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Postgraduate Studies
Masters Thesis
Breaking Boundaries: Towards the democratisation of Broadcasting
University of Cape Town. 2019.
Overview
This dissertation explores adaptive-reuse as a means of democratizing the SABC institution in Cape Town, from a functional, form-based and ideological perspective. For many decades, singular-functioning broadcasting institutions, designed without accommodating for change, have controlled media distributed to the public. The intrinsic relationship of these building forms that lack public responsiveness is prevalent, creating a separation between the pedestrian and the built fabric.
The design inquiry explores an architectural response propelled with a desire to achieve transparency in broadcasting while articulating a relationship between public and private. The outcome of this is a proposal that allows the creative nature of architecture to facilitate the role of bringing people together in an age of digital media stored in the cloud.
Design Inquiry
The design engages and challenges the existing, rigid, closed-off building with the introduction of a new social narrative by means of collaborative, cross-programmed spaces. These ideas build upon the notion of democratic and responsive public space as well as the accessibility of media communicated to the broader public.
Design based strategies are presented in aid of the transparency that broadcasting buildings demand, to become socially responsive with diversified functions. The aim of this is to shift public opinion of broadcasting to a more positive opinion that considers it to be receptive rather than authoritative.
This dissertation aims to rethink how we are exposed to media and how breaking the boundaries of conventional ideologies can result in a more interactive and transparent platform, which moves away from existing state-led, singular-functioning and unresponsive broadcasting buildings.
Past, Present and Future Collage of Broadcasting
Existing SABC building analysis
Current top-down system of broadcasting
A systematic approach towards transformation
Concept collage explorations
Analytical design approach towards adapting the existing building
Concept Sketches
Final A1 Sketch Proposal
Longitudinal Section
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Structural Physical Model
Exploded Structural Addition to the Existing
Concept Physical Models
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