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Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage

Mini Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2021.

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Other Authors: Swart, Johan
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Swart, Johan
author_browse Swart, Johan
author_facet Swart, Johan
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83335
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:42.090Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83335 Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage Swart, Johan u15027105@tuks.co.za Karberg, Heike Homelessness Appropriation Neglected buildings Palimpsest Heritage Adaptability UCTD Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-01 Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-10 Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-11 Mini Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2021. The intentions of this dissertation are to investigate the phenomenon of neglected buildings and urban spaces occupied and appropriated by the homeless, and to explore the spatial and design potential that this appropriation provides in the transformation and (re)activation of one such site – Melgisedek, Pretoria. The informal appropriation of neglected buildings is often viewed as causing a loss to heritage and identity (Doron 2000, Grunewald and Breed 2013). However, it is argued that this appropriation adds to the palimpsest of evolving identity and heritage embedded in these sites, which could guide the reimagination of these places as socially inclusive spaces (Dreifuss-Serrano 2020: 597, Shaw and Hudson 2009: 9). Throughout the dissertation, the author explores two themes: the social condition of homelessness and informal appropriation (the primary focus) and the historical condition of the architectural heritage of the site (the secondary focus). The project attempts to overlap these often disconnected themes in an effort to honour and address both. The proposed intervention of transitional housing within a broader conceptual framework aims to uncover the site’s latent potential by navigating the tensions between the social and the historical, permanence and temporality, existing and new, formal and informal, by building on existing activities of appropriation to create new layers of architecture while honouring the existing heritage. The research on homelessness, case studies of occupied neglected buildings and the analysis of the site, its inhabitants and history guide the development of a multi-layered, incremental site vision with a three-stranded programme. This includes the social welfare programme, the public interface programme and the anchoring link of a communal garden, aimed at incorporating and reinterpreting existing activities of appropriation and addressing the needs of the homeless to reintegrate them into society. The heritage buildings are viewed as permanent anchors and the new additions as a sinew between them, both used to continue the evolving palimpsest of architectural styles and uses on site. A transitional housing development forms the focus for design development, which interweaves permanence, transience, adaptability and flexibility, while reinterpreting the spatial principles of the existing heritage architecture. Finally, the project is intended to serve as a prototypical exploration of how current complex social issues may be approached in tandem with a respect for existing heritage on other similar sites in South Africa. It also suggests a possible architectural approach to addressing the issue of homelessness, appropriation and [occupied] neglected spaces, which are closely intertwined. mi2026 Architecture MArch (Prof) Unrestricted SDG-01: No poverty SDG-10: Reduced inequalities SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities 2022-01-18T07:36:59Z 2022-01-18T07:36:59Z 2022 2021 Mini Dissertation * A2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83335 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Homelessness
Appropriation
Neglected buildings
Palimpsest
Heritage
Adaptability
UCTD
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-01
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-10
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-11
Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title_full Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title_fullStr Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title_short Uncovering the latent potential of (re)appropriated neglected spaces: The transformation of Melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
title_sort uncovering the latent potential of re appropriated neglected spaces the transformation of melgisedek towards addressing issues of homelessness and heritage
topic Homelessness
Appropriation
Neglected buildings
Palimpsest
Heritage
Adaptability
UCTD
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-01
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-10
Engineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-11
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83335