Design concept

CONCEPT

The relevance of Community

Community has a deep routed influence in how society has developed over centuries. It can affect many areas of an individual’s life, including cultural, values & principals and customs & practices.

For many centuries, African communities have lived in tribal communities. These tribes most often build their houses around a central courtyard or square. Similar to the use of Market squares in Western cities, a central point where the community comes together either to trade, share food or provide support and bond. The occurrence of communion happens between all people in the tripe. It is a natural instinct to seek protection in groups. This has occurred since the earliest times of human existence, together the group is stronger than the individual is. The nurturing quality provided in a group is at the essence of human existence. To interact with one another gives the surety that one is still alive. Helping to improve the common environment and circumstances assures the survival of future generations.

In African tribes, a fire is often at the centre of the gathering space. The fire radiates heat in all directions around it. It is the method used for preparing food and provides comfort in cold nights as well as protection form wild animals. Referencing the traditional Xhosa kraal, these can only be found in isolate areas of the country.  Tribes such as the Owhambo’s in Namibia still build their community around this same principal. In these instances, the food preparation and serving area forms the central point of such a village.

In Western civilization, water fountains are found at the centre of the gathering places. In this instance, Water is the source of life; it provides relief and refreshment to the community and weary travellers. 

 

The proposal is to grow a number of vegetables, fruits and herbs within the central courtyard of the Urban Sustainability centre; these will be used in the restaurant. It will extend three storeys-vertically and 5x11 meters-horizontally. Walkways and bridges in-between floors and functions will create a network of connections to facilitate interaction.

The Premier Milling building was used to produce flour from wheat, this flour was to be used by all the local bakeries to bake bread, which is a basic essential food each human is entitled to. It is therefore appropriate that the Mill Buildings now once again produces nourishment for the community. With time comes development, and in addition to providing nutritional nourishment, this Centre will provide mental, social and economical nourishment.

In order to make this proposal relevant, it is important to research the traditional influence of community from all the cultures living in Port Elizabeth, more importantly one should understand how a contemporary community operates, survives and interacts. In the case of the latter, community has become irrevocably intertwined with technology. The establishment of virtual communities have broken the physical boundaries which traditionally define a community. The target market includes all generations, but it should be taken into consideration that the larger portion of the target market will be of generation X, Y and Z, with baby boomers reaching retirement age. Therefore combining a virtual community life with physical interaction will achieve a balance in society as well as establishing a Agricultural Centre that will uplift a community, deeply rooted in sustainability which make use of the opportunities presented by technology rather than regressing to a place without.