RESHAPING THE URBAN IURBAN N FMOBILITY R A SAND T RECONOMICS UCTURE
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T H E S I S
A B S T R A C T
The intent of the design of “Urban Mobility� was to provide the community of Alexandra with amenities which will give them economic opportunity. The infrastructure design hopes to establish economic access in an area where it is lacking severely. The design does this through a three step process of varying urban scale which addresses the cultural norms of the community of Alex. Through careful consideration of existing, developing, and proposed infrastructure we can fill in the gaps of the current system and create innovative design applications which challenge the current development of Johannesburg, South Africa. The design begins at a urban planning scale which looks to reconnect the township of Alexandra to neighboring Sandton through London Road a currently underdeveloped road in southern Alexandra. Currently the Johannesburg Development Agency is working to reconnect Alex to the central business district of Johannesburg but fail to recognize trends and habits in the residents. The proposal to develop London Road is a response to the local commuters. The proposal seeks to create a multi modal transit system along the road which will address the various avenues of transportation which exist in Alexandra while at the same time seeks to remove the current condition as the road as an edge and instead create the road as an area of inhabitance. Next we move closer into the context of the site along London Road. Here the design develops nodes down the road the first scale node is the small site interventions which capitalize on the micro economic community which is already thriving in Alex. Current conditions in the city of Johannesburg seek to eradicate informal vendors from conducting business which in turn takes away some ones livelihood. By establishing a network of formalized vendors along London Road we can highlight the importance of the vendors to the community of Alex. These small vendors will also be a host for urban green space to provide the township of Alex with relief from the high density. The final scale looks to the process of formalizing the vendors along London Road. It is the largest of the sites along London Road and finds itself on the Entokozweni site. This program consists of Educational components along side vendors which provide a learn then do atmosphere. The site also brings light to some other crucial programs like large green spaces or plazas and even a dance studio to house the annual dancing venues which currently reside on the streets.
Reshaping the Urban Infrastructure Designing for Urban Mobility and Economic By Cameron Griffiths Project Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Architecture College of Architecture and the built Environment Philadelphia University In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE Design 10: Research and Design Faculty Chris Harnish Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 2015
T A B L E
O F
C O N T E N T S
01 THESIS 03 RESEARCH AND BACKGROUND 09 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT 19 LOCATING THE TRANSIT ROUTE 31 LOCATING THE SITE 41 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 49 FINAL WORKS
THESIS
The existing condition of a apartheid ridden infrastructure currently under serves the community of Alex. If were going to invest in new infrastructure to alleviate current conditions lets maximize it with innovative infrastructure, cultural programs, improved public space, and economic opportunity.
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1912 - Established as a way to seek a better life
1930 - White Colonizers created Apartheid
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T H E
H I S T O R Y APARTHEID
Alexandra township located 13 km North East of Central Johannesburg was established as a “Native Township” in 1912 as a response to rural Africans seeking a better life through the city of Johannesburg. The 800 hectare township for it’s 100 years since it’s creation have felt the effects of apartheid sprung on by the start of an independent republic, these laws restricting the rights of the nonwhite population; laws that segregated townships, formed racial categories, and restricted movement. The attempt to get families closer to cities saw spurned by the white population that inhabited Johannesburg
1944- Bus boycott: Alexandra residents walk/bike to work as a response to increase in bus fare
The city of Johannesburg targeted transportation throughout the history of the township using it as a suppression tool. This threatened the livelihood of the Alexandra inhabitants. Specifically in 1944 Alex saw the largest boycott in South African history. Thousands of Alex citizens walked 12 km to work in Jo’burg after the Dot raced the bus far from 2 pence to 5 pence. This boycott forced the government to reduce the price to the original fee. Today Alexandra population continues to rise and infrastructure continues to under serve the population that so desperately needs it.
