Transformation in the architectural profession, and among architectural technologists in particular, appears to be moving at snail's pace. That's the view of Errol Pieters, Head of Department at the Department of Architecture at Technikon Pretoria.
His judgment is based on the makeup of learners enrolled in the Department. 10 years after transformation was initiated in earnest in South Africa, less than a fifth of the Department's 200 students are South Africans of colour.
The trend, says Pieters, is yet another example of fallout from the apartheid era.
"Black South Africans have been deprived of actively engaging with architecture. They were forced to live in environments that were devoid of any civic amenities. They never exposed to a designed environment. Their indifference to the profession isn't surprising," says Pieters.
He is, however, very excited that transformation is starting to take place, albeit slowly. At the end of 2002, three of the top five fourth-year students from the Technikon's Department of Architecture were previously disadvantaged South Africans.
"Their merit performance was outstanding and they're going to be excellent ambassadors for the profession."
The Department of Architecture is part of the Technikon's Faculty of Engineering. It offers four-year B.Tech and six-year M.Tech architectural technology degrees.
Learners from the rest of Africa are, however, signing up at the Technikon's Department of Architecture in increasing numbers. Students from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Namibia make up seven percent of the Department's student body.
Their enrolment gives the Department an international view, which is further intensified by other students who are finishing their practical training in Europe.
This newfound intercontinental perspective recently prompted the Department of Architecture to upgrade its design technology installation.
"As an academic institution, the Technikon cannot favour one brand of software over another. We should be using the latest technologies, taking into account the value and quality of software as well as overall usage by professional practices. Our learners have to have experience using the software that they're most likely to encounter in the workplace.
"As the consensus is that Autodesk technology is the industry standard around the world, it was time for the Department to upgrade its Autodesk technology to 30 seats of the model-based technology - Autodesk Architectural Desktop. The Centurion-based Autodesk reseller, Autograph Design Technologies, carried out the installation.
Model-based design technology is more advanced than traditional drawing packages, offering a model-driven approach to design, as opposed to the old fashioned automation of tedious drafting tasks. Information derived from intelligent design data embedded in a model is re-used throughout the design process - from the creation of conceptual designs to the generation of elevations, sections, schedules, and detailed drawings."
A feature of the Architecture Department's technology installation is a computer laboratory that remains open for student use 24 hours a day.
Pieters explains that first year students work solely in 2D. In second year they begin specialising in 3D and start doing some rendering. The Technikon offers courses on several different software packages and also ensures that its students also have a good understanding of networking, hardware, and office related software.
Visit the
Departments Website: http://www.architec.co.za/
Visit Autodesk: http://www.autodesk.co.za
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Copyright(c)2003, M.Jeary
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