Abstract

Situated along the Point Waterfront on Durban’s Golden Mile, this project envisions an empty parking lot as a site for remembrance, celebration, and public space. This site marked the beginning of Durban Indian culture as it was the arrival point of the first indentured workers from India. This project seeks to activate the Durban beachfront whilst remembering the arrival of indentured Indians in 1860 and celebrate the culture that has since blossomed in KwaZulu-Natal.

As opposed to isolating heritage in a museum, the design strategy of this project brings the story of Indians in Durban to life in an experiential manner. The culture and story of Indians in Durban is the catalyst for a public space where people can experience culture and history through their senses – taste, hearing, smelling and watching. Elements of history and spaces for cultural practices create a physical but living tapestry. This development responds to the high density, private development planned for the Point Beach and serves as a breathing space that still allows for public space and public access to the beach and promenade.

The intervention serves multiple functions, such as a Durban-style Indian restaurant, retail and artisan shops, a performance space and the relocation of the 1860 Heritage Centre. The primary occupants include a collective of artisans, musicians, food vendors, and the curators of the 1860 Heritage Centre. The space is designed for beachgoers, residents, tourists, and everyday citizens to use.

The architecture draws inspiration from a number of influences from within KwaZulu-Natal. Climatic responses such as verandas and courtyards further inform the architecture so that buildings self-regulate, drawing inspiration from typical veranda houses in Durban and courtyard houses found in Southern India.

This project ultimately envisions this project along the beachfront site not just for leisure and consumption but rather a celebration of a unique identity and history found nowhere else in the world. Cultural pride and history are honoured whilst activating a desolate part of the Durban beachfront, stimulating economic activity and creating public space.