Abstract
M.Tech. (Architecture)
Through both years of studies my work looked closely at migrants in Johannesburg. In the
preceding M1 work I shifted scales from the individual to the larger migrant enclave of Mayfair.
The study of these communities that have formed in the city and changed the city have been a
constant interest of mine.
My personal interest in the project stems from my past, I am a fourth generation South African.
My great-great-grandparents had to make this perilous journey, packing away their lives in India
and coming to South Africa as indentured labourers with a five-year work contract.
Three generations later my great great-grandfathers journey still continues. Through this
sojourn my story lays the foundation for the Hillbrow Import-Export Centre. I unfortunately do
not have any connection to my origin or roots in India, and slowly through the passing of the
previous generations some of that knowledge, culture and skills won’t be passed further.
The main theories that form the backbone of my project are Tania Zack’s low-end globalisation
and Archigrams’ pro consumerism. The effects of these theories are highly evident in Hillbrow,
which is a complex area with many points of interaction and trade occurring continuously. Due
to its diversity and constant ebb and flow of people, knowledge and goods, it has become the site
for my project and research.
My project addresses a number of difficulties faced by a number of migrants in any new city.
Along with the notion of migrancy and of movement between countries. I have attached the
title “The Hillbrow Import Export Centre” which is not about the exchange of commodities or
resources, but rather about culture, traditions and history - the softer characteristics of identity.
The Import Export centre exists both here (ones current location) and has the ability to collect,
share and distribute valuable information from there (Ones origin).
The centre begins to lay the platform for migrants in Hillbrow and acts as a foot hold to ease
the transition into one’s new city. The project becomes an expression of a journey. The act of
packing away one’s life, culture, beliefs, education and religion into a small manageable suitcase
or container, and then having to unpack themselves in a new context is a very difficult task, often
not being able to unpack one’s self completely.
The final design project focuses on the unpacking of one’s life. This idea is realised as an
architecture that unfolds within a site while being firmly constrained in design by the program
and its user.
The base of my architectures is a primary design, a single hybrid architecture that fits multiple
sites and can house varying programmes.
Although each programme relates to a site, it is not to infer that programmes, users and sites are
inflexible - but rather, that architecturally and programmatically, each site is most suitably fit for
purpose.