Site Analysis

Visiting Newtown

Mapping Analysis In & Around The Site

The Newtown cultural district is subdivided into three main zones: the Market Precinct, located towards the North-West; the Transport Precinct, situated towards the South-West; and the Electrical and Worker's Precinct, positioned towards the South-East. 

There are many heritage sites that are located within these three precincts as well as Old Park Station, which lies towards the North of the Newtown district. Any alterations to these heritage sites need to be carefully addressed and must be designed in a sensitive manner.

A large variety of building programs are evident within Newtown but the predominant forms of land uses that exist within the area are offices and commercial buildings. Many buildings within the district are difficult to access due to their fenced boundaries, creating dead or inactive spaces along these edges.

 The main routes that the Minibus taxis, the Metro Bus, Rea Vaya and Gautrain busses take pass by Metro Mall Taxi Rank in a horizontal and vertical plane. 

View of Metro Mall Taxi Rank taken on the corner of Ntembi Piloso and Bree Streets (by author).

This mixed-use building comprises of three levels that house formal and informal retail spaces which are integrated with a public transport hub, where an estimated amount of 150 000 commuters pass through each day via the various forms of public transport (City of Johannesburg, 2015).

As depicted in the pedestrian movement captured on site, one can visually see how most individuals arrive at Metro Mall Taxi Rank, the primary node within Newtown, and walk to their various destinations in and round the district.

Due to the sporadic pedestrian movements captured within the area, there are many exciting places to visit ranging from music venues, bars and art performance areas where one can socialise, to clothing stores, and lastly, to sporting venues for personal fitness and enjoyment. There are also many informal settings where these social and cultural activities exist, therefore, it stands to reason why Newtown has been earmarked as the cultural precinct of Johannesburg CBD since the 1900's.

The current state of Old Park Station [by author].

PALE INK BRAND BOUTIQUE. 2015. Corporate event held at Old Park Station. [Online] Available from: http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-616478077/paleink_events/photos. [Accessed: 9th October 2015].

Old Park Station’s structure has been derelict for many years, leaving this empty shell to be occasionally used for social entertainment, fashion photography shoots, music videos and, just recently, a corporate event held by Pale Ink Brand Boutique. 

One of the many graffiti artworks discovered on site, mainly spray painted on the concrete podium structure [by author].

Many graffiti artists have entered the site and have spray painted their artworks mostly within the concrete podium portion of the structure. 

The mezzanine level cuts back in the centre of the podium to allow more natural light to enter the space [by author].

The concrete structure consists of a mezzanine floor which cuts back towards the centre of the structure, allowing more natural light to feed into the space below towards the northern end of the podium. Developers had an intention of activating the site by transforming it into a railway museum but this proposal was not carried out.

Currently, the southern end of the site is undergoing earthworks for the extension of the brickfields housing development, designed by ASA Architects. The design proposals had to be approved by the Johannesburg Heritage Trust as the housing project needed to be planned in such a way as to not obstruct the view of Old Park Station from Carr Street. 

A roof plan indicating the extension of the Brickfields housing development. Note how the first phase to the east has a chamfered corner on its western block in order to make the Old Park Station's steel structure completely visible when entering the piazza off Carr Street (ASA Architects, 2015).  

Model views of Old Park Station's structure within proposed new Brickfields development from Carr Street. (ASA Architects).

A piazza was proposed in the centre of the housing scheme to achieve this matter and the far left building, on the eastern development, had to be chamfered at a forty-five degree angle from the edge of Old Park Station’s roof structure. Only the three eastern blocks are currently proposed to be built and the western scheme will be built as part of the second phase of the project. For the first phase of the development, an open parking space has been devised in its place.

Resources:

ASA ARCHITECTS. 2015. Brickfields North Residential Development. [JPEG Model Image] At: Hyde Park: ASA Architects Office. Szalavicz, A.

ASA ARCHITECTS. 2015. Brickfields North Residential Development. [Roof Plan] At: Hyde Park: ASA Architects Office. Szalavicz, A.

CITY OF JOHANNESBURG. 2015. Newtown: your guide. [Online] Available from: http://joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=315&Itemid=52&limitstart=3. [Accessed 6th October 2015].