Proposing the "Climate Activism and Disaster Management Centre" is a multifaceted endeavor with a primary aim of becoming a grassroots initiative housed within a single building. This building will serve as a hub for raising awareness about climate change while also accommodating a Disaster Management Centre that can respond effectively in times of crisis. The central mission encompasses not only these immediate goals but extends to conducting research on climate change, addressing local vulnerabilities and hazards specific to the Tshwane region, and providing training to the public and building occupants. In doing so, the project seeks to equip the community with the skills and knowledge to confront the escalating challenges posed by climate change.
In a broader context, the project aspires to transfer, cultivate, and apply knowledge on climate change and strategies for adaptation. It aims to serve as an essential community resource within the urban environment, making it a focal point for the dissemination of critical information and a center for civic engagement.
To effectively address the complex challenges presented by its chosen context and the uncertainties of future climate conditions, the project emphasizes six key aspects:
Didactic Approach: A didactic approach is integral to ensuring that the public, students, and professionals can access educational content that is instructive and enlightening. It will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the nuances and complexities of climate change.
Pedagogical Teaching: Employing pedagogical teaching methods enhances the educational experience and supports effective learning. By making information easily digestible, this aspect will encourage a more profound comprehension of climate-related issues.
Hydrophilic and Biophilic Design: The design principles of being hydrophilic (water-loving) and biophilic (nature-loving) emphasize the project's commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. Incorporating these features will help the building harmonize with its natural surroundings, reducing its environmental impact.
Remediation: Remediation measures are critical for correcting environmental damage and improving the ecological health of the area. These efforts will help rejuvenate the project site and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Ecological Sustainability: Achieving ecological sustainability is a cornerstone of the project. By maintaining the ecological balance of the area, the project will promote a harmonious coexistence between the building and its natural environment.
Climate Resilience: Climate resilience is paramount in addressing the immediate and future challenges posed by a changing climate. The project is committed to developing strategies to bolster its resistance to the impacts of climate change and to assist its community in adapting to these changes effectively.
Climate Change Context:
Over the past four decades, South Africa has faced an alarming tally of 82 natural hazards, resulting in significant impacts on millions of people. Moreover, scientific evidence points to a disturbing trend in which these hazards are becoming not only more frequent but also more intense. The consensus among experts is that this trend is expected to persist based on current climate projections.
Africa's rapid urbanization compounds these challenges as an increasing number of cities and towns become increasingly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The project acknowledges the need for retrofitting existing structures, originally designed for different climate contexts, to enhance their resilience to the changing climate conditions.
Considering the temporal dimension of the project is critical. It is vital to recognize and plan for two distinct time frames: the present climate condition and the future one. By applying the Koppen-Geiger climate classification system, projections indicate that Tshwane will undergo a transformation, transitioning to a hot arid climate within the next two to three decades. This alteration in classification is a direct consequence of climate change and is based on predictions following the RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) low mitigation scenario.
Local Vulnerabilities and Hazards:
Information derived from the Greenbook by CSIR provides insight into the local vulnerabilities and hazards specific to the project's location. In the current climatic condition, urban growth emerges as particularly vulnerable, with hazards such as flooding, drought, fire, and extreme heat posing significant threats.
Future projections further underscore the increasing challenges. While flooding and heat extremes show a slight increase, drought and fire are expected to experience a much higher frequency, making it essential to implement proactive measures to address these threats effectively.
The proposed project site is strategically situated within the boundaries of the UNISA Sunnyside campus, which acts as a gateway to Pretoria, a city sandwiched between Pretoria CBD, Sunnyside, and Muckleneuk. The project centers around the retrofitting of an existing 12-story building that has never been completed or occupied and currently remains in a state of disrepair. Adjacent to significant nodes within a 20-minute walking radius such as museums, the Pretoria train station, bus stations, and public parks, positions it as a crucial component of the region's spatial development framework. It is closely aligned with proposed linear zones and transport-oriented development, emphasizing its strategic significance within the urban landscape.
The presence of a critical biodiversity area and its location within a substantial stormwater catchment area toward the Apies River emphasizes the importance of a "sponge city" concept within the project. This innovative approach utilizes vegetation and wetlands to decelerate stormwater flow, reducing the risk of flooding and mitigating its potential destructive effects.
