m i n i [ t h e s i s ] b o o k

 

THEORY OF DESIGN [FIVE] - A PROTOTYPE INCUBATING FACILITY THAT INCLUDES RESEARCH ROOMS, GROWING UNITS AND A PUBLIC INTERFACE

 

[2013] The Apies River is the main natural element running through Pretoria, yet Pretoria being set out according to Graaff-Reinet and an ideal ‘City model’ that was accepted by the specific culture of an area, has made the river unappreciated. Certain city orders and structural principles were implemented for a specific city identity. The city models represent certain ideals to strive towards to determine how the city will be experienced. The idea revolved around a center and the periphery; the cross, diamond and the spiritual ritual symbol, ‘mandala’. A mandala consists of a center point surrounded.

 

by a square with four gates contained within a circle. It was considered an ideal layout and is visible in the built Pretoria, but for it to be a great city, the ecological surroundings had the final shaving of the layout. The Apies River followed the movement of the sun; referring to birth and death. It became the main source of water and a barrier between CBD and the east of Pretoria. “However, recent official plans ride roughshod over these established placemaking aspects. The daydreams of a few city planners may turn out to be the nightmare of a whole city.”

(Jordaan G. J., 1989)