Thoughts on writing and design

The act of blogging (or writing) can play an important part in the design process. 
I consider the blog post's not only as a means of publicizing and presenting my work, but also as a tool to harmonize, clarify,express  and synthesize my thoughts...(to myself and whoever reads).

Writing as an expressive tool is similar to making a sketch, or a model, in order to see (understand) an idea better. And the same way the sketch may not always be of a complete, or "fully resolved" design, it's role is hard to get rid of. For myself it tends to be the case with writing as well. 

Spatial Explorations in Fietas.. (2015 Thesis)

In the same way a visual representation, diagram or sketch is able to express what words cannot, these also fall short, and thoughts expressed in words become relevant. These tools, together with others, working together, have been quite a help in the process of design. 

Thesis process video submission

A video submission of the current thesis process. There was a strict 4-minute restriction to summarize the overall narrative of the thesis process upto this stage of the project. 

A starting point. Levels of intervention and healing

The socio-spatial wounds of Fietas may be viewed as existing at varying scales. Thus opportunity exists to intervening at different scales. 

Intervening at varying scales may be considered as a multi-level treatment to the spatial woundedness. Through considering the built environment in terms of levels, as well noting the various agents that are active on those levels enables one to also place oneself in the relevant position to intervene. 

While the city of Johannesburg has an overall vision for the city, setting the guidelines (such as the corridors of freedom development) for the levels below, for the sake of this project, the delimitation of intervention are within the neighbourhood scale of Pageview and Vrededorp.

 A starting point

The public realm, the shared spaces of the neighborhood of Fietas is the starting point for intervention in healing the socio-spatial wounds. This refers to the shared spaces at a neighbourhood scale. 

Whilst being on major routes to and through the city, the neighbourhood is not programattically benefiting from that proximity. These are factors are all seen as opportunities in seeking to design towards a sens of spatial balance and well-being, healing the spatial wounds of the neighborhood. 

The demolished sites that remain also hold potential in being redeveloped and offer opportunities for new spatial and programmatic interventions relevant to the context. These also hold opportunities to capture and spatially represent the rich history of the neighbourhood.  

Neighborhood Framework

In considering the notion of “comprehensive” treatment, a multi-layered approach is adopted in the proposals at an urban scale.

Among these layers include the first stages of development taking place within the major routes of Fietas (8th, 14th and 17th street moving from East and West,, as well as Krause, De-la-rey and Solomon Street from North and South). These major routes frame smaller “sub-neighbourhoods” within Fietas which all bear a unique and distinct character, while also serving as linkages.

Developments meeting at an intersection provide opportunity for mixed use developments, The intersection on 8th Street and Krause street is where one finds opportunity for intervention.

The process of healing a wound

In considering the notion of “Healing” the socio-spatial wounds of Fietas, one considers the idea of healing as a process.  Healing may be understood as meaning to restore something to a sound, stable condition (Webster). 

In the experience of a deep wound, the sking undergoes an autonomous process of healing and restoring itself. To facilitate this natural process of the skin healing itself, and to ensure greater success at restoration, various catalysts are used. 

Catalysts such as band-aids, plasters, casts, stitching, ointment, etc are used not necessarily due to any healing properties they inherently have, but rather because of their catalytic effect to fast-track the body’s natural systems of healing. These catalysts bear the largest effect in the first stage of healing, (Hemostasis) in which the body reacts to stop blood loss and begin repairing the skin. 

The notion of healing may be considered as a metaphore to describe the response to the socio-spatial woundedness existent in Fietas. In responding to the socio-spatial wounds in Fietas, architecture may be considered as a catalyst to facilitate the healing process.

In instances of severe physical wounds, the resultant trauma calls for relieving not just the physical wounds, but the psychological effects of the wounds also. A comprehensive healing approach is thus followed in such instances, to deal with the long terms effects. 

Comprehensive healing refers to a multifaceted, systematic appraoch to dealing with the results of a variety of health issues, from substance abuse, to cancer. The notion of comprehensive healing may also be borrowed as a metaphor, in referring to an approach to healing that attempts to go further than the surface of a condition, but also the resultant effects thereof. 

Focused Design intention

After the spatial exploration exercises, I decided to take a bit of a step back to focus my overall design intention more. While I found myself responding on a number of various things things, I had not yet fixed on one overall design intent, which was making it slightly difficult to progress. 

From the exercises, I considered what was driving the various decisions being made. 

Substance abuse and it's impacts in Fietas.  

From the number of site visits and interaction with residents at the Jan Hofmeyer community center, as well as through an unscripted documentary on the neighborhood, I found that substance abuse has been a contributing factor to the various difficulties in Fietas. 

Responding to this condition has been a major driver in the intent to explore how architecture can respond to the social opportunities. 

I consider what are some of the major causes behind some issue of substance abuse in Fietas. Understanding that architecture may not necessarily be the solution to all the problems of the neighbourhood, 

I considered which of the contributing factors have spatial implications (Orange dots). This is where I see opportunity for intervention. 

One of the major cause of the substance abuse, both in Johannesburg and in Fietas in particular is largely due to what is termed "Post-apartheid Woundedness." This was supported by an article I read on the subject of Youth “Woundedness” and the substance abuse crises in South Africa. Below are a few quotes from it:

"While there are many factors contributing to this state of affairs (generally), we must apportion some of this to the “woundedness” of our nation, post – apartheid...

Substance abuse is a national crisis threatening the very fabric of our society. In responding to this crisis, we need to address our “woundedness”."

Youth “Woundedness” and the substance abuse crises in South Africa – A contribution towards understanding this “Wicked” Problem! - Jerome September, Youth Connector at the Citizens Movement

What became particularly interesting with Fietas is that the "woundedness" (caused by the demolitions under the apartheid group areas act) caused not only the social woundedness, but it is also very evident spatially.

Socio-spatial woundedness in Fietas, the scars of the apartheid demolitions of the 1970's

The "social woundedness" that exists in Fietas (substance abuse, crime etc) is very related to the what caused the "spatial woundedness" (decay, void spaces) also. The scars that remain are not only emotional scars, but also spacial.

The demolitions which took place drastically altered the condition of the previously thriving, multiracial neighborhood.

A bit of Fietas, before the demolitions of the 1970's

These considerations, in getting a better understanding of the real nature and cause of the substance abuse ni Fietas, as well as its related conditions, helped focus the design question in arriving at a relevant architectural intervention:

In considering this question, I look to address the spatial woundedness found in Fietas, in view of the fact that it is also associated with some of the social conditions found in the neighborhood.

I consider the intervention metaphorically as being a catalyst: In the same way a bandage doesn't necessarily heal a wound, but is necessary to facilitate the body's natural process of healing,

This idea is to be explored further.