University of Cape Town Research Report 2005

University of Cape Town
Research Report 2005
Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment >>
School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics
Head of School: Professor Lucien le Grange
School Profile
Research work in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics has been
carried out on a number of fronts over the past year. Given the applied nature of the
disciplines that constitute the School, individual professional achievements are
recognized as much as academic research is valued.
The research and professional achievements in the fields of architecture and
planning incorporate a wide range of concerns. These include issues concerning
architectural and planning education; aspects of architectural, urban and landscape
design; urban transport issues; heritage and conservation studies; social housing
policy and social housing design; and modern South African architectural history.
Research work in progress also includes ongoing work by staff members who are
engaged with post-graduate dissertations. The content of this work ranges from city
and regional planning issues to the investigation and study of examples of social
housing.
The Geomatics division within the department has focused on a number of areas.
These include the documentation, modeling and visualization of African Heritage
Sites, laser scanning of architectural structures, remote sensing of the environment,
the development of classification algorithms and land use change detection.
Furthermore, issues of land tenure options, spatial management and conflict
management in informal settlement upgrading are currently under investigation.
Modelling of view for property valuation purposes is being conducted in a GIS
environment for the City of Cape Town, while issues of fiscal cadastral reform and
the implementation of technology in MIS and change management are being
explored from a theoretical perspective using the revaluation of the City of Cape
Town in 2000 as a case study.
Academics from the School have over the past year made substantial achievements.
A number of staff members received Awards of Commendation from the Cape
Institute for Architects: Iain Low for !Qe The Power of Rock Art (Iziko Museums);
David Dewar for the Western Province Cricket Club - Keurboom Sports Complex (in
association with Piet Louw); Lucien le Grange for the Joe Qgabi Transport Terminus
(in association with ARG Architects, and Cape Town International Convention Centre
(in association with Foreshore Architects); Francis Carter for Cape Town
International Convention Centre (in association with Foreshore Architects), and Stock
Road Station for ACG Architects and Development Planners in association with KMH
Architects); Jo Noero for Delft Day Care Centres in association with Noero Wolff
Architects and Isusazu High School Khayelitsha in association with Noero Wolff
Architects. Jo Noero also received a National Award from the South African Institute
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of Steel Construction for House Toussaint in Midrand, Gauteng in association with
Noero Wolff Architects and the World Leadership Award for Public Architecture for
the Red Location Museum in New Brighton – this award was made to the Nelson
Mandela Bay Municipality and Noero Wolff Architects in a ceremony at the Royal
Palaces of Justice in London. In addition, Vanessa Watson co-edited with Bruce
Stiftel the book “Dialogues in Urban & Regional Planning” and won the 2005 Venter-
Altron book prize.
Research Units and Groups
• The Urban Transport Research Group: an interdisciplinary, Faculty-based
research group, in which members of the School’s staff participate, focuses on
urban transport policy and planning issues. Funding for recent projects has been
received from the National Department of Transport and the US Environmental
Protection Agency’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
• Documenting Modernism in Cape Town Project – NRF Team Project: Prof L.P. le
Grange (Grant Holder), Assoc Professor I. Low, Ms. N.F. Murray
• A co-operative African initiative supported by NUFU (a Norwegian agency
funding developing countries) which links schools of architecture and planning in
Addis Ababa , Cape Town, Dar Es Salaam, Kampala, two schools in Nairobi,
and, schools in Oslo and Trondheim, and offers a joint Masters degree.
• The Land Tenure and Cadastral Systems research group has been active in
research in land tenure options and investigating the interface between formal
and informal structures and processes for urban informal settlement upgrading.
This research also involves analysing conflicts over land a they affect the urban
poor, and mechanisms of resolution. In addition, research into the fiscal cadastre
and computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) has provided key input into the
property valuation and taxation processes of the City of Cape Town.
• Space and Transformation research group is located in the MPhil (Arch)
programme which focuses on the interrelationships between social practice and
material production in Cape Town.
