Commentary on “site managers manual on energy and water efficient housing”

An attempt to address the general lack of instruction material on energy effi cient housing existing in South Africa needs to be evaluated by the target audience. This becomes even more relevant where valuable financial support of sponsors is used for the compilation of such an effort. The manual is critically evaluated and a survey is included. The survey was conducted by means of a survey questionnaire sent to tertiary education institutions offering courses for construction managers. Most of the respondents found the contents not to be relevant to the study field and to be inadequate as undergraduate study material

Evaluation of design criteria for economically viable sustainable housing in Gauteng, South Africa

As a result of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Develop ment (UNCED) Earth Summit Conference in Rio de Janeiro, 180 nations adopted a program called Agenda 21: an international attempt to create a normative blueprint for sustainable development worldwide. It is, however, not really pos sible to define a normative blueprint for the whole spectrum of human settle ments worldwide, as economical, ecological, geographical, topographical and social contexts differ. In informal settlements, especially, design criteria for sus tainable development are of paramount importance. While this paper exam ines these problems from an international point of view, it does so in a South African context. Problems in five subsystems (political, economical, socio cul tural, environmental and technological) are examined. Recommended solu tions are summarised in tables of design applications concerning the site selection; passive solar design; water saving measures; sanitation options and applicable energy conservation measures. To dispel possible doubts concern ing the use of traditional materials and practice, a further summary has been compiled to show the benefits gained by using these alternative construction methods, expounding vernacular building methods that have traditionally been used in South Africa and in similar climatic conditions elsewhere

Grondleggende argitekte van die Departement Openbare Werke in Transvaal tot 1910, hul werk en invloed (Afrikaans)

The void in available literature pertaining to the origin of the official architecture of the 'Publieke Werken Departement' in the 'Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek', the destruction of the Department by the Anglo Boer-War and the subsequent reconstruction of the Department as the Public Works Department of the Transvaal Colony, is addressed. A new perspective is set regarding the architectural data of the period, by analysis of the cultural doctrine of the different departments. The history of the Department is divided into four periods. The first deals with the era from the establishment of the Department in 1877, until the appointment of Sytze Wierda. The second incorporates the time from 1887 with his engagement up to the outbreak of the Anglo Boer-War in 1899. This period is generally seen as the golden age of Transvaal Republican architecture. The third relates the effect of the war on the Department and the architects while the fourth deals with the colonial time from the annexation of Pretoria in 1900, until Unification in 1910. The structure and work procedure of each department are examined to derive an image of the type of training the architects had undergone and a survey is made of what can be found of the original libraries of the departments. Specific careers are investigated. In this context, buildings are chosen from the researched lists, to be examined. The designated buildings are regarded as documents, and are analized with regard to cultural doctrine and business stance. The first period produced pragmatic thatched buildings. During the second phase, Wierda attained the embodiment of cultural doctrine in architecture, rising above mere utility in building. He strived to create a sophisticated, ideal townscape for the Z.A.R. Continuity was lacking, however, as the Department was at first brought to a standstill, and then wiped out by the war. During the fourth phase, the British Colonial Department brought about specialization of architects as quantity surveyors, engineers and architects. At first, only utility buildings were designed by the Department while prestige projects were given to private architectural firms.Thesis (PhD (Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2000.Architectureunrestricte