design x process book

Site Analysis Program Development Precedents Design Process Technologies Final

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eNtokozweni Community CenterA Vision of the Past, Present, and Future.Alexandra, Johannesburg, South Africa

Tara Hennig | Design X | Spring 2013 | Chris Harnish

Special Thanks to Chris Harnish for supplying his expertise in the development of this project.

Table of Contents:

Site Analysis...................................................7Program Development...................................15Precedents.....................................................41Design Process..............................................47Technologies..................................................57Final ..............................................................71

Site Analysis


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TownshipAlexandra, Johannesburg, South AfricaProvince: GautengArea: 2.53 sq. mi. (6.54 sq. km.)Population: 166,968Density: 66,000 people/sq. mi. (26,000 people/sq. km.)

Alexandra (or “Alex” for short) is located in the province of Gauteng in South Africa. The township is widely known for it’s involvement during the apartheid resis-tance efforts. It is also considered an “arrival” city for immigrants and so Alex see’s waves of people migrating in and out of the area at a high rate. Alex is a strong refl ection of its history with a very high density, various forms of architecture, and a diverse community.1

2. City of Johannesburg

1. Aerial Image of Johannesburg

3. Township of Alexandra 4. London Rd. in Alexandra

1. “Census 2011”. Statistics South Africa. 2012. <http://www.statssa.gov.za/default. asp> 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 1. Aerial Image of Johannesburg [map]. 2013. “Google Maps”. < https://maps. google.com/maps?hl=en&q=alexandra,+johannesurg&ie=UTF-8&ei= rIbUdnmNouI0QHvvICQCA&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAg> 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 2. City of Johannesburg [photograph]. South Africa Travel Online, 2013. <http:/ www.southafrica.to/provinces/Gauteng/towns/Johannesburg/Joha nesburg.php> 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 3. Harnish, Chris. Township of Alexandra [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 4. Harnish, Chris. London Rd. in Alexandra [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.


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CommunityWithin the township limits of Alex is a hub of commu-nity activity along London Rd. Within this hub is the Tosoung Community Center, eNtokozweni Community Center, a Football for Humanity center with pitches, two schools for children, and Central Johannesburg Col-lege. This area has served the community since 1944 when eNtokozweni was founded. Commerce takes place along the edge of London Rd. creating an active street edge. A taxi rink is located on the South-East corner of the site providing easy access to and from the area. Currently, security walls align the site as a safety measure creating gathering nodes along 13th and 12th Avenue.1

1. London Rd. 2. View from Taxi Rink 3. 12th Avenue

1. Harnish, Chris. “History of Alexandra”. Class Lecture. Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA. 23 Jan 2013.

Img. 1. Harnish, Chris. London Rd. [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 2. Harnish, Chris. View from Taxi Rink [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 3. Harnish, Chris. 12th Avenue [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

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London Road

12th Avenue

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Public Transit

Main Traffic Road

Security Wall

Pedestrian Path

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London Road

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Direct SiteeNtokozweni was founded in 1944 to serve the com-munity in Alex. Throughout the 1970’s, it served as an anchor point for the apartheid resistance. Presently, the center holds after-school program for children such as dance and performance. eNtokozweni has opened it’s doors not only for community members, but also for notable fi gures such as Nelson Mandela.1

2. eNtokozweni from London Rd. 3. Commerce Along Site 4. Security Wall

1. Harnish, Chris. “History of Alexandra”. Class Lecture. Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA. 23 Jan 2013.

Img. 1. Harnish, Chris. eNtokozweni [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 2. Harnish, Chris. eNtokozweni from London Rd. [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 3. Harnish, Chris. Commerce Along Site [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 4. Harnish, Chris. Security Wall [photograph]. 13 Feb 2013. 1. eNtokozweni

Program Development

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Signifi cant Figuresand EventsMany great people have come from Alexandra who have pushed their way towards something better for themselves.


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Resident RelocationAparthied policy forcibly relocated Alexandrians from their homes to other nearby cities that do not contain valuable land.

1. Photograph. Source, website. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl (accessed February 10, 2013).

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What They Need:Ages 4-6Many resources at this age are directed towards knowledge and life skills for a child to be well-developed when moving forward in schooling.