School Statistics
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Professors 7
Associate Professors 4
Senior Lecturers 7
Lecturers 3
Technical Support Staff 8
Administrative and Clerical Staff 5
Total 34
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Students
Doctoral 13
Masters 69
Honours 110
Undergraduates 241
Total 433
Research Fields and Staff
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Associate Professor Michael Barry
Cadastral systems; geographic information systems and offshore engineering
surveys
Mr Solomon Bhunu
Senior Lecturer: 3-D virtual reality modelling; geo-information systems; computer
graphics; database modelling and visualisation
Mr Francis Carter
Senior Lecturer; curriculum theory in relation to undergraduate built environment
design programmes; theories of making, with reference to contemporary South
African architecture
Dr Nicholas Coetzer
Senior Lecturer: architectural design; contemporary architectural history and theory;
digital technology
Mr Pieter de Beer
Senior Lecturer; contemporary South African architecture
Professor David Dewar
Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment; BP Chair of
Planning; urban structure and form; place making; informal housing; housing policy;
informal economic development; public space; regional planning and development
Mr Fadly Isaacs
Lecturer: (measuring) urban settlement quality, integrating strategic urban
infrastructure investment
Mr Khalied Jacobs (on leave for 2005)
Lecturer: sustainable urban systems; façade engineering with environmental
systems; socio/urban dynamics; radical urban planning
Professor Derek Japha (on leave for 2005)
Housing; conservation studies; post-war modernism in South Africa
Professor Lucien le Grange
Urban conservation policy; urban design; mission settlements in South Africa;
documenting modern architecture in Cape Town
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Associate Professor Iain Low
Space and transformation; critical thinking / practice and the ‘re-writing’ of
architectural type; post apartheid South African condition: urbanism, the ‘new’ public
realm, contemporary dwelling and architectural pedagogy
Associate Professor Charles Merry
Earth’s gravity field; global positioning system; co-ordinate transformations
Professor Jo Noero
Architectural design
Mr Bernard Oberholzer
Senior Lecturer; environmental planning and design; terrain analysis; landscape and
scenic resource studies; visual impact assessments
Professor Heinz Rüther
Digital close range and aerial photogrammetry; precise engineering surveying;
geographic information systems; visualisation and 3D modelling
Ms Sonja Petrus-Spamer
Lecturer: architectural education; architectural design/marginalized
communities/schools; critical regionalism
Ms Alta Steenkamp
Senior Lecturer: history and theory of Southern African architecture and its relation to
the global environment
Professor Fabio Todeschini
Urban development and history; urban and landscape conservation planning; urban
transportation policy
Professor Vanessa Watson
Planning theory; governance; housing and urbanisation policy; local area planning
Mrs Jenny Whittal
Senior Lecturer: land tenure and cadastral systems, specialising in land for the urban
poor and fiscal cadastral systems and reform
Associate Professor Peter Wilkinson
Urban planning and development; urban governance; urban transport policy and
planning
Honorary staff
Dr Clarissa Augustinus
Cadastral systems and land tenure
Research Associates
Emeritus Professor Julian Cooke
Contemporary South African architecture
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Mr Barrie Gasson
Ecologically sustainable cities; regional planning and development
Contact Details
School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Private
Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Republic of South Africa
Telephone and Fax:
Architecture: SA (21) 650-2374 and Fax: SA (21) 650-2383
Planning: SA (21) 650-2366 and Fax: SA (21) 689-9466
Geomatics: SA (21) 650-3577 and Fax: SA (21) 650-3572
E-mail Architecture: archiplan@ebe.uct.ac.za
E-mail Geomatics: geosec@ebe.uct.ac.za
Webpage: http://www.arp.uct.ac.za/
Research Output
Articles in peer-reviewed journals
Coetzer, N.R. 2005. Higgovale hideaway - weavers nest. Architecture South Africa:
Journal of the South African Institute of Architects, Nov/Dec 2005: 69-71.
Dewar, D. 2005. A conceptual framework for the formulation of an informal trader
policy for South Africa. Urban Forum, 16(1): 1-16.
Dewar, D. and Kiepel, J. 2004. Managing change in urban transitional areas: Some
implications for regional planning. Town & Regional Planning, 47: 45-53.
Low, I. 2005. House home dwelling in the new South Africa. Architectural Design,
75(5): 38-43.
Low, I. 2005. Space and transformation - 10 years 10 buildings. Digest of SA
Architecture, 9(2004/2005): 133-153.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. New architecture in South Africa - selected works of Noero Wolff
Architects. World Architecture, 02 176: 70-75.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. Seven reasons why community asset management won't work.
Open House International, 30(2): 43-47.
Spiegel, A.D., Watson, V.J. and Wilkinson, P.B. 2005. Women, difference and
urbanisation patterns in Cape Town, South Africa. Anthropology Southern Africa,
28(1&2): 31-38.
Books
Stiftel, B. and Watson, V.J. (eds) 2005. Dialogues in urban and regional planning 1:
Prize Papers from the World's Planning School Associations: 1-355. London:
Routledge.
