Ounongo Repository

Ounongo means “knowledge” in the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero languages.

The Ounongo Repository (OR) is the institutional repository of Namibia University of Science and Technology.

The OR is administered by the Library, with technical assistance from DTBS, and its aim is to collect, organize, manage, store, preserve, publish and make accessible worldwide, the knowledge assets or intellectual output of the University's researchers, staff and post-graduate students.

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Communities in Ounongo

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 10

Recent Submissions

Traditional Burial Reinterpretation Centre in Katima Mulilo: Investigation of Vernacular Burial Practices in an Urban Context within the Zambezi Region
(NUST, 2022-10-10) Nawa, I. Ishmael
As with most cultural groups, the people of the Zambezi region have burial practices unique to them. These practices have been passed down through the generations. In recent years these processes are less practiced, predominantly due to the influence of conventional Christian burials which have resulted in traditional methods becoming taboo. This has caused tension around the allocation and use of burial spaces in the Zambezi region. This thesis aims to understand the ritual typology brought about by opposing beliefs affecting existing grave spaces and contemporary cemeteries in the Zambezi region and how this could inform an intervention aimed at improving the cemetery space in Katima Mulilo. The intervention will aim to create a space where traditional burial practices are represented in relation to conventional methods. This will be achieved through reinterpretation of traditional methods in a proposed architectural intervention. It will showcase traditional methods in a gallery space and provide a memorial for the countless buried in unmarked or forgotten graves.
Mining The Poetic Depths of an Industrial Landscape: Automating a Fish Market Narrating Trawling along the Lagoon Promenade of Walvis Bay
(NUST, 2024-10-10) Visagie, Gert
Walvis Bay, a town deeply intertwined with Namibia’s fishing and industrial heritage, is a pivotal economic hub along the Namibian coast. Despite its historical significance and bustling fishing sector, the town lacks a dedicated fish market, creating a notable gap in its cultural and economic landscape. This thesis addresses this shortfall by proposing the design of a fish market that bridges this void while resonating with the town’s unique industrial heritage and cultural identity. The chosen site for the fish market, located on the southern edge of the new container terminal within the lagoon promenade of Walvis Bay, offers a strategic and historically rich location. This site is adjacent to the cruise ship terminal and the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a prominent ecological and tourist attraction known for its diverse avian population. The lagoon’s serene environment contrasts with the surrounding industrial activities, providing a backdrop for a meaningful architectural intervention. Based on the principles of poetic post-phenomenology, the thesis explores how architectural design can evoke sensory and emotional connections between users and their environment. The market is conceived not merely as a functional space but as an evocative architectural experience that reflects Walvis Bay’s industrial character. By incorporating the town’s industrial rhythm, order, and materiality, the design aims to enhance the connection between the space and its users, thus enriching the town’s identity. The industrial heritage of Walvis Bay, characterised by robust structures and repetitive forms, serves as a critical reference point. This thesis abstracts these elements and recontextualises them within the fish market’s design to create a practical and resonant space with the town’s maritime and industrial ethos. The project also considers the broader implications for the town’s urban fabric, aiming to revitalise the promenade and provide a dynamic public space that integrates seamlessly with the existing “poetic journey.” Addressing the town’s infrastructure gap and enhancing the promenade’s appeal, the fish market is envisioned as a cultural and architectural intervention that reconnects Walvis Bay’s past with its present. This design offers a profound and immersive experience for locals and tourists, fostering a deeper appreciation of the town’s heritage and creating a vibrant destination within the lagoon promenade.
Liminality at the Edge: Architecture as Catalyst for Bridging Landscapes of Marginality in Swakopmund, Namibia: A Vertical Urban Aquaponics Farm and Research- Development Centre for Swakopmund Municipality
(NUST, 2019-08-10) Williams, Gabriel
Swakopmund, once the industrial hub and port town for the German colonialist regime has today developed into a fully functional holiday resort as dictated by the Treaty of Versailles. Located in the limen between the hot Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean, the town’s unique character and spatial qualities have undergone many sequential changes during its existence. Namibia’s history of segregation and inequality is greatly entrenched within the development of Swakopmund, and therefore perpetuates spatial, cultural, socio-economic segregation within the built fabric. Colonial and apartheid ideologies of socio-economic segregation continue to exist through capitalist driven interventions, privatising the public domain and informing a cellular, low density urban fabric propagating marginalisation of previously disadvantaged inhabitants. Despite Namibia gaining independence in 1990, the persistent imbalance of society disrupts social cohesion and inclusion, limiting access to education and economic opportunities. In Swakopmund the fragmented urban fabric augment these legacies and emphasise the need for change. Architecture could act as a catalyst to bridge these prevalent landscapes of marginality. The theory of liminality, edge conditions and in-between spaces provide the framework around which the architectural design is informed. The limen at the centre of the research exists on an existing industrial fringe between the water’s edge and the urban extents of the former black township, Mondesa. The research proposes to provide a solution that would weave fragments of the urban fabric by strengthening cultural mobility. This could be achieved through a proposed building programme that facilitates knowledge transfer, inclusive economic practices and social condensing towards equality and spatial transformation in Swakopmund. Within a re-imagined urban block, the proposed vertical urban farm becomes a key corridor that acts as a condenser of human, agricultural, social and economic capital.
