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Canvas_Colour Production Hub

Part 2 Project 2008
Rozanne Basson
 University of Pretoria | South Africa
Canvas _ Colour Production Hub

The project aims to create meaningful place in an African city through the use of colour and light within a fragmented urban environment of lost and isolated space.

To celebrate the site, a paint production facility was chosen as an unconventional programme. This is expressed in the dynamic integration of light and colour as formal determinants in the articulation of architectural surface. Building form responds equally to place and programme, the latter revealed to passers-by through the considered articulation of transparency, translucency and opacity. Public walkways and platforms act as movement generators through the site, reactivating it as a place of serendipitous meeting.

The relationship between art and architecture is considered and colour, in a Semperian sense, becomes the mediator between the tectonic and experiential realms.



The project is nominated as an intriguing object for architectural criticism. The solution contests convention and participates in a broad architectural discourse, investigating current theory, local relevance and context. The brief is translated into an evolving construction rather than a conventional building and expresses the idea of serendipitous gathering. The interactivity of architectural surface informs the design which itself becomes interactive with its users. The choice of site enhances the theme and transforms an awkward service space in the city into a significant place. The design is intentionally abstract and avoids cultural reference, but issues important to this School of Architecture are integrated and resolved from conception to tectonic resolution.
2008
The desire of a building to be in between shadow and light, at the threshold of silence and light - the position of true inspiration, the sanctuary of art, where the centre of expression lies… For the building to be what it wants to be, while realizing
On the fringes of a frayed urban fabric, major roads left an island of lost space, with a fragmented corner building the only evidence of what was once meant to be a gateway into the city of Pretoria.
Five major vehicular roads force the site into a ‘wedge’ shape, rich in both vehicular and pedestrian movement. This northern part of Pretoria CBD has a rich cultural character and a vast tourism trade (image 1-14), with prevalent activity nodes and gathe
Ground Floor Plan The light industrial paint production area is located on the north western edge of the site, shielded from harsh afternoon sun by a louver systems and a modular brise-soleil façade. Art exhibition boxes create a visual link between the
First Floor Plan Walkways spreading in a fan pattern throughout the longitudinal site act as movement generators, drawing the observer and pedestrian into the central space, between the buildings. The walkways serve as viewing platforms for the paint man
Top: North Eastern Elevation – from left to right: Existing building; art exhibition boxes; eastern flank with Concept Shop; Colour Café; therapy rooms; dispatch exit; and art workshop, shielded from the sun by a perforated steel plate double façade. Bo
Top: North Western Elevation - From left to right: Western modular concrete brise-soleil façade, shielding the delivery area and raw material stores from harsh afternoon sun; liquid tank farm with roof lights reflecting light into production area; off-shu
Section A-A – From left to right: Cutting through production area; walkways; and existing building
Section B-B – From left to right: Cutting through the western modular brise-soleil façade; delivery area and loading dock; laboratories; walkways and viewing platforms; gathering space; colour cubes; exhibition spaces; paint and colouring spaces for artis
Perspective showing main entrance and existing building in the middle flanked by primary production area on the left and public painting area and studio spaces on the right.
Left: South western corner perspective, as seen by approaching vehicles, showing concrete flanking walls and primary production area. Right: Perspective showing receiving entrance and tank farm with concrete flanking walls.
Left: Southern perspective showing the movement through the site by means of a series of walkways and viewing platforms Right: Northern perspective showing the play of light and colour through the western modular concrete brise-soleil façade.
Left: Shadow Analyses – Perspective plan and model progression from top to bottom Right: Concept Sketch
Legend Site Plan
Movement Plan
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