The urban strategy aims to create multiple green corridors that seamlessly integrate into the broader urban framework. This initiative connects neighborhoods divided by extensive highways, enhancing pedestrian access and promoting mixed-use development within underutilized spaces.
Theoretical Framework:
The project's core concept is symbolized by a kaleidoscope, representing change, balance, and harmony. The dynamic symmetry of the pattern reflects its transformative nature, constantly shifting, integrating past, present, and future elements. Its multilayered and holistic attributes convey a circular system, creating a unique and dynamic visual experience.
The interplay of materials, angles, and shapes within the project results in a complex interaction of light, color, and shades. As visitors move around and through the site, the alignment of various elements shifts, causing new colors and tones to emerge, akin to a moiré pattern. This immersive and dynamic approach aims to evoke a subtle sense of disorientation, enveloping visitors in a vibrant and captivating space.
The project is designed to be in constant dialogue with its ever-changing natural surroundings. The site's natural condition, characterized by its variability, serves as a source of inspiration for architectural elements that adapt and respond to these natural forces.
Environmental Considerations:
The direction of the wind on the site significantly informs the shape and orientation of the proposed building. The design aims to emulate the forms and forces found in nature, fostering a dynamic relationship between the human experience and the natural world.
The project enhances awareness of the site's specific qualities, directing attention to the natural elements that shape it.
Educational and Functional Aspects:
The proposed center is envisioned as a hub for education and disaster management. It is equipped with educational resources, including audiovisual equipment, simulation systems for recreating natural disasters, and essential first aid supplies and emergency communication systems. Effective disaster prevention hinges on reliable communication networks.
The design revolves around an open-air courtyard that serves as an outdoor playground while maintaining a continuous connection with nature. It aims to educate, entertain, and inspire a diverse audience, offering a unique experience that blends science, education, art, and entertainment.
Architectural Innovation:
The proposed building is envisioned as a state-of-the-art research facility with innovative architecture. It creates an optimal framework for world-class research, intending to become a landmark in Pretoria. This endeavor seeks to forge connections between UNISA and the surrounding neighborhoods and the wider city, fostering an environment of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. A visionary museum inspiring learning, dialogue, and action, creating powerful exhibition experiences and a range of interdisciplinary programs for all ages to build community around climate education and solutions. Contending with the climate crisis at scale requires a transformation of our public culture. The Climate Museum mobilizes the power of arts and cultural programming to accelerate this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action, connecting people and advancing just solutions.
To create a venue for world-class research, the design emphasizes spaces that facilitate interactions across different disciplines, accommodating both the general public and the research community. This approach aims to enhance communication about ongoing research activities, fostering knowledge-sharing and inspiring new and groundbreaking research.
Sustainable Features:
A distinctive feature of the new Campus Park is a walkway that allows pedestrians and cyclists to traverse the landscape, offering close proximity to the building and researchers. This feature creates a new connection between UNISA and its surrounding context, enhancing accessibility and interaction.
Sustainability is a fundamental consideration, with the project integrating numerous eco-friendly elements. Design interventions are informed by the microclimate on-site, ensuring climatic responsiveness. The building's program is structured to have lower floors open to the public, connecting seamlessly with the landscape, while upper floors house more private areas like offices and research labs. The building envelope is designed with sun protection in mind, using louvered screens, cavity walls, and curtain walls. Additionally, the landscape captures and utilizes water during the summer, and renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels are incorporated into the roof design. Passive strategies are deployed to ensure thermal comfort within the building, aligning with the project's overall commitment to ecological sustainability and climate resilience.
The project is heavily rooted in the indigenous characteristics of the building’s eco-region in order to sustainably generate their own energy; capture, treat and use their own water; and operate by embracing the essence of what the site can provide. The building's design mimics the natural contour of the site where the water filtration process works best in the natural form. The building filters grey water and harvested rainwater through its contour profile while visualizes the process for visitors both internally and externally of the building. With the natural contour profile as the core design, it somehow bridges the visitors closer to the natural process where the contour platform itself is a multi-functional space for the visitors to experience and learn. This fulfills the ultimate goal of the center's educational purpose.
In conclusion, the "Climate Activism and Disaster Management Centre" is a visionary project with a multifaceted mission. It aims to address the pressing challenges of climate change and disaster management while serving as an educational and community resource. Through innovative design, ecological sustainability, and a commitment to resilience, this project is poised to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change and its associated hazards.
