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Architectural Heritage
Lessons from Kwame Nkrumah’s Vision
I have just returned from a trip to Ghana in which I have had the opportunity to travel back and fourth between Ghana’s two major cities, Accra and Kumasi. This was my second visit this year, and as such I feel I have been given a good overview of the place in order to share [...]
Community Design Partnerships (CPD’s) in Botswana
Bakgatla Bolokang Matshelo – Shell Struture by Dalhousie University Students Community design partnerships have existed in other parts of the world in different forms. Essentially, CDP’s are a collaboration of design professionals with local communities to provide them with professional building services. The core advantages of these initiatives are the interchange of ideas and expertise between [...]
‘Local Firms should look outside’ or should they? please join the debate.
Once in while we get comments from our readers and endevour to reply and engage in discussions on issues raised and here is one such a very well argued conversation that I would like to invite our readers to also join in because it raises pertenent industry issues that are critical for our local economy. [...]
Botswana Should Develop Solar Farms for Its Energy Needs
That Botswana suffers from chronic power shortages is a fact. Also it should be noted that Botswana Government though the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR) are currently engaged in various power coal plant initiatives, notably Mmamabula Energy Project (MEP), the P20 billion project. This is said will be able to supply Botswana [...]
What is the role of politics in the built environment?
Great cities across the world including ours were built behind some great political will and support. The relationship between politics, architecture and the building of place is an old friendship that goes as far back as when humans began settling in communal groups. Architecture and community are inseparable. Architecture offers communities a physical medium of [...]
BUILDING DESIGN AS AN INVESTMENT: PART 2
Office Developments in Gaborone CBD Last week we looked at Land and what features to look for when choosing it as a building investment. With the first part successfully completed, you are now ready to add more value to your investment through design of the building. This is a critically important stage which is quite [...]
Designing Sowa Town from scratch; Reflections By Jan Wareus
Place making and zonal mappings [images:http://janwareussowatown.blogspot.com/] We continue our feature of Sowa Town on its 20th anniversary highlighting today its design beginnings, as narrated by one of its founding designers, Jan Wareus. He takes us through its history and principles of concept making that the township layout was based on. Sowa Town is new town [...]
Sowa Town Celebrates 20th Anniversary
This week we will feature a special edition focusing on Sowa Town and the celebration of its 20th anniversary. We have interviews from both its founding planners, local authority and will reach out to the Botswana Ash mine. Sowa Town is located within the Central District of Botswana and lies some 163 km from the [...]
Botswana Railways to lease its abandoned former train station buildings.
Dibete Train station disused building When the ‘blue train’ completed its last journey on the 1 April 2009 the future of all the train stations on the Botswana Railways network lay uncertain. Train stations, since the introduction of the passenger train in Botswana in 1987 had become a feature of most travellers’ feature. Obscure villages [...]
Gaborone, a City without a Public Square
This week has been an incredible week in the sport fabric of Botswana. The Zebras have finally done us proud by qualifying for our first ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This is a historic achievement and throughout the week, the city of Gaborone and indeed the country, has been awash with excitement, with even [...]
Boidus Focus August Edition
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