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THE CONDITION URBAN MOBILITY
Urban Mobility continues to be a challenge of Alex. The Shape and form of Johannesburg has been structured around apartheid ideology, which saw townships pushed far beyond the extents of the city. The ultimate goal being separating different ‘race groups’. Economic centers and opportunity was associated with white settlers and the segregated groups were meant to be out of sight and out of mind in the periphery of economic opportunity making transportation costs a burden for the marginalized poor
ALEXANDRA
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD)
WHITE SUBURBS
BUFFER ZONES
THE PROBLEM ECONOMY/ UNEMPLOYMENT
Average Monthly Salary(Dollars)
Alexandra
Unemployment rate in Alexandra is very high as a result of the current urban infrastructure and apartheid. Currently 38% of Alex are unemployed which is 18% higher than the Central Business District which is still considered one of the highest of the industrial cities. Alex thus has very poor residents many which can’t access employment opportunities creating poor living conditions in Alex and high crime rates jeopardizing the safety of Alex
38%
20%
Soweto Sandton Johannesburg (CBD)
Alexandra Unemployment
CBD Unemployment
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POST APARTHEID CORRIDORS OF FREEDOM
The JDA is currently working on a new development program called “corridors of freedom” which will focus on creating new spatial plans by the year 2040. Citizens of Jo’burg will not have to rely on private transportation but can change gears to a more sustainable means of transportation like cycling, busing, and walking. Plans are under way to target areas such as Soweto, CBD, Alexandra, and Sandton with the hopes of creating a more connected urban context. The Johannesburg Development Agency has proposed three steps:
sR Bu
1. Inner city development 2. Bus Rapid Transit 3. Transit Oriented Nodes
1 White Suburbs
Buffer Zones
idT r ansit
3 ap
Inner City Development
Transit Oriented Nodes
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT BUS RAPID TRANSIT
TOWNSHIPS
“The physical gaps between the former white city and the former black townships remain all too evident, and the spatial inequities of apartheid endure.”
1. Adding Multiple Lines to reconnect outlining townships to CBD 2. Add nodes along transit lines to generate walk able communities 3. Remove Apartheid spatial planning CBD
How can we maximize the investment in infrastructure development?
How do we maximize it? Innovative Infrastructure
Today as a response to the current transit system of inequality Alex residents are forced to walk 12 or more kilometers to work. Many times across dangerous road scapes. A system which provides the community of Alexandra with various forms of transportation could benefit them.
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How do we maximize it? Cultural Programs
Dance born in urban setting “provides a language for expressing the frustrations, ideals and dreams of many ‘black’ South Africans” Myburgh 1993
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How do we maximize it? Public Space
With the increasing density of Alex township residents are given less and less public green space. Public green space could give a sense of relief from the congested street scape and promote community interactions amongst the inhabitants of Alex.
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How do we Maximize it? Micro Economics
Additionally street vendors sprout up along many routes in Alex as a form of creating a life for themselves separate of the central business district. Permanent and formalized structure could benefit their business
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Where are the gaps in the transit development?
SANDTON
ALEXANDRA
Where are the Gaps Transit In Progress
The Bus Rapid Transit currently has a proposed route using mort Brotha to connect Alex to CBD with a proposed bus stop in the industrial and commercial part of Alex. As well the next phase in the development plan is to develop feeder routes in the northern part of Alex. The Northern portion of Alex is being currently under construction and working to connect Alex to the CBD. Although, currently no solution has be resolved for the East and West commute to Sandton.
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Proposed Development London Road
While the BRT is making progress to connect Alex in a more effective and efficient way the current route only serves the Northern residents of Alex. In order to truly connect Alex an east/west route should be established along London Road which is an underdeveloped road which has the ability to be transformed into a multi modal transit way giving commuter of Alex a safe route of travel and access to all economic standings and improving the urban mobility of Alex.
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SIDEWALKS BUFFER RAISED ABOVE HIGHER SPEED TRAVEL
URBAN TRANSPORTATION CENTERED AROUND MASS TRANSIT
NATURAL BUFFER
DEDICATED CYCLE SIDEWALKS PATHS RAISED ABOVE HIGHER SPEED TRAVEL
Proposed Development Case Study
Expo Green way Los Angeles, CA
1. Develop neighborhoods that promote walking [WALK] 2. Prioritize non-motorized transport networks [CYCLE] 3. Create dense networks of streets and paths [CONNECT] 4. Locate development near high-quality public transport [Transit] 5. Plan for mixed use [PLAN] 6. Increase mobility by regulating parking and road use [SHIFT]
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Where can this program go?
Bovet Schoo
YOUTH PRECINCT
Buisness District
Youth School
Alexandra Health Centre & Univ Clinic
Surgery Clinic Hardware CENTRAL Depot
Auto Refurbishment
COLLEGE
JO’BURG
Where Can This Program Go? Social Infrastructure
London Road acts as the major vehicular travel through Alex and as a result this road has a large number of social infrastructures along it. Thus Multi-modal transit would bring economic opportunity to these businesses as well as promote the increase in number of local economics.
t Primary ol
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YOUTH PRECINCT
Buisness District
Youth School
Alexandra Health Centre & Univ Clinic
Surgery Clinic Hardware CENTRAL Depot
Auto Refurbishment
COLLEGE
JO’BURG
Where Can This Program Go? Social Infrastructure
The youth precinct sits half way along London Road, one of the main routes through Alex. Its proximity to a variety of infrastructure gives it the potential to be an economic hub. Bovet Primary School
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High End Community Development
Grass Field
Thusong Youth Center Minerva Secondary School
Vacant Dirt Lot
Photoshop Primary School
Entokozweni
Where Can This Program Go? Social Infrastructure
The youth precinct already has multiple education facilities as well as a grass recreational field. Thus the foot traffic through the site very high bring economic opportunities.
