Articles · Vol. 17 No. 2 (2013): African Sociological Review · Pages 2 - 23

1 - Talking heritage: Africa at the crossroads of tradition and modernity

  • Tom Sanya
    Tom Sanya School of Architecture, Planning and Geometrics University of Cape Town, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1935-9796 (unauthenticated)
    I am an architecture academic at University of Cape Town (UCT) with over 20 years of experience in higher education and part-time consultancy. I have a PhD in architecture from the Oslo School of Architecture (Norway), a Master’s of Infrastructure Planning from the University...
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Vol. 17 · 2013 No. 2 African Sociological Review ASR

Abstract

This paper address the question: given the ethical imperatives of today’s world, could traditional building heritage realistically make any fresh contributions to an alternative development model? The above questions are explored via a dialectics between the traditional earth building methods and modernity as widely understood in Uganda. Heritage is conceptualised as constitutive of interactions between processes, products and people, and the environment. The paper tests the conjecture that, claims to culture and its preservation, constitute a multi-layered veil which advertently or inadvertently obstructs Ugandans from comprehending and making the deep structural changes required to re/produce their desired architecture and lifestyles.

Keywords

Heritage modern architecture critical regionalism museology Uganda sustainability

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Author Biography

  • Tom Sanya, School of Architecture, Planning and Geometrics University of Cape Town, South Africa

    I am an architecture academic at University of Cape Town (UCT) with over 20 years of experience in higher education and part-time consultancy. I have a PhD in architecture from the Oslo School of Architecture (Norway), a Master’s of Infrastructure Planning from the University of Stuttgart (German) and Bachelor of Architecture from Makerere University (Uganda). My teaching and research activities are focused on climate smart design and water sensitive design. My methods are underpinned by analytical and evidence-based approaches to low energy and water sensitive design of buildings, including environmental simulation. I have developed and teach a successful course in sustainable building design to over 70 students every year at the University of Cape Town. I am a qualified and accredited professional for green buildings and eco-districts. I value interdisciplinary collaboration with academic, professional and community partners. I am on the steering committee of the UCT Future Water Institute – one of the five strategic cross-faculty institutes at UCT. I have been selected as 2022 Ambassador for the Swiss-based Solar Impulse Foundation to promote uptake of innovative solutions for sustainable development globally.

References

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