The Heritage Inventory as a Foundation for Urban Design in Heritage Sensitive Areas
about this project
This project formed part of a broader urban design initiative for Rhodes University, focusing on heritage compliance under the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA). Approximately 300 structures were assessed, with around 100 identified as having heritage significance, alongside key elements such as trees, spaces, and boundary walls.
The project produced a summary statement highlighting the campus’s heritage value, guiding urban design interventions that integrate and conserve significant assets. Heritage structures were recognised as essential to placemaking, providing identity, scale, and continuity across the campus.
As Heritage Practitioners, our role involved advising on the appropriate conservation and management of heritage assets and ensuring their thoughtful incorporation into future campus development.
a more in-depth look at this project
This heritage project, conducted in 2014 and 2015, formed part of a broader urban design and development proposal for the Rhodes University complex in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. It involved compliance with the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) and a thorough review of existing heritage information, assessing approximately 300 structures and identifying around 100 as having heritage significance, along with other elements like spaces, trees, and boundary walls.
The project produced a summary statement highlighting the significance of these structures and the overall campus. Specific precincts were analysed to ensure their integration with the planned urban design works, aiming to align the conservation of heritage assets with ongoing development initiatives.
URBAN DESIGN STATEMENT:
Heritage plays a role in placemaking by anchoring identity, memory, and cultural continuity within the urban landscape. Heritage structures help define the character and spatial rhythm of streets and places, providing continuity, scale, and a strong sense of identity within urban design.