By introducing the everyday to the Pilditch Stadium, this dissertation will attempt to unlock potential at the stadium as a single point of intervention, and speculate that those principles can ripple across to the rest of the showground site and further to the macro scale, and might inform how other developments can occur to regenerate this area.
The theory of regeneration is not only the investment in degraded areas, but includes Regenerative development theory which uses sense of place as point of departure for upliftment of an area in both the tangible environment as well as its community. Based on the living systems theory and the work of David Bohm (the ‘Level work’ framework’ by Krone 1992), this theory states that regeneration is not only characterised by the restoration of what is existing, but to improve what has not yet manifested on site. Therefore the process of regeneration moves above and below the line of what is existing and what is possible: by building on the latent potential in the site (Mang & Reed 2012:27).
This dissertation laments the lost identity of Pilditch Stadium and questions the capacity of stadium and its surrounds to create a place of event in the industrial context of Pretoria West.
Investigating Pilditch Stadium and the adjacent Tshwane showgrounds, the project critiques and questions the monofunctional nature of existing sports and event facilities on site in relation to the current need for sustainable urban form. Specific focus is placed on the contribution and experience of place in the public realm, and its setting within the surrounds.
This proposal will attempt to introduce a new second state; the permanent civic space. The aim is to diversify and enhance the functions on site, in order to celebrate the ‘everyday’ and to reimagine the site as a public place. The intention is not to dilute the existing function of the athletic stadium, but to add secondary functions that will introduce the original meaning of the site to a new context, in order to create a new shared meaning of place. The proposal will explore the potential for engagement of new architectural interventions to reconcile the values of place with the values and the needs of the community (The Regenerates, 2015).
In contrast to the development trend prevalent to the east of Pretoria, the West is perceived as the ‘backyard’ of the capital city. Large parts of West are misused, underutilised and degraded, which has led to the subsequent disregard of the Western quadrant of the city, especially from private investment. This has left the city decentralized; contributing to the “multi nodal character of Pretoria” (Smit 2009: 24).
Due to a lack of urban civic space, the author's perception of Pretoria West can be associated with the metaphor of a roadhouse, in that it is:
- reminiscent of a pastime or a place “disconnected” or “lost in time” (Steenkamp 2013:11).
- The experience of place is dominated by vehicles.
- And ultimately, it is a harsh environment for pedestrian.
This can be attributed to the increasing industrial nature of Pretoria West over its more multi-function activities, diverse building typologies, integrated social and ecological systems, and the historical palimpsest.
In order to connect the historical association of event and trade, with the contemporary association with sport and industry, the author is proposing, on precinct scale, that the architecture is developed by three components of exchange: event, community and production. These three components informed the precinct plan development with the idea that they terminate in a shared civic space where different functions can live out onto the space. By allowing different groups of people to use the space allows for a shared meaning of space.
Response - Break open the silo of site
Based on existing and new networks on site, the aim of this project is to restructure and adapt the public environment to generate new life in Pretoria West. What form this life takes, will unfold through the process of exploration.
The idea is to physically break open the berm to allow for views into the arena. Extending from the identified education and civic route, the Western edge of the precinct will be developed to create connection between the community (new proposed residential zoning) and the sport facilities. The intention is to introduce functions along the route that will allow children to learn through sport and movement, and create (non club associated) accessible places to train in the landscape of the berm. The existing closed down municipal swimming pool will be reappropriated as a creche. Plugged in between the creche and the existing sportshall for disabled sportspersons, a pre school development centre is proposed. This requires accommodation for a small gymnastics hall that makes use of the manufactured foam landing systems which allows for part exhibition of what is made on site. These facilities look out onto the new proposed sports fields laid out to the north western edge of the site and the relocated athletes warm up area. The terraced berm allows for an outdoor gym area and public space for daily rituals. The entrance to Pilditch Stadium is redesigned for an enhanced architectural experience of the rituals of the event.
As a secondary entrance to the event, a public promenade is proposed adjacent to the creche and preschool development centre. The promenade is linked to the new proposed sport fields by flanking open air pavilions, that serve as clubhouses and meeting rooms for the community. Multiple new pedestrian entrances are created. At the edge of the berm a restaurant overlooking the warm up area is proposed. A clear cut is made through the berm to allow sight lines into the arena.
The public promenade terminates at the connection with new proposed commercial corridor with mixed use residential and commercial development throughout the rest of the larger precinct. The residential component will provide temporary housing for athletes or visitors during tournaments, but can also address the current issue of density, and protecting the area from becoming completely industrial.