PUBLISHED WORK
Steyn, Gerald
Research Professor
B Arch (University of the Free State, 1976)
M Arch (University of the Free State, 1979)
PhD – Architecture (University of Pretoria, 1995)
After graduation in 1976 Gerald Steyn worked for Frei Otto in Germany and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria before going into private practice as an architect in 1980, specialising in low cost housing and medium density residential projects. He returned to academe in 1999 and is currently a research professor, also responsible for coordinating the postgraduate programme. His academic and research interests include settlement dynamics, affordable housing, and vernacular African architecture and urbanism. Gerald Steyn is a councillor of the statutory body regulating architecture, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession, and he chairs its Heads of Schools, Validation, Research and Registration committees.
Current Research Activities
Completed Research Projects
Peer reviewed articles in subsidised journals
Chapters in books
Technical journals and the popular press
National and International Papers
Tshwana architectural and urban patterns NRF-funded (2011-2012)
Ongoing – Concepts for appropriate African urbanism and architecture.
Ongoing – The relevance of Le Corbusier's urban concepts to developing regions.
Urban patterns in Kisumu, Kenya NRF-funded (2010-2011)
Mamelodi and Sunnyside Partly funded by Hogeschool van Utrecht (2003-2007)
Profiling two Tshwane neighbourhoods NRF-funded (2004-2005)
Site planning for affordable housing NRF-funded (2001-2003)
The vernacular courtyard houses of Africa NRF-funded (2000-2001)
Peer reviewed articles in subsidised journals
Steyn, G.S. 2011. The spatial patterns of Tshwana stone-walled towns in perspective. South African Journal of Art History.Vol 26, No 2, pp. 101-125.
2011. Le Corbusier's research-based design approaches. South African Journal of Art History. Vol 26, No 3, pp.45-56.
2010. Le Corbusier's carpet projects on the French Coast – the continuous quest towards creating formulae for better place making. South African Journal of Art History, Vol 25, No 3, 2010, pp.86-118.
2010. From Bordeaux to Barcelona – Le Corbusier's creative journey that went unnoticed. South African Journal of Art History, Vol 25, No 1, 2010, pp.118-132.
2009. Current trends in South African architecture. South African Journal of Art History. Vol 24, No 2, 2009, pp.41-64.
2008. Market streets in South Africa's informal settlements. South African Journal of Art History, Vol 23 No 1, 2008, pp.158-174
2007. Are illegal squatters ruralising the urban edge? South African Journal of Art History. Vol. 22, No. 3, 2007, pp.70-82.
2007. Types and typologies of African urbanism. South African Journal of Art History. Vol. 22, No. 1, 2007, pp.117-133.
A Pattern Language as a tool for reading African urbanism using Malindi, Kenya, as a case-study. South African Journal of Art History. Vol. 21 No. 2, 2006, pp.10-26.
2006. The indigenous rondavel – a case for conservation. South African Journal of Art History. Vol. 21 No. 1, 2006, pp.21-38.
2006. Roots, forms and relevance of indigenous settlement in southern Africa. South African Journal of the South African Institute of Architecture. May/June 2006, pp.40-45.
2005. African courtyard architecture: Art, science and relevance. Acta Structilia. Vol.12 No 2, 2005, pp.106-129.
Steyn, GS and Roodt, AL. 2005. Two traditional African settlements – context and configuration. South African Journal of Art History. No. 18, 2003, pp.195-209.
2003. In search of an appropriate research methodology for investigating traditional African architecture. South African Journal of Art History. No. 18, 2003, pp.181-194.
2003. The Lamu house – an East African architectural enigma. South African Journal of Art History. 2003. No. 17, 2002, pp.157-180.
2002. Taking architecture back to its roots. Africa Insight. Vol. 32 No. 2. Jun 2002, pp.25-31.
Steyn GS and Holm, D. 2001. The analysis of an Omani house in Stone Town, Zanzibar. South African Journal of Art History. No. 16, 2001, pp.110-131.
