ADVANCED HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM 2014 - PROJECT

PROJECT: DOCUMENTING JOHANNESBURG

PROJECT LECTURERS
Paul Kotze
Diaan Van der Westhuizen
Hannah le Roux
TO RECAP:
INTRODUCTION:

This project explores the course approach that a building is simultaneously an autonomous object (designed in
relation to the internal rules of the game in architecture) and a responsive element in the greater context of
urban, social and economic systems. The project calls on a study of a building first as an autonomous object
with formal qualities, and then for the location of this building in its immediate and regional urban systems.
PROJECT AIM:
The aims of the project are to develop:
skills in site and archival research
a discipline of drawing accurately and consistently
awareness of and appreciation for different design approaches
understanding of the impact of context on architecture
understanding of the instrumental role played by architects and buildings
understanding of the Witwatersrands urban growth and layers
reflective writing on architecture
PROJECT WORK
stage 1: (individual work: 30%)
building as object
reading style in buildings
building in the urban context
stage 2: (group work: 30%)
stages of urban growth
stage 3: (individual work: 20%)
reflective text
total: 80% of course mark
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
depth and scope of research
quality of drawn and photographic images
adherence to presentation requirements
accuracy
analytical insights
bibliographic correctness
clarity of presentation
quality of writing (part 3)

ADVANCED HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM 2014 - PROJECT

PARTS 1&2 CHECKLIST
PART 1 and 2: RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
This needs to be presented in the form of a DVD or a named folder on the shared flash drive [left with Siphokazi,
please confirm with Laura however] with scanned/photographed images with the following metadata, as well as
a printed A4 contact sheet with all file names and thumbnails (this can be generated in Adobe Bridge).
research images/articles
scanned and/or copied set of images used in the research.
jpegs of site photographs (approx 2MB/image)
scanned/copied articles sourced
Metadata:
maps:
Full title of map (name, area etc)
Date of map
Source of map (library, collection, book etc)
Scale (as given in Imperial or Metric scale) and size of map (in cm)
photographs:
title
source
date
photographer if known
photocopies/articles
title
author
source
date
PART 2: SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Completed maps will be printed at A0 landscape format, at 1:50 000 scale (or otherwise as discussed)
Detail maps are to be printed of an area of urban fabric that is representative of the dynamics of that period.
These should be 300x300mm square in format.

ADVANCED HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM 2014 - PROJECT

PART 3 SUBMISSION:
Two texts must be submitted on SAKAI under Assessment 2 along with a compulsory upload to turnitin. The
turnitin score must be below 10%. A paper copy is also to be submitted to Siphokazi on/by July 21 at 8am.
This part must have a bibliography formatted according to the Harvard system. It is highly recommended that
you use Zotero to build up a library of references and use it to format this. Likewise the use of Grammarly or a
skilled friend to proofread your text is good practice.
https://www.grammarly.com (free for 7 day trial)
https://www.zotero.org (free forever)
Text 1: reflecting on the building
This is an extended caption for the building you documented. Begin with the basics:

building name
location
architects (if any)
date of construction

In a text of 300-500 words discuss the significance of this structure, reflecting on:
who put it up;
what were they concerned about;
what material factors influenced it (availability/prestige/economy);
what sort of design merit you think it has (innovation/beauty/utility);
what the important features does the building have;
what other buildings and systems it relates to;
what sort of condition it is in today.
Text 2: reflecting on the region
This is an extended caption for the map. You can either submit either:
one text for the whole large map and detail or
several smaller ones for the smaller maps, where you are submitting several detail maps.
make sure to indicate the author(s) of the text(s).
basic information
title of map
period covered
approx. population of the Witwatersrand
north point
scale bar
In a text or texts of (total) 750 words discuss
what was happening in that period of history;
who were the main agents constructing that built environment;
what methods/buildings/infrastructures did they use to make it;
what are the physical patterns made in that period that were important then, and now;
what remains of this period.