ABSTRACT
Amazwi South African Museum of Literature is the first ‘green’ museum in South Africa and was awarded a five-star rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa. Completed in 2016, it was entirely funded by the national government. Sustainable development is a three-branched but interconnected model that involves economic development, social equity and environmental protection. The history of sustainable development, and South Africa's commitment to it, is briefly discussed in this chapter. This case study describes the planning and construction of the museum building and the features that led it to achieve a five-star rating – SA Excellence. Environmental sustainability can be incorporated into the daily activities of the museum, both museological and administrative. The inclusion of an environmental message in the programmes of a literary museum, which would seem inapplicable from the outside, will be explained, thus allowing the ideals of green building to be sustained. The public's response to the new museum, staff satisfaction and the challenges encountered in the process are additionally described.
