Heritage Cases

The Urban design development guideline plan proposes demolition of the Old Warders House to make way for development on land parcel E and furthermore provides a guideline on the future development of Land parcel E. Even though the North East Side of Constitution Hill is not declared as a National Heritage Site and does not contain significant Heritage properties it is within the buffer zone of the Heritage Portions and contain within the Land Parcel E the Old Wardens House which has a story that has limited relevance to the Site. Thus the proposed demolition of the Old Warden’s Houses is worthy of commemoration and should be commemorated by the new development in its place. Condition of the Old Warden’s House The Old Warden’s House structure is no longer intact, vandalised and dilapidated beyond restoration and repair. The roof of the Building has collapsed and general condition of the remaining building walls has deteriorated. The House plays no major role on the history of Constitution Hill. The house is vulnerable to illegal occupancy and poses a threat to surrounding community. The following Commemoration Brief for the proposed demolished structure will be adhered to. This briefs shall form a part of the conservation policy for the heritage building and an instruction to a designer when commissioned to design a new development space on Land Parcel E. The COMMEMORATION BRIEF should, inter alia, deal with the following: HISTORY: The cultural significance of that which it is intended to commemorate should be stated. This should include a brief social, political and, where appropriate, architectural history. LOCATION: Commemoration should be site specific i.e., it should occur as close as possible to where the event took place or the demolished structure stood. VISIBILITY/PROMINENCE: Commemoration should capture the attention and imagination of the visitor. It should inform about what is being commemorated and why, in such a way as to arouse the interest of the beholder. COMMEMORATION: Should be more than just a token - the fulfillment of an obligation to commemorate something. It should employ creative means. It should challenge the imagination of both the designer and the visitor. INTEGRATION: Commemoration shall form an integral part of the planning and design of the place or building in which it is to occur. It shall be more than an afterthought – something added when the structure or place is complete. Proposed Development The Old Warden’s House is on Sam Hancock Street North of the Constitutional Court. This north aspect street edge provides an opportunity for the Constitution Hill Precinct to have a ‘public front’. This would integrate various and important physical elements such as, the historic Queen Victoria Hospital, the Great African Steps (extension) and the new development on parcel E. Overhangs, colonnades, and shop fronts along the edge will greatly assist in relating the precinct to the city. The proposed development is referred to as Conhill Park or alternatively known as We the People Park. The roof of the structure at the level of the road is to be planted and landscaped and by so doing the open space that Conhill Park affords is strategically placed because from this point of vantage the full extent of the north façade of the Constitutional Court; the African Steps; one of the Nurses’ homes; the stone wall of section Four and Five, and the Queen Vic are all visible. The Urban design development guideline plan provided a detailed guideline for development on Land Parcel E.The Artistic impressions of the proposed We the people park are attached.