1. Harnish, Chris, photographer. Photograph(s). (accessed February 10, 2013).


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What They Need:Ages 6-14This age group is focused on active learning and developing various skills such as the arts and sports.


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What They Need:Ages 15-18Similar to the 6-14 age group, these young adults will continue enhancing the art and athletic skills, but then will begin moving towards professional development.

1. Photograph. Source, website. http://afrikatikkun.org/pages/annual-reports. (accessed February 10, 2013).



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What They Need:Ages 18-24At this age, adults will give more attention towards building up computer knowledge and other skills associated with technology to gain a sense of entrepreneurship.



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Program Space SFBathrooms 276Classroom 1200Computer Lab 353Day Care 569Dining Room 902Fridge Room 128Gym 1500Kitchen 585Library 703Offi ces 270Reception 63Sick Room 216Storage 166


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Phuthaditjhaba ProgrammingTo the left is the current programmatic breakdown of Phuthaditjhaba, which was used to help drive the eN program breakdown.



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1. Student/Client Meeting

2 eNtokozweni Students w/ Client Member 3. Client Community Members 4. Client and Students

Img. 1. Harnish, Chris. Studio Client Meeting. 13 Feb 2013.

Img. 2-4. Harnish, Chris. eNtokozweni Community Members. 13 Feb 2013.

Client Meetings:Over a series of Skype sessions with the clients, we were able to decide which pieces of program were most crucial to the clients, and which pieces needed more emphasis of what they currently had. This also gave us insight to the culture of the people and the experiance of working with a real client.

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Programmatic Diagrams:A series of programmatic diagrams were made to corralate to the Climate, Culture, and Context of Alex. These diagrams were then transferred to a fl oorplan to analyse the fuinctionality of each version.

Climate


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pmpmenent t PPrerececededentnts s D Desesigign n PrPrococesess s T Tecechnhnolologogieies s F Fininalal

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Context

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Culture


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Combined ProgrammingThe three were then combined to try to fi nd the best overall layout to incorporate all three programming diagrams.

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Programmatic Space Plans:A series of space plans were created that not only incorporated the information gained from the programmatic diagrams, but these also include the square footages created for the spaces and the proportions with eachother.


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Age Usage:The space plans were then integrated into the what ages would use different pieces of program the most. The combined age uses (seen on the right) show which pieces are most demanded through all ages.


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Conceptual Placement in Plan:The concepts that were taken into account when creating each section of the program were then collaged to create a visual connection to each piece.


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Final Programmatic Diagrams:These diagrams were created to simplify the process that led to the placement of each part of the eNtokozweni Community Center. These simply show the fi nal thoughts of the programmatic placement.

Public, Semi-Public, and Private

General Programmatic Functions

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Security Thresholds:The security was one of the main issues to begin to think about during the design development process. The diagrams below show all of the spaces and which ones can be accesed at different times, according to which entrance is available.


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The breakdown of each of the individual security thresholds can be seen below, along with the egress of the spaces and how each part can exit out of the building.


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Programmactic Form:After all of the programmatic considerations were made based on the Context, Climate, and Culture. The fi nal form wrapped around the site creating a secure space that integrates the history, and function of the community center.ction of the community center.

Precedents

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Mahiga Hope High School Rainwater Court

This project was instituted to start a tree growing program. Mahiga Hope School is in a rural village in Kenya’s Central Province. The municipal water line was unreliable, and to drill a deep bore well in search of water would have been expensive, so the most appeal-ing option was to develop an off the grid water collection system. The roof of this project is sloped to maximize water collection off the roof. There are also solar panels on the roof to collect energy which is then used to power lights under the roof as well as in the bathrooms. This project serves as a gathering place for the community and community events. 1

Architects: Dick Clark ArchitectureLocation: Mahiga, Nyeri District, KenyaClient: Rwandan Ministry of Saint Joseph Mahiga Prima-ry and Secondary SchoolEnvironmental Consultant: Mazingira & Engineering ConsultantsFunders: Architecture for Humanity, Willie and Annie Nelson, Nike, Nobility ProjectProject Year: 2009-10Project Area: 4850 sq ftWater Storage: 7925 gal

