A platform for social justice and reconciliation

Project idea

Since South Africa’s First democratic elections in 1994, some development has been noticed. In 1995 South Africans witnessed the first hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC); during the same year, the country’s constitution was promulgated. Such facts, Coupled with the work of iconic figures such as Nelson Mandela, has led many countries to praise South African for the effort the country has shown in terms of reconciliation progress. However According to the latest South African Reconciliation Barometers (SARB), it has been reported that the countries governance and its economic structure is now often questioned as people who were sold the dream of a rainbow nation at the inception of a democratic South Africa, are often frustrated due to the major social inequality the country still suffer.

The report also reveals that: ‘‘views, as reflected in dominant discourse (in particular, in spaces such as social media and traditional media)… seem to be polarised on various key issues in the country. And it often appears that there is little scope for dialogue, accommodation of various views, or discussion to find ways forward’’ (SARB, 2017). While some believe that the country has had little progress in terms of the reconciliation and serving justice, others are of the view that the current frustration is symptoms of so-called young democracy, and that it is not limited to South Africa.
The SARB report came to the conclusion that for the country to experience genuine peace and reconciliation, a dialogue that addresses truthfully South African historical conflicts, need to happen in order for healing, peace, and reconciliation to take place.

These findings constitute the major motivation to why a mediation center, as a public or civic space that aims to facilitate and foster the reconciliation progress, is needed. Such an architectural intervention has the potential to suggest ideologies that do not see two conflicting parties has mutually exclusive. However, it can play the role of mediator that represent and becomes a bridging element that allows people who hold different views to cross over and meet on a platform that allows them to engage in honest conversation that takes into account the country’s historical background. Hence such a platform can become an urban catalyst that can boost the already initiated process of reconciliation.

Project description

Form making:
Exploration of pure form for order and guidance. the cone form was used for its symbolic and structural qualities. The symbolic quality was achieved by laying a cladding in the shape of a ''y'' from the South African flag as an allegory of the place where many roads meet. in addition, the radial form emphasized the idea of unison nation converging toward a central goal. This idea of centrality was express in designing a public amphitheater for public dialogue and activist performance.
besides the significance of the architectural language, the programme itself includes space foster the vision of social justice and reconciliation by accommodating a public broadcast station to extend the message of social justice and reconciliation beyond the physical boundaries of the built form.

Technical information

Structural analysis:
The structural qualities of the form provide stability to the structure like in a tabular system. This system was used in the Egyptian pyramids which have been stably standing for hundreds of years. The structural system was made hybrid for flexibility purposes. it is composed of a grid and a radial system. columns seat within the grid system while a ring beam is used to adapt to the conical form.