Location
Arlington, Virginia
Date
15 Aug 2008, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Abstract
In its accreditation of degrees, the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) requires the inclusion, in any curriculum, of 10% of total credits of what are termed complementary studies that encompass reflections upon environmental impact, legal matters, cultural heritage and design philosophies as they pertain to the engineering profession. By stipulating this inclusion ECSA acknowledges that engineering can no longer be regarded as a neutral, apolitical endeavour. This paper responds to the latter position and sets out to offer a broadening of the current scope of scholarly dialogue between a logical science and the human community which it serves. In order to do so, the authors examine the case histories of the foundations of two important radio towers in Johannesburg, South Africa, constructed during the period 1959 to 1972. The paper describes the differing geotechnical profiles of the foundations of these structures but expands upon their physical characteristics by positing the existence of shifting ideological arguments inherent in the design processes and material conditions of the buildings. The study draws on key principles of nationalism to suggest a rich and layered signification for these impressive but nonetheless quotidian outcomes of civil engineering practice.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
6th Conference of the International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 2008 Missouri University of Science and Technology, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Groenewald, Lizè and Legge, Francis, "Foundations of the Nation: The Hillbrow and Brixton Towers as Figurations of National Identity in South Africa" (2008). International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. 4.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icchge/6icchge/session11b/4
Foundations of the Nation: The Hillbrow and Brixton Towers as Figurations of National Identity in South Africa
Arlington, Virginia
In its accreditation of degrees, the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) requires the inclusion, in any curriculum, of 10% of total credits of what are termed complementary studies that encompass reflections upon environmental impact, legal matters, cultural heritage and design philosophies as they pertain to the engineering profession. By stipulating this inclusion ECSA acknowledges that engineering can no longer be regarded as a neutral, apolitical endeavour. This paper responds to the latter position and sets out to offer a broadening of the current scope of scholarly dialogue between a logical science and the human community which it serves. In order to do so, the authors examine the case histories of the foundations of two important radio towers in Johannesburg, South Africa, constructed during the period 1959 to 1972. The paper describes the differing geotechnical profiles of the foundations of these structures but expands upon their physical characteristics by positing the existence of shifting ideological arguments inherent in the design processes and material conditions of the buildings. The study draws on key principles of nationalism to suggest a rich and layered signification for these impressive but nonetheless quotidian outcomes of civil engineering practice.
