stitching communities together
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marabastad + lost space + CBD sowing together the fragmentation + lack of urban fabric
reghardt bruwer janien kluge frikkie rautenbach image by author
“The natural starting point for the work of designing cities for people is human mobility and human senses because they provide the biological basis for activities, behavior and communication in city space.” Jan Gehl
“walking in the city invites direct experiences for all sensesas well as attractive extra opportunities to exchange smiles and glanses....” Jan Gehl
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The greater Tshwane include areas and households representing a wide spectrum of cultures, political opinions, living conditions and economic standards. Is it possible to provide for all the people?
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“public interests determine the playing rules in the common space of the city and thus help to ensure people’s opportunities to exchange personal, cultural and political messages.� Jan Gehl
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discovering the layers of the city
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Ndebele point of view
Classic point of view pre-94
Common Ground Underlay
Common Ground Underlay
exploring through diorama
the lense of perception
everyday users: work + live in area visitors + customers: come from beyond passersby: passing through to/from other area recreational visitors: visit because of richness/beauty visitors to events: come for special programmes
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image by Jan Gehl
the problem
the intentional gap
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To the east, the canalised Steenhoven Spruit and tracks of vacant land was utilised as a barrier and method to separate Marabastad from the inner city of Pretoria. Furthermore, including the “Apies River ” for arguments sake, the city has “distanced” itself from both the Apies River and Steenhoven Spruit in transforming both of the above-mentioned into canals that has been deemed, by most Pretorians, as unsafe, unclean and generally unpleasant. ”From this one can deduce that during those times the Apies River was a place of gathering, or in the least a space children could walk to. From then, Pretoria’s rivers/ canals have become segregated from the rest of its fabric and drastically require a plan for “re-connection”
lack of fun activities lack of sustainability not safe / High crime rate not clean not enough green active spaces no comfortable walkways no tree canopies no street furniture spiritual buildings run down not attractive mode splits not connected no continuity in traffic/modes street life not welcoming pride not visible everywhere not neighborly ? stewardship
solution
the intentional gap
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A 1934 aerial photo of Marabastad indicated that during previous years, the fabric of Marabastad extended right up to the banks of Steenhoven Spruit Currently, the banks of Steenhoven Spruit are not developed, and thus contribute to the physical segregation of Marabastad from the urban fabric of the inner city of Pretoria. As a possible first-phase solution, the potential exists for a public space and park development to the south of Boom Street, al o n g t h e St een h o ven Spruit, as a method of breaching the gap and “sowing together ” the fragmentation and lack of urban fabric.
fun + activities introduced by means of parks lack of sustainability addressed by urban design principles not safe / High crime rate address by eyes on the street not clean - addressed by recycling programs not enough green active spaces - addressed by green walkways and parks no comfortable walkways - address by urban design principles no tree canopies - addressed by green walkways and parks no street furniture - address by urban design principles spiritual buildings run down - renovation + preservation not attractive - address by urban design principles mode splits not connected - address by urban design principles no continuity in traffic/modes - address by urban design principles street life not welcoming - address by urban design principles + café culture pride not visible everywhere - address by urban design principles not neighborly - address by urban design principles ? stewardship - address by urban design principles
The suggestion is to superimpose the ďŹ ner grain of Marabastad and to let the cultural richness of ďŹ lter through to the vacant land toward the southern edge of of the laboratory. From the connection point in Marabastad, towards Church Square in the South, a green heritage boulevard is suggested. Student housing with mixed use is suggested on the vacant land. InďŹ lls are suggested in Marabastad so that the scale is adjusted as one is moving closer towards the CBD.
N original image by GWA Studio
introduce radial more formalized plan to stitch into formal grid of CBD
formal ďŹ ne grain developed into informal layout
old town beijing
N original image by GWA Studio
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sketches by Henri Comri Urba Architects
urban design principles
current : 2017
Tshwane vision : 2055
Proposal : Defragmentation
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Kruger Park
Church Sqaure
Boom Street 1min walking intervals
the intentional gap
Bloed Street Mall
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5minute walk view from jazz park
Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre
Bloed street
To Bus Depot image by author
Boom street
claiming public space by means of programmes
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suggested scale of mixed-use student development
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roof gardens are suggested to complement the housing schemes from which users can interact with the city below....
order by means of repitition
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exploring through diorama
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view from marabastad towards CBD
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streets + pedestrian paths
student housing and mixed use buildings
mixed use buildings next to new boulevard
new urban acupuncture nodes image by author
images by Jan Gehl