The rediscovery of public place (the kgotla) in Francistown, Botswana

Francistown is the first and oldest town in Botswana, established as a mining town in 1866. Mining lasted during the years the town became an industrial and administrative center for the northern region. However, being second to the capital city Gaborone, Francistown is still growing at a fast pace. With the rapid development that is taking place, culture and history still exist in traditional villages but are nowhere to be found in the city of Francistown. The traditional African places that encourage public life and cultural activities, such as the kgotla, no longer exist. Furthermore, new developments that are taking place often ignore the public amenities and result in chaotic situations.; The objective of this project is to design an exemplary public space within the city center, a place that would be used for social interaction among strangers and accommodate small informal businesses that are spreading throughout the city. Hence, the need to understand the existing structures while studying Blue Jacket Street in depth will inform the design of public spaces needed for the city of Francistown.; This leads to the main question of this thesis: How can architecture help transform a declining site into a highly recognized public place through the cultural, social and physical studies of the traditional village in comparison to the contemporary city structure?; Through analysis of the existing conditions, urban design moves need to increase density and reorder the existing elements along the main street. A market place is foremost a public place to see and be seen. Therefore, the need to understand the market and the kgotla as public places will guide architects in designing places that define and satisfy individual and collective life in the city of Francistown, Botswana.