Final project outline 03: The building

For this year's project I have opted to use one of Port Elizabeth's oldest buildings - The Athenaeum. Why a heritage building you ask? Well, quite simply to make my life more difficult in 3 months time when regulations come into play. But, all jokes aside, I chose a heritage building on purpose: I love the idea of a building with history and character and a building with so much transformation potential. This particular building was originally built as an athenaeum- a name for a library, institution, or place for literary or scientific study -for the city, and is over 150 years old. With much of the original building still intact, the creaky floors and sudden unexplained noises and breezes make perfect illogical sense when navigating the spaces, although it makes for a beautiful building with amazing character and aesthetics.

The plan of the building is fairly open and repetitive, with original hardwood floors and thick masterful brick walls. The space is currently an art gallery, so I deeply encourage any tourists or locals to make it a stop on their way through town - it truly is a gem of a building! And you can catch a few shows and performances at the Little Theatre, which is the attached wing to The Athenaeum.

I know in a few months I will regret going heritage and will subsequently be drowning in regulations and authority rules, but for now, I am immensely excited about tackling this beautiful building and restoring its recognition as a prime heritage landmark of the city.

Watch this space...