portfolioDELPHINA N. SERUMAGA-MUSISI

portfolioDELPHINA N. SERUMAGA-MUSISI

CONTENTS

MANIFESTO

UNIVERSITY PROJECTS:HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM ON JUTATHREE CASTLES FILM ACADEMYBRAAMFONTEIN CEMETERY EXTENSIONWITS COMMEMORATIVE TOWERWITS COMMEMORATIVE TOWER

ARCHITECTURAL WORK:COTTAGE SERUMAGA, LOMBARDY EAST, JHBCOTTAGE ROLFE-LEES, SYDENHAM, JHBSTONED CHERRIE HEADQUARTERS, BENMORE, JHBHOUSE RENOVATION, BRYANSTON, JHBSONHEUWEL LUXURY HOTEL, NELSPRUIT

COMPETITIONS:COMPETITIONS:BLUEPRINTS OF PARADISE 2010RETHINK HOTELS 2012

MISCELLANEOUS:FURNITURE DESIGNRENDERS & MODEL BUILDING

MANIFESTO

MANIFESTO

ARCHITECTURE

The function of human contact is essential to architecture and architects should not avoid the tactile dimension.Tadao Ando

To discuss the form of the building I will design would be to restrict myself to a single period in my career, to deprive myself of the dynamism that is mankind, that is architecture. I will limit my com-ments on form to an appreciation of a simple, honest form and an understanding that form is to follow function and that function can include serving a feast for the eyes. Yet even these beliefs can evolve and so I can only speak of the desired effect of my spaces on those who experience them.

Energy, not matter, is the true nature of things – a Yoruba proverb that will be reflected in my architecture. A successful space is one in which the energy as well as the layout reflect the essence of man’s life and his activities. In the same way a relationship between individuals is experienced by both parties, so should the relationship between people and my buildings be. I wish my buildings to be empathetic to the needs of the inhabitant and malleable to input. I wish to create a dialogue with and about each space and in doing so motivate the inhabitant to engage on matters beyond sur-vival and leisure.

AFRICA

The Capital remained an English-Indian creation in the African wilderness. It owed nothing to African skill; it needed none.The Capital remained an English-Indian creation in the African wilderness. It owed nothing to African skill; it needed none.V.S Naipaul, In A Free State (1971)

We are moving out of the somewhat chaotic post-colonial era into an age of refined identities, and our generation’s role is to promote this revival. As with every renaissance, adjustments must be made to accommodate the changes in the world around us. We must find our place on the global stage, strive to achieve a balance between the relatively isolated Africa of old and the new Africa set in a global context.

A home cannot function if the community in which it sits is in a dysfunctional state. My role is to facilitate this shift in mindset, encouraging dialogue and pursuing solutions for the societal and spa-A home cannot function if the community in which it sits is in a dysfunctional state. My role is to facilitate this shift in mindset, encouraging dialogue and pursuing solutions for the societal and spa-tial issues that will arise. I must work with communities, hand the power back to the people, work to strengthen the emerging platform on which any individual is free to make a contribution.

AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE

Never again will a single story be told as if it is the only one.John Berger

As citizens of the developing world move into an era of heightened awareness, so too do our needs. Architects must facilitate the dialogue between traditional and statutory methods of governance, the past and the present and preferred lifestyles through our design of communal spaces. I will explore and develop concepts for the spaces that accommodate the new citizen. I will work with my primary informant – the citizen – to ensure that my spaces and building processes are reactionary, that is to say based on that which the informant has provided me with. In doing so I will ensure that my buildings emulate and embody the energy of Africa in the 21st century, with spaces, materials and construction processes that are appropriate and unique to each region. My legacy will not be mine alone, but one of the many manifestations of the energy of the African Renaissance.

university projects

HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM CONCEPT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

They say that if you find water rising up to your ankle, that is the time to dosomething about it, not when it is around your neck- Chinua Achebe

One need not wait for a crisis of humanity to ponder the state of man and hisability to coexist with others. This museum is to be a space of self reflection, of ability to coexist with others. This museum is to be a space of self reflection, of welcome introspective moments, allowing the visitor to reflect upon their journey, even as they take it. It will be a space for the people that draws you up and in to its embrace, taking you on an intimate journey of introspection. This journeybecomes the exhibition, the artefacts and exhibits becoming the accessories to the body that is the visitor’s journey.

THE PROJECT

A Human Rights Museum in Braamfontein. The site is on the corner of Juta and Station streets in a part of Braamfontein that is yet to be regenerated. The museum would activate the area by

drawing the young Braamfontein population in, allowing for a casual interaction with the space.

The experience of this urban foyer was central to my design. Exhibition spaces took a secondary role in the function of the museum - it is the experience that will stay with the visitor.

Section allows urban space on ground to open up to the

sky, draws people in.

