Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
School for the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
ENPAT, a ten-year research programme contracted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and arguably one of the most comprehensive environmental decision-making maps and parameters systems available in the world today, was expanded to include detailed mapping of nine areas. These are mostly related to the Transfrontier Park Areas and include the Richtersveld, Pondoland, Addo, Maluti/Drakensberg, Lebombo, Kruger National Park, Baviaanskloof, Cedar Mountains, and the Gouritz River Valley. The original bio-physical data bases of these areas were expanded to include cultural mapping, historic features, architectural characteristics, and an assessment of recreation potential.
Contact person: Ms G Breedlove.
The Botshabelo site, Middleburg, Mpumalanga Province, is a heritage resource of great national value since it has associations with both events of historical importance and the diversity of cultures and their interactions. Fort Merensky is a declared national monument. The church and other buildings are associated with the spiritual life, religious practice and ritual of the Berlin missionaries and convents. Other extant buildings are associated with the higher learning of educators in the black community. Conservation policy guidelines for Botshabelo were commissioned by the Mpumalanga Provincial office of the South African Heritage Resources Agency. The parties at which it is directed are the administering local authority and their agents for purposes of management, curatorship, documentation and development with the view to sustainable use and an enduring future. The scope of the policy guidelines are independent of the issues of ownership or land claims, and binding.
The document which was produced comprises the conservation policy and appendices. In the research it was discovered that much of the background material pertaining to the buildings and site was not readily available. In order to preserve the information it was included in the document as part of the conservation effort of Botshabelo. It has also been electronically captured and conserved in the electronic databases and the archives of the Department of Architecture.
Contact person: Prof RC Fisher.
In a report 'Affordable Housing Pilgrim's Rest, Heritage Impact Assessment' sites were assessed and recommended for the introduction of suitable affordable housing in the core historical area of Pilgrim's Rest and the Blyde River Canyon - nominated for World Heritage Site status - so as to minimise the negative impact on both heritage and visual resources. The report also provides urban design guidelines and measures to ensure the integration of the new development and its people in the local heritage industry.
Contact person: Prof KA Bakker.
A national workshop on Community Asset Management was hosted by the University in collaboration with the Max Lock Centre of the University of Westminster in London. It highlighted the need for identifying and recognising the assets within 'developing' communities and the potential for local community management and maintenance of such assets. These could serve as a means of local income generation and of encouraging a culture of care and protection of services and building facilities. While several government strategies and frameworks that would facilitate such community participation were shown to be in place, several problem areas preventing its application were identified for attention. A key issue that emerged is that of local and individual ownership in the several forms that such ownership might take. The workshop has lead to an Africa wide research initiative centered in South Africa, Kenya and Malawi to address the issue. The southern African component is coordinated from this University.
Contact person: Prof AJ de Villiers.
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