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Chapters in books
Le Grange, L.P. 2005. Spazio, architettura e societa nel Nuovo Sudafrica. In I. Vivan
(ed.), Corpi liberati in cerca di storia, di storie. Nuovo Sudafrica dieci anni dopo
l'apartheid: 341-362. Milan: Baldini Castoldi Dalai.
Stiftel, B. and Watson, V.J. 2005. Introduction. In B. Stiftel and V.J. Watson (eds),
Dialogues in urban and regional planning 1: Prize Papers from the World's Planning
School Associations: 1-14. London: Routledge.
Watson, V.J. 2005. The usefulness of normative planning theories in the context of
Sub-Saharan Africa. In B. Stiftel and V.J. Watson (eds), Dialogues in urban and
regional planning 1: Prize papers from the World's Planning School Associations:
273-298. London: Routledge.
Peer-reviewed published conference proceedings
Dewar, D. 2005. Creating a world class city centre in Cape Town. Proceedings of the
XXII World Congress of Architecture, International Union of Architects, Istanbul,
Turkey, 3-10 July 2005. [CD-ROM].
Low, I. 2005. Design as an instrument in transformation, settlement as empowerment
opportunity for socio-economic development. Proceedings of the XXXIII International
Association of Housing Science, Pretoria, South Africa, 27-30 September 2005, ISBN
1-86854-627-6. [CD-ROM].
Merry, C. 2005. A preliminary Geoid Model for Africa. In F. Sanso (ed.), A Window on
the Future of Geodesy. Proceedings of the International Association of Geodesy
General Assembly, Sapporo, Japan, 30 June - 11 July 2003, 374-379. Springer:
International Association of Geodesy Symposia, Vol. 128, ISBN No: 3-540-24055-1,
ISSN No. 0939-9585.
Creative works
Dewar, D., Louw, P. and Adam, J.F. 2005. A spatial development framework for
Rouillard, Mauritius. Rouillard Estates.
Dewar, D., Louw, P. and Adam, J.F. 2005. A spatial development framework for
Anahita, Mauritius. Anahita Estates.
Dewar, D., Louw, P. and Adam, J.F. 2005. A spatial development framework for Mon
Desert Armes, Mauritius. Espral Developments.
Dewar, D., Louw, P. and Le Grange, L.P. 2005. An open space concept for the City
of Cape Town. City of Cape Town.
Le Grange, L. 2005. N2 Gateway Housing Project – Joe Slovo/Langa Precinct (in
association with NM Associates). Urban Design Framework and Architectural Design
Guidelines. City of Cape Town.
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Le Grange, L. 2005. District Six Development Framework: Summary Document (in
association with NM Associates). District Six Beneficiary Trust and City of Cape
Town.
Le Grange, L. 2005. Prestwich Place Memorial: Urban Design Framework. Prestwich
Place Project Committee.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. A macro-scale assessment of the Boschendal
Development Proposals. N Baumann.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. A precinct plan for Precinct 1, AECI Site, Somerset
West. Heartlands Developments.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. An assessment of the visual impacts of the
Dreamworld Film Studio Proposals Cape Town. Dreamworld Studios.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. Framework for Elim and Baardskeerdebos, Western
Cape. Western Cape Provincial Roads Department.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. Social housing in the De Beers Precinct, Somerset
West. Heartlands Developments.
Louw, P. and Dewar, D. 2005. Urban design concept for social housing in Woodstock
and Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. NewHco Developments.
Low, I. 2005. !Qe - The power of rock art. Respatialisation of Iziko/SA Museum San
Rock Art Collection. Iziko/SA Museum.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. Extensions to 24 Alfred Street Cape Town. Conversion of a
listed Heritage Building. De Villiers Hulme Structural and Civil Engineers.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. N2 Gateway Housing Project - Delft symphony Precinct One -
Urban design framework and architectural design proposals for a settlement of
approximately 2000 families. City of Cape Town.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. New tomb and memorial exhibition space for Mr Govan Mbeki
and Mr Raymond Mhlaba - Red Location, New Brighton. Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality.
Wolff, H. and Noero, M.F.J. 2005. Five projects from Noero Wolff Architects selected
for Sao Paolo Biennale to represent South Africa. Delft Day Care Centers, Usasazo
Secondary School, Red Location Museum, House Toussaint and Indigenous
Systems. Sao Paolo Biennale.