TRANSFORMATION OF SPACES IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATIO AND GROWTH: A CASE OF THE HOUSE OF COHEN ON INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, WINDHOEK
(NUST, 2024-08-10) MENYAH-ARTIVOR, FREDRICK
increasing abandonment, necessitating innovative solutions to revitalise the area. This thesis investigates the adaptive reuse of the Cohen Building, aiming to develop design strategies that respond to its current socio-economic and spatial characteristics while preserving its historical and architectural significance and aligning with contemporary urban development trends. The primary objective is to transform the Cohen Building into a dynamic digital creators’ hub aimed at empowering the business surrounding Industry 4.0 and revitalising the CBD. The literature review forms the foundation of this study, encompassing various aspects of architectural theory and practice. Parent's (2020) exploration of typology as dynamism provides insights into the psychological and spatial dynamics essential for adaptive reuse. Adam Hardy's (2007) work on the expression of movement in architecture informs the integration of kinetic elements into static structures. Megahed’s (2015) research on kinetic architecture offers strategies for creating adaptable and responsive spaces. Additionally, the human movement and interaction strategies discussed by Vroman and Lagrange (2016) underscore the importance of designing spaces catered for people, that facilitate engagement and activity. Case studies such as the adaptive reuse of the Malha warehouse in Brazil and the transformation of the FNCC building in Namibia investigate the adaptation of heritage buildings in global south climates such as Namibia and Brazil, which provide practical examples of successful adaptive reuse projects. An investigation of a case study in Norway presents the applications of kinetic elements rounding up the case studies and emphasising the need for flexible design approaches that respect historical integrity while meeting contemporary needs. Design cues from the literature highlight the importance of integrating static served spaces and dynamic servant spaces, as conceptualised by Louis Kahn (1974). The static pods will house primary activities, ensuring stability and continuity, while dynamic servant spaces will support these activities through adaptable and movable elements inspired by kinetic architectural principles (Megahed, 2015). Figure 2 shows an amalgamation of these abstracted ideas within a collage, suggestive of the goal of this thesis, combining kinetic elements and reused adapted elements. The collage depicts the project touchstone centrally, which anchors the concept in dynamic, interlinked spaces. The research methodology includes observational studies, sketching, mapping, and model building to develop and refine design strategies through continuous iteration. Observations will capture the current socio-economic and spatial dynamics surrounding the Cohen Building while sketching and mapping will help visualise potential design interventions. Model building will facilitate the exploration of three-dimensional design solutions, allowing for iterative testing and refinement. In conclusion, this thesis aims to provide a comprehensive strategy for the adaptive reuse of the Cohen Building, transforming it into a vibrant digital creators’ hub aimed at empowering the business surrounding Industry 4.0 and catalysing the revitalisation of the CBD. By integrating historical preservation with contemporary design principles and addressing current socio-economic needs, the Cohen Building will serve as a dynamic focal point for community engagement and urban development.
Acquainting Embedded Elemental Wisdom of Omaheke’s Sandveld into a Namibian Nature Foundation Knowledge Exchange Centre
(2024-08-10) Bezuidenhout, Cornelius
Located in Eastern Namibia, the Omaheke region functions as one of the key economic contributors, becoming known for, among others, its excellent produce farming, and specifically its cattle-related products. Known as “Cattle Country,” Omaheke faces challenges due to farming practices becoming less sustainable. Some farmers started to implement alternative income sources, some related to tourism to create better livelihoods. However, less knowledgeable farmers resort to unsustainable practices, such as overgrazing, leaving the same natural ecosystem needed to sustain their livelihoods to become degraded. Through the question below, the Genius Loci of the context is investigated to reverse the degradation of the Sandveld. How could the embedded elemental wisdom of Omaheke’s Sandveld inform an architecture of acquaintance composed of gathered moments of knowledge exchange able to foster a deeper appreciation of this arid place and proselytize a community towards eco-agriculture? A place could be defined as the cumulative nature of all the elements (natural, economic, social), creating its unique identity and meaning. If even one of these elements is disrupted, for example, the natural landscape (Camelthorn Savannah or Sandveld) in this case, the very thing that gives a place its meaning, could be lost. Therefore, this phenomenological research approach comprises of a qualitative case study, through which tools and systems derived from Genius Loci (as a Phenomenological approach) will be applied to generate a proposed architectural design. Using Genius Loci as a theoretical lens, a deeper understanding of the meaning of place within the Sandveld of Omaheke’s veld pans and dunes was gained through sketching as an analysis technique. The technique of sketching natural landscapes and elements, to analyse the context, informing possible architectural spaces, forms, and design informants, as by Jacobson (2019) used to conduct the research. Using this technique, the Genius Loci was understood and implemented into a contextually relevant intervention. To propose a place for research and information exchange, serving nature, researchers, tourists, and local farmers alike, could foster a deeper understanding of Omaheke’s Camelthorn Savannah. Possibly becoming the catalyst needed to revitalise and strengthen the relationship between the natural environment and its communities, harmonising and sustaining living, being, and place.