YVONNE BRUINETTE
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
‘The Heritage Portal: An Experiential Narrative’ based at Westfort in Pretoria
Hidden in the western outskirts of Pretoria lies
the remains of what used to be the protector of
the West, known as ‘Westfort’. Just before the
outbreak of World War II, the fort was dismantled,
stripped down for its steel and left to fall into ruin
(Van Vollenhoven 1998:25 ).
The dissertation addresses the ongoing process
of ruination and isolation within highly contested
continuums of change. By rehabilitating this for-
gotten ruin, Westfort might awaken mysteries of the
past and evoke a need to tell stories about it.
The site, Westfort, is situated in the western
outskirts of Pretoria and just before the outbreak
of World War II, the fort was dismantled, stripped
Student Awards
for its steel and left to fall into ruin. The site
also includes the former Westfort Leper Institution,
which since its closure in 1997, has been illegally
occupied by informal settlers. Today, it still functions
as a segregated community and together with the
Fort, illustrates the consequences of ruination and
isolation over time.
The Heritage Portal will act as the mediator
in celebrating the continuity of our collective and
continuous South African heritage thro ugh the
experience of narration. The intention of the project
is to protect the heritage significance of the Westfort
precinct, secure its future value, and introduce
continuity through experiential architecture.
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