Lecture Summary: Dr. Sechaba Mappe's Talk on Ritual Spaces

Introduction

• Speaker: Douglas McLeod, Chair of Architecture at Athabasca University
• Event sponsored by Open Architecture.
• Discussion of a potential year-long global studio project.
• Themes of interest:
  • Regenerative design
  • Universal design
  • Decolonizing design education

Open Architecture Overview

• Presented by Lone Paulson, Program Director.
• Focuses on flexible, part-time programs for architecture students who cannot engage in full-time studies.
• Collaboration with Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) from 2014-2019 led to a successful graduate program.
• Current interest in master's and honors programs.

Introduction of Dr. Sechaba Mappe

• Presented by Kristen.
• Connection to the place where the discussion was held.
• Sechaba's work spans multiple disciplines including architecture, anthropology, and environmental psychology.
• Focus on the relationship between self-induced trauma, ritual, and belonging.
• The significance of rituals in adapting to change, especially climate change.

Presentation Overview: "Drawing Creepy Places"

• Focus on representing liminal ritual spaces in Kuruman, South Africa.
• Background of the study relates to the importance of rituals in facilitating personal and community adaptation.
• Use of diagrams to express complex ideas visually.

Theoretical Framework

• Influences from:
  • Anthropology (Victor Turner, Joseph Campbell)
  • Neuroscience (David Lewis Williams)
  • Phenomenology
• Importance of understanding the subjective experience in relation to rituals.

Case Studies of Ritual Spaces

1. Lohobati Cave

   • Associated with teenage initiation rituals.
   • Significant cultural narratives of a dangerous snake.
   • The cave as a metaphorical space for transformation.

2. Khamohana Shelter

   • Close to Sechaba's upbringing.
   • Rock engravings and motifs tied to rituals and the mythological snake.
   • The river symbolizing a threshold in initiation practices.

3. Vonneveg Cave

   • Well-researched archaeological site.
   • Cultural significance overshadowed by archaeological focus.
   • Discussion on incorporating ritual value back into the site.

Representation of Ritual Spaces

• Critique of conventional architectural representations that strip spaces of their cultural meaning.
• Emphasis on creating designs that honor and enhance the ritual significance of spaces.

Discussion and Q&A Highlights

• The role of fear in architectural practices and rituals.
• Challenges of decolonizing architectural education and the curriculum.
• Importance of community respect and engagement in architectural interventions.
• Future plans for workshops and further discussions on integrating these ideas into urban environments.

Conclusion

• Call for more African scholars in architecture to explore culturally relevant design practices.
• Reflection on the significance of understanding cultural narratives in shaping architectural identities.
• Encouragement for continued dialogue about decolonization and cultural representation in architecture.