Main masses remainfloating above ground,

allowing for the creation of an urban foyer

Separation of the functions around central atrium

HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM PLANS & SECTIONS

GROUND FLOORnts

SECTION AA’nts

SECTION CC’nts

AUDITORIUM FLOORnts

EXHIBITION ENTRY FLOORnts

TYPICAL FLOORnts

PLANS, SECTIONS & 3Ds

SECTION BB’nts

3D HAND RENDERnts

HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM

SOUTH FACING ELEVATIONnts

EAST FACING ELEVATIONnts

ELEVATIONS & PERIMETER SECTION

THREE CASTLES FILM ACADEMY

BRAAMFONTEIN

NEWTOWNBANK CITY

MTN TAXI RANK

CARLTON CENTRE

MAIN STREET LIFE

Site located in Johannesburg CBD, close to the Absa Pre-cinct. Typical urban context, with quite densely massed buildings

The surrounding structures are fragmented in theirfootprints, creating unexpected spaces betweenstructures and allowing for green spaces

The greater area is defined by economic nodes, withtransport hubs acting as nuclei and commercial activity clustering around it. There is a notable absence of activity in the area around the site.

Transport nodes indicated in a mixed use CBD. Transport node for those in the Three Castles area are more than a 5 minute walk away.

The CBD is an active hub, where life is ondisplay in a strange marriage between chaos

and order.

The concept - inspired by Jacques Tati’sPlaytimePlaytime - was to take this experience and filter it into an ordered space. The chaos of Joburg CBD would still be emulated through the shared experiences and intersections of the different spaces, whether it be through the transparency of the structure (allowing those outside to engage with the ‘in’) or the

crossing of the public spaces with theprivate.

The eim was to highlight the fact that there is an honesty to these interactions and a

comfort to be found in the knowledge that all your choices in these spaces are made in a

public forum - yet one can still disappear.

PANORAMIC OF PORT PLEIN PARK

Playtime (1967),Jacques Tati

CONNECTING THE SITE TOTHE SURROUNDINGS

CONCEPT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

THREE CASTLES FILM ACADEMY

The CBD is an active hub, where life is ondisplay in a strange marriage between chaos and order.

The concept - inspired by Jacques Tati’sPlaytimePlaytime - was to take this experience and filter it into an ordered space. The chaos of Joburg CBD would still be emulated through the shared experiences and intersections

of the different spaces, whether it be through the transparency of the structure (allowing those outside to engage with the ‘in’) or the crossing of the public spaces

with theprivate.

The eim was to highlight the fact that there is an honesty to these interactions and a The eim was to highlight the fact that there is an honesty to these interactions and a comfort to be found in the knowledge that all your choices in these spaces are made in

a public forum - yet one can still disappear.

THIRDnts

SECONDnts

GROUNDnts

FIFTHnts

SIXTHnts

BASEMENTnts

FOURTHnts

THIRDnts

SECTION CC’nts

SECTION BB’nts

SECTION AA’nts

PLANS & SECTIONS

THREE CASTLES FILM ACADEMY

SECTION DD’nts

MARSHALL STREET ELEVATIONnts

GOUD STREET ELEVATIONnts

VIEW OF BUILDING FROM CORNER OF MARSHALL & GOUD STREETS

ELEVATIONS AND 3D VIEW

BRAAMFONTEIN CEMETERYThe Project: Design a modern extension to the historical

Braamfontein Cemetery. TRANSITIONS - REBIRTH

The concept of transition defines circulation and thresholds. I created a ‘focal’ point through my use of landmarks. All other circulation was designed toemulate ‘birth’ channels and corners, leading you into larger spaces. Thus my focal point retained its hierarchy.

TRANSITIONS

A major part of the concept has to do with transitions - what one experiences when experiencing a loss.

This attempt to plot a ‘graph’ of grief leads one to the conclusion that amourner needs a structured, ordered space to feel free.

The Enoch Sontonga Memorial, situated in the Black Christian Graves section of theBraamfontein Cemetery

