Supervisor: Christo van der Hoven
Research field: Architecture
Keywords: Circularity, Mass Engineered Timber, DfMAD, Craft, Rewilding
Abstract
The project focuses on a blacksmith artist as the primary client. The traditional craftsmanship of blacksmithing has played a significant role in history. Hand forging is not as widely used since machine manufacturing is the preferred method for creating many commercial products. This project, therefore, aims to create architecture which could support the reestablishment and preservation of the craft of traditional blacksmithing.
The project is situated in Pretoria West's industrial region, specifically at the ArcelorMittal Pretoria Works site. Initially, a company called Iscor was responsible for steel production at the Pretoria Works site, which operated from 1934 to 1997. Today, the site is owned by ArcelorMittal, which manages the environmental legacy of the site and maintains the grounds. The site's current post-industrial state is a mixture of dismantled and neglected buildings that present the opportunity to utilise unused spaces and recycled steel scraps to support the transition toward circularity and overall rewilding.
The project offers a unique opportunity to integrate the site and the traditional craft of blacksmithing, aiming to achieve knowledge transfer, regeneration and rewilding supported by incremental de-industrialization. This combination allows for a symbiotic relationship between the site and the blacksmithing artist's compound. The project aims to regenerate and revitalise the ArcelorMittal Pretoria Works site through a phased approach that considers the now, the immediate future, and the future vision of the project, contributing to the broader process of circular transformation. To support this approach, the design strategy is rooted in the principles of circularity, prioritising the reuse of neglected steel on-site alongside the use of Mass Engineered Timber. This approach supports the regeneration and rewilding of the context, enables Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, and Disassembly (DfMAD), and allows for a more circular economy. The design concept is captured in the word "fit". The project aims to create an artists' compound for blacksmith artists, offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about the craft through a variety of short-term and long-term workshops, as well as a space to celebrate and exhibit the work created on-site. The project ultimately envisions the transformation of a neglected industrial site into a space that unites the blacksmith’s craft with circular principles in a synergistic architectural response.