Non peer-reviewed published conference proceedings
Barry, M.B. and Whittal, J.F. 2005. A framework for analyzing change management
in geomatics development projects. Proceedings of FIG Working Week and GSDI-8,
April 2005, Cairo, Egypt. [CD-ROM].
Kahonde, J. and Whittal, J.F. 2005. Towards the modelling of view for property
valuations through the use of GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis techniques.
Proceedings of AfriGIS Conference, October 2005, Pretoria. [CD-ROM].
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Published conference abstracts
Gasson, B. and Von Blottnitz, H. 2005. Lessons from two case studies of regional
metabolism in developing country context. 3rd International Conference of the
International Society for Industrial Ecology, Stockholm, Sweden, 12-15 June 2005,
171-172.
Low, I. 2005. Design as an instrument in transformation: Settlement as
empowerment opportunity for socio-economic development. XXXIII IAHS World
Congress on Housing - Transforming Housing Environments through Design
Congress Proceedings Information and Abstracts, 10.
Low, I. 2005. Toward principles for the appropriate design of human settlement:
Beyond the brick. WC Provincial Housing Summit, University of Stellenbosch,
November 2005. Keynote speaker.
Merry, C.L. 2005. Vertical datums and the geoid. International conference on
Advanced Remote Sensing for Earth Observation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 2005.
Invited paper.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. A home in the city - Urban acupuncture in Zeyrek. World
congress on Architecture - Union of International Architects Istanbul XXII. Invited
critic.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. Architecture and transformation. Faculty of Architecture,
University of Sydney, 5 July 2005. Invited speaker.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. Architecture and transformation. Third International Conference
of the Association of Architectural Schools of Australasia, Brisbane Australia, 28-30
September. Keynote speaker.
Noero, M.F.J. 2004. Jo Noero: Recent Works. Third International Seminar hosted by
the College of Architecture - National Catholic University of Peru in Lima, 29
November – 4 December 2004. Invited keynote speaker.
Noero, M.F.J. 2005. The everyday, architecture and low income communities in
South Africa. Union of International Architects Istanbul XXII World Congress on
Architecture. Invited speaker.
Watson, V.J. 2005. Constructing urban theory from the global South. Cities Research
Thrust Seminar, Wits University. Invited speaker.
Watson, V.J. 2005. Difference, multiculturalism and post-colonial theory (panel input).
Colloquium on Cities, Planning and Everyday Life: a north-south, south-south
dialogue. Universities of Witwatersrand and Sheffield. Invited speaker.
Watson, V.J. 2005. Managing South African cities: The everyday lives or urban
citizens and the spatial/technical-managerial interface. 37th World Congress of the
International Institute of Sociology (IIS). Invited speaker.
Watson, V.J. 2005. New ways of seeing? Building bridges for future (interdisciplinary)
research a Everyday Life and Spatial Governance: A north-south dialogue. Sheffield
University. Invited speaker.
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Theses and dissertations passed for higher degrees
Coetzee, D. 2005. Re-kindling community ties through making vibrant civic spaces
using Idas Valley as a test case: 1-107. Master of Landscape Architecture.
Crawley, V.J. 2005. 'Towards positive open space systems'. An examination of the
relevance of urban agriculture - Its role and contribution in structuring open space
systems in economically disadvantaged areas of Cape Town: 1-168. Master of
Landscape Architecture.
Fani, M. 2005. Swartklip spatial development framework: 1-36. Master of City and
Regional Planning.
Kusiima, A. 2005. An evaluation of the intentions of the Breaking New Ground: Case
of the N2 Gateway Project, Cape Town: 1-124. Master of City and Regional
Planning.
Kwayisi, A. 2005. Upgrading Wallacedene Informal Settlement: 1-105. Master of City
and Regional Planning.
Lerotholi, N. 2005. Spatial development for Athlone and the Environs: 1-31. Master of
City and Regional Planning.
Mboweni, A. 2005. Local spatial development framework for the Mowbray and
Rondebosch Golf Courses: 1-64. Master of City and Regional Planning.
Mirembe, J.E. 2005. Restructuring a strategic area in the City of Cape Town using
the concept of structural integrity: 1-102. Master of City Planning and Urban Design.
Mokhele, S.Z. 2005. Cape Flats spatial development framework: 1-77. Master of City
and Regional Planning.
Murcott, E. 2005. Considering public participation in a South African urban planning
context: Theory, practice and recommendations for the Gatesville/Rylands CBD
revitalisation: 1-180. Master of City and Regional Planning.