The Main Entrance to the existing Braamfontein Cemetery

CONCEPT & LAYOUT

LAYOUT_LVL 0nts

LAYOUT_LVL 1nts

LAYOUT_LVL 2nts

WEST FACING SECTIONAL ELEVATIONnts

EAST FACING SECTIONAL ELEVATIONnts

MEMORIAL GARDEN - PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE

EAST FACING SECTIONnts

FUNCTION FIGURE_GROUND & ACCESS

LEGENDGARDENS

PEDESTRIAN ACCESSACCESS TO PARKINGSERVICES ENTRANCE

BURIAL SPACESMEMORIAL HALLCREMATORIUMMORTUARY CUBICLESMORTUARYPAVILIONADMINISTRATIVE HIERARCHY IN PUBLIC SPACES

LEGENDHIGH HIERARCHYMEDIUM HIERARCHYLOW HIERARCHY

LEGENDFIGURE_ENCLOSEDFIGURE_SEMI-ENCLOSEDFIGURE_OPEN

BRAAMFONTEIN CEMETERY

OVERALL LAYOUTnts

SECTION THROUGHCOLUMBARIUM

nts

MEMORIAL GARDEN - PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE

COMMEMORATION POND

PROGRESSION RAMP

COLUMBARIUM

EUCALYPTUS FOREST

3D VIEWS

LAYOUT & 3D VIEWS

CONCEPT & LAYOUTWITS COMMEMORATIVE TOWERThe Project: A tower commemorating Wits’ 100th year in 2022. Students werepermitted to pick their own sites on the Braamfontein campus

The concept was to create a structure that did not draw focus to itself, but served to highlight the heritage around it. This would be a commentary on how past and present experiences can exist in one space, yet the present can not existindependent of the past.

CONCEPT & LAYOUT

architectural work

COTTAGE SERUMAGA

THE PROJECT: Design and manage theconversion of a car port into an open plancottage for rental. The main challenge was to create a habitable space in the driveway of the property.

CONTRIBUTIONCONTRIBUTION: Measuring up of the existing building, design of new space, management of the construction process and building labour.

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1. Render of cottage form garden2. Completed cottage from garden3. Render of living area from bedroom4. Completed living area from bedroom5. Rendered of interior from living area6. Completed interior7. Render of living area from kitchen7. Render of living area from kitchen8. Render of bathroom9. Door by Delphina10. View into garden from living area

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COTTAGE SYDENHAMTHE PROJECT: Design the conversion of maid’s quarters and garage into two adjoined cot-tages. Generate the drawings for neighbour’s approval and submission to council.

CONTRIBUTION:Measuring up of the existing building, design of new space and generation of design and council drawings for submission to council for approval.

STONED CHERRIE HQTHE PROJECTConversion of a single storey house into the new Stoned CherrieHeadquarters. It is now a double storey building with offices, workshop, dis-play and changing areas

CONTRIBUTIONMeasuring up of the building and generation of As Built drawings for submis-Measuring up of the building and generation of As Built drawings for submis-sion to council for approval, working from the existing working drawings.

DESIGNMpho Matsipa in assoc. with Office 24-7

HOUSE BRYANSTONTHE PROJECTManagement of the renovation of a house in Bryanston.

CONTRIBUTIONPurely management and design problem solutions. Delphina put together the building team/subcontractors who worked in everything except the floor and the lawn in the garden.

JOB LIST- Replaciment of all doors, skirting, cornices, tiles and BICs- Replaciment of all doors, skirting, cornices, tiles and BICs- Rhinolite and paint to all interior walls- Alteration to layout of first floor bathroom (to make bigger)- Installation of new light and plug points, heated towel rail- Replacement of all lighting fixtures with new ones- Re-tiling and rearranging of plumbing in bathrooms- Terracing of garden and installation of gutter to solve drainage issues- Paving to areas in garden- Paving to areas in garden- Repairing and waterproofing of external damp damaged walls- Removal of trees, brickwork planters and existing lawn

SONHEUWEL LUXURY HOTELTHE PROJECTA luxury hotel in Nelspruit.

CONTRIBUTIONConceptualize the form, working from existing plans. Concepts Discussedand Submitted to Impatto Architects, 2011

competitionsfurniture design

presentation

BLUEPRINTS OF PARADISEThis competition called for participants from architecture and the arts to express their dream of an ideal Africa of the future.

My concept was derived from the homestead prototype.My project was an attempt to understand the possibilities when My project was an attempt to understand the possibilities when acknowledging the dialogue between the modern and traditional ways of life, ranging from a neighbourhood community scale to a national one. I drew parallels between the the lifestyles by placing them side by side at every level, expressing a desire to see the continent find it’s place on the global stage by re-establishing its own identities.

COMMUNITY CENTRE

PARLIAMENT BUILDING

CONCEPT & LAYOUT

COMMUNITY CENTRE

LAYOUT

STATUTORY GOVERNANCE TRADITIONAL GOVERNANCEINTERNETCAFE

LIBRARY

AMPHITHEATRE

MARKET

OFFICES FROM AMPHITHEATRE

COMMUNAL AREA

OFFICES

OFFICES

MARKET FROM OFFICES

MARKETOFFICES FROM MARKET

CONCEPT & LAYOUT

PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS

GROUND

FIRST

SECTION

SECTION

RETHINK HOTELS

FURNITURE DESIGN

side front section back

Chair designed and built by DSM

RENDERS & MODELS

Renders for Soccer Academy - d. Simon Tollman, 2010Models for Nyanga Sport Centre - d. Simon Tollman, 2012