Architecture - engaging with communities
During the June vacation our second-year architecture students, together with a few key staff members and members of the local community, helped to construct the sixth annual platform situated at Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. This year, an additional seating pavilion was constructed at the Hout Bay Sports Ground, to add to the first one that was built last year.
The design of the platform and its parts has been integrated into the course curriculum, and after designs had been developed and the necessary planning and community liaison had been completed, the project moved onto site. The students did earthworks, built formwork, tied and installed reinforcing, placed concrete, and finished the structure within quite a limited timeframe despite the winter weather. Initial reports from the community are that they are very happy with the additional pavilion, and there are potential plans to build a few more in due course.