Michaela Naidoo

Urban rivers that flow through cities are frequently neglected or overlooked, and their presence is diminished or restricted to suit the conditions of modern life. Urban rivers, however, play an important role on the greater urban scale, forming the ecological and cultural identities of the city. The Jukskei, in Johannesburg, maintains a notorious reputation for being highly polluted and often contaminated by sewage outflow from the urban environment. Its journey through Johannesburg is not without challenges, and yet this waterway overcomes urban pressure, continuing to the Hartbeespoort Dam and out into the Indian Ocean. Many of the Jukskei’s biodiverse riverscapes have been decimated or compromised, rendering them unsuitable for sustaining ecological or social value in the city.

The site of intervention bordering Alex is a suitable research point along the Jukskei River that addresses the need for water infrastructure. The greater water network of the Jukskei identifies points of intervention along the Riverscape for urban ecological solutions that can be implemented. Exploring a central theme of Water and Architecture, the research investigates how public architecture along the river can restore social and historical narratives while addressing ecological urban challenges that the Jukskei faces. This research aims to highlight the significance of urban riverfront regeneration to answer the question “ How can resilient public architecture be reimagined along the neglected Jukskei River to integrate ecological restoration and reconnect people to the urban riverfront?”. The study combines site analysis, urban theoretical framework, and precedent research to investigate architectural strategies of water-sensitive urban design, flood-resilient public spaces, and material systems suited to restoring wetland contexts. Relevant urban and architectural case studies provide comparative design strategies for the integration of water infrastructure and public urban space.  

The intended design vision is a resilient public architecture through an urban floodable wetland park anchored by a Water research and conservation centre. This research tests and explores solutions in architecture and urbanism to transform the neglected urban Jukskei River.