The new commune: a design proposal that aims to create an alternative living environment for city dweller

• Main Author: Fouche, Monique
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2017
• Subjects: Architecture; Urban Design
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24366

The New Commune is a design proposal that aims to create an alternative living environment for the city dweller that revolves around simplicity and community, where nature plays the main role and elements of self-sufficiency become a reality. The design proposal merges the principles of an urban commune with that of agricultural density. This document traces the evolution of the design process, from the initial interest of the commune ideology explored in phase 1 to the analyses of the urban implications of this design proposal in phase 6, providing an understanding of the commune concept not only as a concept for alternative living but also an architectural scheme that promotes simplicity and community. This document illustrates the investigations that were conducted in order to achieve an understanding of the commune as a design dissertation topic. Phase 2, 'Exploration', investigates an extensive array of commune precedents, local and international, to demonstrate that the commune is a realistic proposal. The investigation was defined in Phase 3, 'Implementation', through the completion of a Theory and Technology paper that explored the quantitive and qualitative aspects of the commune ideology. The next phase, 'Realisation', introduced the Oude Molen (in Pinelands) site as an appropriate setting for the New Commune, as it presents a sufficiently large area, that is serenely located next to the Black River, for a selfsufficient agricultural endeavor as well as being located close to the CBD to accommodate the urban needs of the inhabitants. The final two phases of the document explore the commune subject architecturally, examining issues such as density, site usage, site design, programmatic requirements and dwelling concepts. This documentation of the several phases experienced by the New Commune will provide the reader with insight into the several issues examined in order to make the commune ideology a viable thesis topic.