Steyn, G.S. 2011. Coding as 'Bottom-Up' Planning: Developing a new African Urbanism. S. Marshall (editor) Urban Coding and Planning. Oxfordshire: Routledge, 2011, pp.180-200.
2009. Squatting and Settlement Making in Mamelodi, South Africa. T. Falola and A. Usman (editors) Movements, Borders and Identities in Africa. University of Rochester Press, 2009, pp.153-165.
2004. Foreigners and the 19th Century Landscape. T. Falola and S. Salm (editors). Globalization and Urbanization in Africa. Asmara: African World Press, 2004, pp.187-202. .
Technical journals and the popular press
Steyn, G.S. 2011. South African architects – Are we really deskilled? Journal of the South African Institute of Architecture, Nov/Dec 2011, pp.62-63.
Wekesa, B.W., Steyn, G.S. and Otieno, F.A.O. 2010a. The response of common building construction technologies to the urban poor and their environment. Building and Environment, Vol. 45, Issue 10, Oct 2010, pp.2327-2335
Wekesa, B.W., Steyn, G.S. and Otieno, F.A.O. 2010b. A review of physical and socio-economic characteristics and intervention approaches of informal settlements. Habitat International xxx. 2010, pp.1-8. Journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/habitatint.
Steyn, G.S. 2009. Mombasa: An African market city. Journal of the South African Institute of Architecture. Sep/Oct 2009, pp.62-67.
2008. Architectural qualifications in South Africa – intensions, impacts and issues. Leading Architecture & Design, Sep/Oct 2008, pp.24-27
2008. Melbourne and the XXXV IAHS World Congress on Housing Science, 2007. Leading Architecture & Design, May/Jun 2008, pp.54-57.
2007. The state of architectural research. Leading Architecture & Design. Nov/Dec 2007, pp.44-47.
2007. The state of courtyard housing – a review of a symposium in Riyadh. South African Journal of the South African Institute of Architecture. Sep/Oct 2007, pp.62-67.
2007. Reconsidering 'A Pattern Language'. Leading Architecture & Design. Jan/Feb 2007, pp.54-59.
2006. The state of architectural education in South Africa. Leading Architecture & Design. Nov/Dec 2005, pp.41-43.
2005. Riviera-Rietondale has urban village qualities. Pretoria News: Tshwane News. 2 Jun 2005, pp.4-5.
2004. Architecture in Africa – obstacles, opportunities and options, Part 2. Architechnology. Jul 2004, pp.8-11.
2004. Architecture in Africa – obstacles, opportunities and options, Part 1. Architechnology. Mar 2004, pp.8-11.
Steyn, GS and Roodt, AL. 2000. Game lodge architecture in the Bushveld. SA Game & Hunt. Aug 2000, pp.24-27. With André Roodt.
Steyn, GS. 2000. Group practices in our postgraduate programme. Edutec. Jun 2000, pp.5-6.
National and International Papers
Steyn, G.S. 2012. The evolution of the Swahili house and urbanism. ISVS 6 – The sixth ISVS (International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements) Conference. Famagusta, North Cyprus, 19–21 Apr 2012 (Accepted).
2012. Modernity and informality – Conflicting forces shaping urban form in Kisumu, Kenya. IAHS XXXVIII – The 38th World Congress on Housing. Istanbul, Turkey, 16–19 Apr 2012 (Accepted).
2011. The relevance of pre-colonial spatial concepts in contemporary South African architecture. 5th International Conference on Built Environment in Developing Countries (ICBEDC 2011), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pinang, Malaysia, 6–7 Dec 2011 (Accepted).
2011. Research and design in architectural practice. CPD lecture to the Limpopo Institute for Architecture. Polokwane, 14 Feb 2011.
2010. Housing the urban poor in South Africa: Towards a new typology. XXXVII IAHS World Congress on Housing, Santander, Spain, Oct 26 – 29, 2010.
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