Orientation:Roof sloped for natural lighting and shade

Water Collection System:The roof is sloped to maximize water collection. Water is stored in above ground tanks, fi ltered, and then used to water trees on site, and as clean drinking water for school students

Use:This project serves as a playing fi eld for the school as well as a community gathering space. School uses as playing fi elds, community uses it for anything from community meetings to church services

1 Mahiga Hope Rainwater Court

3 Rain water court Diagram


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Alexandra Heritage Centre

The Alexandra Heritage Centre sits opposite the site known as Mandela’s Yard, a shack that he occupied in the 1940’s. The project builds a sense of community and provides poverty relief through training inhabitants in tourism and heritage; nurturing small enterprises; and by showcasing the arts, culture and heritage of Alexandra.

Ramps accessed from the street draw people to an upper level exhibition and library space where elevated vantage points celebrate the dense urban roofscape. From here one can look down into two new public spaces created on both sides of the street, contained by wings housing entrepreneurial activity and training facilities. These multi-functional spaces are designed to be the sites of political and social events. Just as the ‘spaces between’ the yards are active, so there is no residual space in the Centre. Uses overlap and interact: a fi fth dimension is created under the building; space becomes street and street is reconfi gured as space.1

Archietct: Peter Rich ArchitectsLocation: Alexandra, Gauteng, South AfricaYear: 2000

Location:This is a recent project constructued in Alexandra, which is not too far from our site.

Material:Steel frame, Cmu infi ll, Metal roofi ng

Passive Strategies:The translucent platic panels for natural lighting and shading

1 Alex Heritage Centre Interior

2 Alex Heritage Centre

1. Archdaily, Accessed February 10, 2013. http://www.archdaily.com/58495/alexan dra-interpretation-centre-peter-rich-architects/.

Img 1-2: archdaily, Accessed February 10, 2013. http://www.archdaily.com/58495/ alexandra-interpretation-centre-peter-rich-architects/.

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Innovative Materials and Security Methods:The modern use of masonry as a siding material would be its use in a cavity wall. This application is a more recent use of the material than its mass wall ancestor; this wall system is similar to the system used with siding materials (wood, composites, metal, and manufactured stone). In a cavity wall the brick veneer will have to be hung off the backing structural wall.

Despite its very long presence in building and architecture history, brick is no mere thing of the past. These days an even more contemporary reading of brick has been bringing it back into the spotlight of architectural stardom: modular brick with a computer-aided parametric design.


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Metal Constructions

Concrete Frame ConstructionsHostiles

Brick Constructions

Steel Frame ConstructionsAlex Heritage Centre

Building Context

Masonry/brick constructions are the most common building type in Alexandra, usually for housing and schools. Hand-built metal constructions such as metal shacks are also common for low cost housing. Others are mostly concrete frame construction buildings and just few are steel constructions.

Housing Shacks Housing

Design Process


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Design Iterations:After creating a general form of eNtokozweni. Revisions were made as more knowledge was gained and solutions to previous challenges were solved.


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Early Environmental Designs:The environmental aspect of this design was based off of the climatic conditions of Alexandra. Also the early versions of the sructural grid system can be seen on the right.


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Conceptual Historic Moments:The main concept of this design is to commemorate the historic aspects of the site into everyday views and uses. By creating this atmosphere it will allow the present day children to learn from the past, while being able to have visual connections to the present youth and adults, which in turn will allow them to learn to make a better community in the future.These two schemes allow children to see the re-used brick from the old gym structure, which Nelson Mandella once used for boxing and Hugh Muskala once played music in. They also can peer through the front of the daycare canter and these cues allow them to learn from the past


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Process Project Boards:Throughout the semester boards were made to allow critiques to be given by outside guests, the users of the space, and the clients as well. These boards allowed editing and changes to occur to create the best possible project for the eNtokozweni Community Center in the end.

