Sebastian Gorner

This research report is focused on the suburb of Melville, Johannesburg. The issue of failing social and economic systems is defined and a new intervention is proposed. This intervention is a mixed-use development containing a School of Arts, Retail Spaces and Apartment Units. The report covers precedents and case studies for the proposed interventions as well as similar design principles and areas within South Africa and international examples. As the site on 7th Street in Melville is the centre point of this report, an in-depth analysis has been done to determine all aspects that influenced the design of the intervention. The design process is directly linked to the research findings, precedents and site analysis. After this the design development is documented. The final outcome of the research report is a completed building set within Melville’s 7th Street as a method to turn the failing economy around and to bring the community back together.