure and materials and go into an analysis and comparison of the buildings, ending off with the buildings in the present day.
History
South Africa’s entire history is plagued with issues and tensions over ethnicity. This is evident all the way back to the early 1620s when the Dutch and English used the Cape as their stopover point, and began to colonise, forcing the native people (such as the San and Khoikoi) from their homes, and claimed the land for themselves. Battling for land and ownership between the Dutch and the English went on for many, many years, resulting in events such as the Boer War. In 1910, South Africa became a member of the British Commonwealth, with both parties sharing power. By the 1920s, the Nationalist Party grew in strength resulting in them finally coming into power, and the start of apartheid in 1948. Apartheid resulted in many things, but the most important factor was that of segregation of races, and classification. Different races were given different social areas, occupations and areas to live. The years to follow were full of
Essay
October 2011
Architecture as a Means of Upliftment in South Africa, post-apartheid
Introduction
The end of Apartheid allowed for “new ways of describing public institutions” according to Jo Noero, in an interview for the Small Scale, Big Change exhibition. And as a result, architecture can be seen as a means of cultural upliftment in post-apartheid South Africa. So the question is, how does architecture affect social change and identity in this country? This a two-fold question. This essay will look to address this question, in an analysis and comparison of Jo Noero’s Red Location Museum in Port Elizabeth, and the Alexandra Heritage Centre in Johannesburg. We will start with a brief history of apartheid, and the sites, to put the buildings into context. Followed by a look at the purposes and concepts of the afore mentioned buildings. From there, we will address the structure and materials and go into an analysis and comparison of the buildings, ending off with the buildings in the present day.
History
South Africa’s entire history is plagued with issues and tensions over ethnicity. This is evident all the way back to the early 1620s when the Dutch and English used the Cape as their stopover point, and began to colonise, forcing the native people (such as the San and Khoikoi) from their homes, and claimed the land for themselves. Battling for land and ownership between the Dutch and the English went on for many, many years, resulting in events such as the Boer War. In 1910, South Africa became a member of the British Commonwealth, with both parties sharing power. By the 1920s, the Nationalist Party grew in strength resulting in them finally coming into power, and the start of apartheid in 1948. Apartheid resulted in many things, but the most important factor was that of segregation of races, and classification. Different races were given different social areas, occupations and areas to live. The years to follow were full of
References: Red Location Findley, L (2005) Building Change: Architecture, Politics and Cultural Agency, London, Routledge