SA Affordable Housing May / June 2018 // Issue: 70 | Page 32

FEATURES PHASED APPROACH Phase 1A looks at a skin prototype which is a handheld windmill that anyone can use. “The skin section is for the entire building, but it affects only rooms that face outside,” he says. There are benefits for both the entire building and each room. This phase also consists of a series of ‘injection-like’ additions that can serve as experimental applications in buildings that may be particularly hazardous, difficult to access or install. Injections such as mass refuse removal and temporary ‘toilet’ disposal chute, a town recycling spine, shared fire place hearths, cooking areas, moveable chimney flues, an urban turbine or windmills, a hoist / crank to lift water buckets and goods, a garden spaza, as well as toxic-fume reducing plants and a laundry / rainwater harvesting well. Phase 2 addresses how buildings are structurally upgraded that aren’t designed to be residential buildings. It combines functions of collecting, sorting, storing, exchanging of refuse and sleep into one location over several sub-phases. Sub-phases include a refuse collectors exchange depot where refuse collected is exchanged for nightly rent or food, it may also be automated with a weighing hook and core for sunlight, warmth and ventilation. “One works on converting areas within buildings that are most neglected, this will increase privacy and make it CALL [phone] TO BOOK YOUR ADVERT Angeline Martin [email protected] 30 MAY - JUNE 2018 AFFORDABLE SA HOUSING rich in the city,” he says. Property developers aren’t obligated to provide affordable accommodation and because of this, there is no guarantee that they will continue to provide for lower income groups. This is one of the reasons why SERI wants the state to take over the responsibility. Johnson’s in-depth look into redeveloping bad buildings offers a phased design approach that rethinks furniture, shared services, a room, floor, building and a city. “The design strategy occurs over a period and an extrapolation of architectural principles that can be implemented or retracted as other site scenarios are engaged,” he explains. Each phase sees thorough community engagement and administration. “There needs to be gradual implementation, protection and introduction of or growth of landlords that stem from the existing community members,” he says. The reason for this is that the chances of the intervention’s survival, protection and success are higher this way. Although the buildings have many issues attached to them, they hold a world of opportunity. semi-public. “You cut out the core and the addition will allow for more sunlight and create ventilation and passive cooling to every floor,” he says. Phase 3 and 4 questions how it would be converted or amplified. The final phase includes the private sector and the City. They will help to expand what is already there. The two entities only come in at this stage because Johnson believes that they are currently at the forefront of contributing to the housing crisis. The last two phases allow physical, interactive discussions with the inhabitants, this brings in an opportunity for co-authorship to design decisions. “Immersive, engaging, consultative and collaborative techniques should be used where any type of intervention includes any type of settlement that includes so many layers of social significance,” he says. THE WRAP The City of Johannesburg has rolled out its city revitalisation programme, which looks at repurposing bad buildings for redevelopment. With this programme, clearly the City sees the potential found in these buildings and is working on unlocking this. It is not only the private sector that should be involved in the revitalisation of the city, but organisations like SERI, universities, architects, designers, urban planners and scholars should be part of the engagement process to ensure that the needs of the residents (present and future) are also met.