Nakibuuka, E.D. 2005. Redefining the use of Gaborone Dam Area. The search for a
recreational Development Framework: 1-103. Master of Landscape Architecture.
Shongwe, S. 2005. Hhohho regional spatial development framework: 1-99. Master of
City and Regional Planning.
Stotter, S. 2005. A spatial development framework for Port Alfred: 1-77. Master of
City and Regional Planning.
Ullmann, C.F. 2005. Community participation in the architectural design. A South
African perspective with focus on Langa Township, Cape Town: 1-226. Master of
Philosophy in Architecture.
Wonnacott, R.T. 2005. The estimation of precipitable water vapour from GPS
measurements in South Africa: 1-157. Master of Science in Engineering.
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Unrefereed journal articles
Low, I., Sandler, J. and Hugo-Hamman, S. 2005. Editorial - Space and
Transformation - 10 years of democracy. Digest of SA Architecture, 9(2004/2005):
13-14.
Watson, V.J. 2005. Empowering squatter citizens: Local government, civil society
and urban poverty reduction, D. Mitlin and D. Satterthweaite. Reviewed in: Planning
Theory & Practice, 6(4): 547-549.
Watson, V.J. 2005. New ways of seeing? Building bridges for future interdisciplinary
research. Research Papers in Town and Regional Planning, Dept of Town and
Regional Planning, University of Sheffield: TRP147 - Everyday Life and Spatial
Governance, University of Sheffield, 28-35.
Consultancy and other activities based on expertise developed in
research
Carter, F. 2005. Corporate Head Office Respatialisation Project - Internal
Communication. Design research report for Anglogold Ashanti and briefing document
for TPC Architects.
Lawson, Q. and Oberholzer, B. 2005. Alcan Aluminium Smelter, Coega Industrial
Zone: Updated Visual Impact Assessment for CSIR. Produced report (12 pages and
6 figures) commissioned by the CSIR on behalf of Alcan.
Lawson, Q. and Oberholzer, B. 2005. Proposed Boschendal Founders Estate: Visual
Impact Assessment. Produced report (19 pages including tables and 13 figures),
prepared for Winter and Baumann Heritage Consultants on behalf of Boschendal
Estates (Pty) Ltd.
Lawson, Q. and Oberholzer, B. 2005. Proposed Hotel, Beach Road, Hout Bay: Visual
and Aesthetic Impact Assessment. Produced report (13 pages including tables and
13 figures), prepared for CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd on behalf of Aqar Real Estate
Investment House.
Lawson, Q. and Oberholzer, B. 2005. Proposed Madiba Bay Leisure Park, Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan Area: Visual Impact Assessment. Produced report (22 pages
including tables and 14 figures), commissioned by Coastal Environmental Services,
on behalf of East Cape Show Case (Pty) Ltd.
Lawson, Q. and Oberholzer, B. 2005. Proposed Regional Landfill Site for the City of
Cape Town: Visual Impact Assessment. Produced report (18 pages and 16 figures)
commissioned by CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd on behalf of the City of Cape Town.
Le Grange, L. 2005. Member of the Cape Institute for Architects’ Education
Committee.
Le Grange, L. 2005. Member of the Cape Institute for Architects’ Main Management
Committee.
Low, I. 2005. Member of the Cape Institute for Architects Transformation Committee.
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Low, I. 2005. Member of the SA Institute of Architects Promotion, Communication
and Marketing Committee.
Merry, C.L. 2005. Chairman of the South African National Committee for the
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) and South African national
delegate to the UIGG. Member of the Executive Committee of the International
Association of Geodesy (IAG); chairman of the African Geoid Project of the IAG and
a member of the steering committee for the Gravity Commission of the IAG. Member
of the editorial board of the International Journal Survey Review. He advises and
consults to government and statutory agencies and survey and exploration
companies on GPS surveying and on co-ordinate transformations.
Oberholzer, B. 2005. Brief comments on environmental aspects of the Proposed
Lagoon Bay Golf Course Development, Division of George, for the Maalgate
Foundation. Produced a short memorandum (3 pages) requested by environmental
interest groups in the George area.
Oberholzer, B. 2005. Guideline for Involving Visual and Aesthetic Specialists in EIA
Processes: Edition 1 CSIR Report No. ENV-S-C2005 053F. Produced a guideline
document (41 pages including tables) in hardcopy and CD formats distributed to all
local authorities in the Western and Southern Cape, and to environmental impact
practitioners.
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