African Identity in Post-Apartheid Public Architecture

Dr Jonathan Alfred Noble, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

'In this detailed and carefully argued study, Noble shows how a different kind of modern architecture is possible - contemporary in appearance, yet also public, democratic, political and symbolic. An inspiring piece of work.' Iain Borden, University College London, UK 'If the problem of creating a Palestinian state is today's pathological example of man's inhumanity to man, we mustn't forget that only a generation ago the South African apartheid regime was the world's rallying point. Huge transformations have been made in South Africa since then, and Jonathan Noble's remarkable book is one of the first to study the architectural and urban ramifications of the collapse of apartheid. Other scholars will no doubt seek to challenge the interpretations offered in this book - as befits a subject of such importance - but they will be indebted to Noble for having written such a lucidly analytical account.' Murray Fraser, University of Westminster, UK '... the book's careful unpacking of the formal undecidability that results when political ideology becomes entangled with architectural production gives it a relevance and value that transcend its South African setting. Noble offers a well-illustrated, thoughtful account of how cultural 'authenticity', whether manifested through political subjectivity or built environments, is always under construction, fashioned through the interplay of a heterogeneous array of factors, narratives and mechanisms.' Traditional Dwellings & Settlements Review 'One of the book’s chief merits is Noble’s detailed presentation of his original research into the design competitions for each project. Comparing the winning schemes against failed ones, the text provides a rich insight into the values and priorities of the public officials, jury members and architects responsible for the final outcomes. Noble’s exposition also illustrates the detrimental but sometimes fraught efforts to integrate South Africa’s new democratic expectations int

• Contents: Foreword; Introduction; Imagination and identification, part 1: the Mpumalanga legislature, Nelspruit; Imagination and identification, part 2: the Northern Cape legislature, Kimberley; 'We the People', part 1: the Constitutional Court of South Africa, at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg; 'We the People', part 2: the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, Kliptown; Honouring our other 'We': Freedom Park, Pretoria; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.