Technologies


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Solar Conditions

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Photovoltaic PanelsAlexandra experiences periodic power outages and electric grid disruptions, requiring eNtokozweni Community Center to produce enough energy for its own daily use. By utilizing the strong sun potential of the site, photovoltaic panels are benefi cial to provide this required energy. Building designs must properly orient surfaces for PV panel use and provide enough panels to adequately fulfi ll the energy demands of a computer room and lighting.


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Solar Energy:The Daycare Center roof faces directly to the north allowing it to be the perfect place for solar panels to be placed. The panels are also placed on the north-facing roof of the Site Keeper’s House, allowing it to be used in multiple places on the site. This energy should help the community center run when the electric is out, which happens a few times a month.

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Exploded Axon Structure Diagram:The main structure of the community center is parallel masonry walls. There is a secondary stucture support from the columns that support the steel beams that support the roof.


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Prevailing Wind Direction by MonthWinds primarily originate from the Atlantic Ocean in the South and blow North through Alexandra. Winds also originate from the Indian Ocean and blow Northwest through the site. Throughout the year, winds blow North and Northwest in the hot and cold months. The only differentiation is the singular warm month that winds blow East and the cold month that winds blow West. Taking winds into consideration is a primary factor for passive ventilation considerations in the new building.

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Passive ventilation is necessary in the warm climate of Alexandra. Providing an adequate ventilation system for the new building requires cross ventilation and solar chimneys to alleviate oppressive heat in the interior spaces. Proper use of shading membranes, vegetation, and radiant fl oor cooling also can successfully cool a building.


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Ventilation:With most of the glass being located on the upper fl oors the top row of the curtain wall systems will be operable for ventilation purposes. Skylights added to the eNtokozweni Daycare Center will also help ventilate the space during hot summer months.

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Water UsageThe eNtokozweni Community Center has a water use demand of an average 200 students a day. Water retention systems must be designed to perform under this demand by collecting enough rainfall for grey water systems. Determining the monthly consumption and potential, retention systems must equalize storage and use, even through the dry Winter months. By comparing the total site collection potential to the total roof collection area, the building can be designed to fulfi ll the water collection requirements.


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Water Collection:The roofs without solar panels are used to gather water. The water will travel down the roof into a collection cistern system that sit above ground. These will be used to water the roof gardens.

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RainfallAlexandra, Johannesburg, South Africa

Annual Rainfall in Johannesburg by Month Annual Rainfall Days in Johannesburg by Month

Rainfall primarily occurs in the Summer months. Between November and March, the most rainfall occurs to fi ll the water retention systems. Inversely, there is little to no rain fall between May and September,

requiring enough water retention during the rainy months to last through the dry Winter.


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5. ROOF DECK, INSULATION, WATERPROOFING

4. PROTECTION AND STORAGE LAYER

3. DRAINAGE - CAPILARITY LAYER

2. EXTENSIVE GROWING MEDIA, ROOT PERMEABLE

1. PLANTS, VEGETATION

Intensive Green Roof System

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GREEN VEGETABLE TOMATO PRODUCTION

Green vegetables and tomatoes are the two most nutritious potential growth for the site. Comparing the intensive green roof dedication of these two products maximizes the nutritional potential of food production.


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Context Map


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Ariel View of Front and Back

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First Floor


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Second Floor

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Daycare Historic Moment:The historic moment in the Daycare allows the children to peek through a “missing brick” window and see out onto the Memorial Garden for Nelson Mandella. THe children will also be able to watch the people on London Road as they pass by, and children on the outside will be able to peek in. This allows for the interaction of people in the community in more ways than one. This section also includes three of the building details: The automated skylight/shading system, the intensive green roof for the gardens, and the daycare “peek” window.


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Details:

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Long Section Through Retail, Daycare and Kictchen/Dining Area


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View from Library Balcony


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Entrance Elevation


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Entry Historic Gallery

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Entry Courtyard with Historic Murals


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Gym

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Siyakhona


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Roof Garden

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Kitchen


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Dining Hall

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Outdoor Dining Space Area


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Memorial Garden

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design x process book

Documents

history of alexandra

edge of london

taxi rink photograph

avenue photograph

prog development

chris harnishspecial

tosoung community center

diverse community