Between Preservation and Memory: How Post-Independence Namibia Treats German Colonial Architecture from 1884 to 1915

Abstract

This thesis examines how German colonial architecture in Namibia is perceived and negotiated in its contemporary society. While such buildings remain prominent features of the urban landscape, they are deeply entangled with histories of colonial violence, dispossession, and genocide. Moving beyond traditional architectural and historical analyses, this study addresses a gap in existing scholarship by focusing on present-day social experiences and interpretations of these structures. Drawing on a mixed-method approach, including architectural analysis, literature review, interviews with Namibians of different backgrounds, and insights from social media, the research explores how different communities relate to buildings from the German colonial era. It investigates how practices such as preservation, repurposing, and reinterpretation are shaped by intersecting factors, including cultural identity, collective memory, socio-economic conditions, and power relations.
The findings reveal a wide spectrum of perceptions, ranging from pragmatic and
depoliticised heritage management to critical perspectives that emphasise historical trauma and ongoing inequality. Through case studies of key buildings in Windhoek, the thesis demonstrates how colonial architecture functions as contested sites of memory, continuously reinterpreted within post-independence Namibia. Ultimately, it argues that more inclusive and context-sensitive approaches are necessary to address the complex legacy embedded in the built environment.