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Uncovering the reality of‘ bad’ buildings in Johannesburg
Seeking to recognise what happens to buildings and their residents after funding is cut off, artist, architect, researcher, writer, curator and project manager, Hariwe Johnson, went on a journey into the inner-city of Johannesburg and specifically into downtown Doornfontein to understand the realities of those left behind. Johnson’ s project researched over 20 so called‘ bad buildings’ but he focused his research, work and his team on one particular building known as‘ Dark City’.
By Ntsako Khosa
A survey revealed that 220 people live in‘ Dark City’.
Hariwe Johnson ' s thesis is called,‘ The‘ Dark City: Critical Interventions in Urban Despair’ and was named after the building that they focused on. Johnson invited several contributors, to his project, in various fields such as: electrical and structural engineering, research and anthropology, fine art, animation, and( most prominent at the gallery exhibition: photography and videography( Jono Wood and Dirk Chalmers, respectively).
At the end of his academic year, Johnson founded‘ The Dark City’ Project. After two years of research and exploring the building Johnson and Wood were offered exhibiting space at the Circa Gallery in Rosebank from November 2016 to January 2017.
Johnson‘ s project received summa cum laude and the highest mark ever awarded at the University of Johannesburg. He has also been commended by South Africa’ s leading clay brick and paving manufacturer, Corobrik at the 2015 regional and national architectural student awards.
There are a significant number of buildings in the city that have been abandoned by their legal owners, and subsequently the city’ s local government has cut all water, electricity and refuse collection services.
Invariably, these buildings are occupied by the poor and destitute. The inhabitants live in horrendous, slum conditions, among trash, human waste, crime and disease.
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MARCH- APRIL 2017
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