llThis is a project given during the 2nd year course at UCT
The site is located in a small rural town, Southerland. The problems that are facing the town are caused by Apartheid planning (segregation), unemployment and bad education for the locals. The training centre is a reaction to these 3 factors.
The training centre would be able to teach the community how to be self sustainable and be able to learn skills (Agriculture, construction, masonry, metalwork and woodwork) that can be applied in the job market or allow for them to create their own goods. What is produced is sold in the market with a gallery to showcase their work.
The Concept is to form a “knuckle” within the town.
This is achieved by creating a centre between the old town and the new RDP development thus breaking the barrier that is so entrenched in South African town planning.
The design is informed by both function of space and its environment. It applies different lighting techniques to achieve specific qualities for each space (class room to gallery).
The function of the space has largely determined its ordering principals which are private vs public, theory vs practical.