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African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa

Thesis (PhD (Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2023.

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Other Authors: Breed, Christina
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Breed, Christina
author_browse Breed, Christina
author_facet Breed, Christina
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 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 Thesis (PhD (Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2023.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:55.836Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/95532 African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa Breed, Christina jkmolebatsi@gmail.com Stafford, Gary Molebatsi, John Kagiso UCTD Traditional health practitioners Traditional medicine African identity Architectural design Thesis (PhD (Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2023. The practice of traditional medicine, in its various forms and to varying degrees, has always been an integral part of the majority of South African’s lives. Among indigenous people, the practice of traditional medicine is highly revered, however, these African traditions were not valued under colonial rule. This has resulted in the largely informal, underdeveloped, and unregulated traditional healthcare sector that persist today. Currently, there are no purpose-built spaces for traditional health practices. The aim of this study is to assess the state of the practice of traditional medicine in South Africa, and through semi-structured interviews, develop guiding architectural design principles for the construction of consulting spaces for traditional health practitioners in an urban context in Gauteng. The following research question guided the study: What are the guiding principles for the spatial and material design of consultation spaces for traditional health practices in Gauteng that can enhance meaning response through a strong African identity? A qualitatively inductive and deductive content analysis of the interviews provided rich primary data for interrogation guided by the research question. The findings reveal that, firstly, the practice of traditional medicine is still pertinent to the indigenous people, including those in an urban setting such as Gauteng. Secondly, there are guiding principles that define the practice of traditional medicine. These include location, orientation, preferred indigenous fractals, steaming and bathing facilities, storage of muti (traditional medicine), outside spaces and landscape, and amabhayi (printed cloths with strong cultural motifs). Thirdly, there are unique colours, materials, and artefacts that are significant to the practice of traditional medicine. Lastly, indigenous healers are facing unique challenges when practicing and performing rituals in urban settings. In conclusion, the study makes recommendations regarding the design process, the arrangement of internal spaces, indigenous symbols, construction materials, the interior décor, the design of the landscape, the construction process, and post-construction maintenance. Architecture PhD (Architecture) Unrestricted Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being 2024-04-15T14:32:00Z 2024-04-15T14:32:00Z 2024-04 2023-08 Thesis * A2024 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/95532 N/A en © 2023 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 University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Traditional health practitioners
Traditional medicine
African identity
Architectural design
African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_full African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_fullStr African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_short African identity in architecture : Guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_sort african identity in architecture guiding principles for the architectural design of traditional health practices in gauteng south africa
topic UCTD
Traditional health practitioners
Traditional medicine
African identity
Architectural design
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/95532