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19 March 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Ergonomics
Martie Bitzer, senior lecturer at the UFS Department of Architecture, says an architect envisions how the user will live in a space and designs accordingly.
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs

Whether at work or at home, scientists have found a way to “comfortably” carry out tasks. According to Martie Bitzer, senior lecturer at the University of the Free State’s Department of Architecture, we all experience discomfort due to the effects of repetitive actions in a day – whether in daily tasks of necessity like washing the dishes or hours spent at work behind a desk or a countertop. “The word ‘ergonomics’ is the key to ease this discomfort!,” she said.

Martie believes that a space needs not only to look beautiful but that it must be practical as well. 

“The specific dimensions of the human body should serve as the designer’s ‘measure’ for the height of your kitchen counter or the angle of your computer screen,” says Martie.

She continues: “In architecture, ergonomics is always the starting point for design. The architect envisions how the user will live in a space and designs accordingly. Ergonomics touches all aspects of a person’s life in a building – from the distance you walk in your kitchen while cooking to the impact of the height of a specific space. It is working at best when you live fluently in a space, unaware of obstacles and challenges. The human body’s capabilities and limitations are at the heart of the responsible designer’s task to improve the quality of life in a building.”

In a world where we are daily more aware of how we engage with our surroundings, good design matters!



News Archive

Odeion: Organ recital - Jaroslav Tÿma
2006-10-10

Saturday, 14 October 2006
Odeion
19:30
Admission: R60, R40
Enquiries / Bookings
Ninette Pretorius (051 - 401 2504)

Jaroslav Tÿma was born and educated in Prague.  He graduated from the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of the Performing Arts, where he now teaches organ performance and improvisation.  While still a student, he won prizes at several international competitions, including Linz, Prague and Leipzig.  In addition to being a concert organist, he also performs on harpsichord, clavichord and forte piano.  He is known throughout the world for his improvisations, which earned him first prizes at both the Haarlem and Nuremberg competitions.  He has been guest performer at the Prague Spring Festival, Musikfestspiele in Dresden and the Flanders Festival and he continues to concertize in prestigious concert venues in Europe, the United States, South Africa and Japan.  As an advocate of new music, Jaroslav Tÿma performs works by his contemporaries and is also a composer of note.  Through 1990-1993 he performed the complete organ works of J.S. Bach in Prague.  He records for radio, television, and numerous recording companies.  His discography includes over twenty solo recordings, most recently a recording of the Bach Goldberg Variations on both the harpsichord and clavichord.

 Programme

J.S. Bach
Preludium and Fugue in C minor (BWV 546)
Ich ruf zu Dir (from the Orgelbüchlein)

W.A. Mozart
Andante (KV 616)

B. Martinÿ
Vigilie (1959) - completed by Bedrich Janaÿek

J. Tÿma
Improvisasie op gegewe temas

C. Widor
Organ Symphony No. 5 in F Minor
Allegro vivace
Allegro cantabile
Andantino quasi allegretto
Adagio
Toccata

 

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