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Entokozweni
Taxi Rin
Monument
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Where Can This Program Go? Social Infrastructure
Entokozweni sits adjacent to London road creating a direct relationship to the users of the road and giving it high visibility. As well the site sets itself up to develop a transit hub infrastructure for the new BRT line.
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Design Development
1. Develop London Road into multi modal transit to better serve the various forms of transit in Alex
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Dance Studio 2. Place Culture center to the back of site giving direct access to the more private school program in the Youth Precinct
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3. The vendor stalls situate themselves on the southern edge of the site closest to the busy London Road.
Vendors
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Vendors
Vendors
Classrooms 4. Portion of the vendor stalls get pushed back to relieve the heavy traffic corner while also giving them a relation to the users of the perpendicular road
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5. Classroom programs are added to the back of the vendor stalls. These incubation programs will need direct contact with the vendors for education purposes
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6. Add public program which will serve as a connector of the different programs on site and give the community access to amenities
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Final Works
SITE PLAN
CULTURE PROGRAM
MICRO ECONOMICS
MICRO ECONOMICS
PUBLIC SPACE
INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
RESTROOM RESTROOM
LOADING DOCK
DANCE STUDIO CAFE/STORE SUPPLY STORAGE GREEN SPACE
GREEN SPACE
LOUNGE/ INTERNET CAFE STORE
STORE
STORE
STORE
CAFE
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
CLASSROOM
LOBBY PLAZA VEND
VEND
VEND
IMMERSION
FLOOR PLAN 1/32”=1’
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VEND
VEND VEND
IMMERSION
VEND
VEND
RESTROOM RESTROOM
STORE
RESTROOM RESTROOM
LOADING DOCK
DANCE STUDIO
GREEN SPACE
GREEN SPACE
CAFE/STORE SUPPLY STORAGE LOUNGE/ INTERNET CAFE
PROFESSOR
STORE
STORE
STORE
STORE
STORE
CAFE
CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM
LOBBY
MASS TRANSIT VENDOR VENDOR VENDOR
IMMERSION
VENDOR VENDOR VENDOR
IMMERSION
VENDOR VENDOR
RESTROOM
PLAZA
RESTROOM
SITE CIRCULATION
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RESTROOM RESTROOM
LOADING DOCK
DANCE STUDIO
GREEN SPACE
GREEN SPACE
CAFE/STORE SUPPLY STORAGE LOUNGE/ INTERNET CAFE STORE
STORE
STORE
STORE
CAFE
CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOM
LOBBY PLAZA VENDOR VENDOR VENDOR
COLUMN GRID
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IMMERSION
VENDOR VENDOR VENDOR
IMMERSION
VENDOR VENDOR
RESTROOM
RESTROOM
STORE
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SECTION THROUGH ROAD
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61 MULTI MODAL TRANSIT
10’
10’
9’
9’
12’
10’
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63 SECTION THROUGH CLASSROOM AND VENDORS
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65 CROSS VENTILATION
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67 OUTDOOR/ DANCE PROGRAM
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69 SOLAR HEAT GAIN
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After the final review and many helpful comments from the jurors I came to realize that my design was very successful at seeking to solve a specific problem. The methodology and architecture reflect my attention to detail when it came to understanding what my design intent was addressing that being economic opportunity. My systematic approach that I had begun to develop in the beginning of the semester was never fully realized and that was probably where I am most frustrated with the most. The struggle with working in the context of Johannesburg was understanding local materiality and how to make my building fit into the surrounding context many times I was afraid that my design was sitting in space and not really located in place which my may be due in part to my lack of precedent or case study projects from the South African Context. How the design addressed the street and multi modal development was most successful in my project. The breakdown of the lanes and the implementation of a green space and bus stop in the middle of the road instead of on the edge had great potential. This methodology had the ability to set up an interesting solution to my well thought out thesis but just fell short. My programmatic design and layout I also felt was strong with the understanding of what I really wanted the educationally component to do and how I wanted it to react with the vendors made my project really interesting with the educationally component flowing into the vendor program. The Dance portion could have been better developed as a more integral portion being the main cultural nod of my site. The comments from the jurors about my design contradiction to my intent was valid and one I would like to consider. As stated the road development make sense for 90% of the London Road. The other 10% like at nodes along the road it needs to break down and incorporate a more fluid motion across the street so that the road feels less like and edge condition and more like an extension for the green space and vendors which are located at the nodes. With further development I would like the design the move closer to the systematic approach and really develop London Road as a whole. Developing the smaller nodes would help to give the entirety of Alex a space of their own rather than just the Entokozweni site. A more encompassing project seems to be a better approach seeing the current development of Alex. 75
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