Sustainability of New Urbanism in South Africa: A Survey

The intent of the undermentioned survey is to infer whether or nonNew Urbanismis sustainable and feasible in the South African context. This is done through the analysis of Eden on the Bay and howNew Urbanismrules have been applied to this comparatively new development in Bloubergstrand, Cape Town. Therefore, turn outing that in existent factNew Urbanismdesign rules are sustainable and feasible within this development, a South African Context.

New Urbanismis an urban design motion which was conceived in the United States in the early 1980’s.

Ellis ( 2002:262 ) provinces that it is basically an urban design motion which, due to its nature and construction, promotes and encourages walkable vicinities, while besides guaranting an array of houses and a assortment of occupations. Since its birth in the 1980’s it has bit by bit educated and revolutionized facets of existent estate development, urban planning, and municipal land usage schemes ( Ellis 2002:262 ) .

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New Urbanismwas strongly influenced and or impacted by urban design criterions that were outstanding until the rise of the car in the mid – 20Thursdaycentury ( Kunstler 1998:28 ) .

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Harmonizing to Ellis ( 2002:262 ) among others, it incorporated rules such as Traditional Neighbourhood Design ( TND ) , every bit good as Transit Orientated Development ( TOD ) . It besides bares close ties to regionalism, environmentalism and the larger construct of smart growing. The motion besides includes a more prosaic witting alternate known as New Pedestrianism, which was foremost originated in a 1929 planned community undertaking in Radburn, New Jersey ( Arth:130 ) .

Founded in 1993, the regulating organic structure forNew Urbanismis named The Congress for theNew Urbanism( CNU ) . Its foundational text is the character ofNew Urbanism, which harmonizing to Ellis ( 2002:262 ) provinces:

We advocate the structuring of public policy and development patterns to back up the undermentioned rules: Vicinities should be diverse in usage and population ; communities should be designed for the prosaic and theodolite every bit good as the auto ; metropoliss and towns should be shaped by physically defined and universally accessible public infinites and community establishments ; urban topographic points

should be framed by architecture and landscape design that celebrate local history, clime, ecology, and edifice pattern

New Urbanistssupport regional planning for unfastened infinite, context-appropriate architecture and planning, and the balanced development of both lodging and occupations ( Ellis 2002:262 ) . They believe their schemes can be extremely good and increase quality of life by diminishing traffic and congestion, increasing the supply of low-cost lodging and curtailing urban conurbation ( Is ‘new urbaism’… 2003:3 ) . The charter besides covers rules associating to historic saving, safe ; user-friendly, greenish edifices, and the re-development of brownfield land as clearly stated by Glenner ( 2003:3 ) .

As can be identified,New Urbanismis a multi-faceted, complex motion comprised of many rules. The bosom nevertheless ofNewUrbanismprevarications in the design of vicinities, which can be defined by 10 elements. Town contrivers Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, who apart from establishing the architecture and town planning house Duany Plater-Zyberk & A ; Co. ( DPZ ) , besides co-founded the Congress of theNewUrbanism( What Is New Urbanism [ Sa ] ) , believe that the design ofNew Urbanistvicinities can be broken down into 10 elements, and believed that for a vicinity to be reliable, it should incorporate a big part of these rules incorporated into it ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . One of import rule lies in that the vicinity should advance walkability. With this most of the homes located within a five minute walk from the Centre, which averages approximately at two 100 pess. Elementary schools are nearby, which allows kids to walk to and from school. Small resort areas are accessible to every home, non more than a ten percent of a stat mi off. Not merely does this promote walkability but it encourages greener living every bit good ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . The 2nd rule negotiations of connectivity within the vicinity here streets within the neighbourhood signifier a affiliated web, which in bend disperses traffic by supplying a assortment of prosaic and vehicular paths to any finish in the country ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . Mixed-us and diverseness is the 3rd rule ofNew Urbanismthis states that apart from being located within close propinquity to the neighbourhood’s bosom, the homes besides provide substructure which would theoretically let younger and

older people, singles and households, the hapless every bit good as the wealthy may all happen a topographic point to populate amongst each other. This is made possible by supplying houses, retail

shops and offices associating manus in manus with the following rule being assorted lodging. Here, a scope of lodging types, sizes and monetary values are located within a closer propinquity ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . The 5th rule ofNew Urbanismis quality in architecture and urban design. With this rule and accent has been placed on the aesthetics and beauty of the architecture within the vicinity advancing comfort of its dwellers and making a sense of topographic point ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . Another of import rule lies in that it should hold a traditional vicinity construction. Here, there is a discernible Centre, this is frequently a square, a green or sometimes busy or memorable street corner where a theodolite halt would be located at the Centre ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . Increased denseness is the 7th rule inNew Urbanism, with increased denseness it is stated that at the border of the vicinities, one would happen a assortment of commercial constitutions this is where dwellers of that vicinity get all the hebdomadal family supplies ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . The 8th rule with respects toNew Urbanismis smart transit. With this rule a chief focal point has been placed on a web of high-quality transit linking metropoliss, towns and vicinities together. The rule of smart transit encourages a prosaic friendly design where there can be a greater usage of bikes, scooters and walking as a method of day-to-day transit ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . Sustainability such as eco-friendly engineerings and energy efficiency etc. is the 9th rule ofNew Urbanism, this is an of import component in that if the vicinity is non sustainable it has failed in being a successful development utilizing the rules ofNew Urbanism( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) . The last rule ofNew Urbanismis quality of life. Here, all rules mentioned have been taken into history hence making a vicinity that will enriches, upheavals, and inspires its dwellers ( The Principles of [ Sa ] ) .

Eden on the Bay which can be seen in Figure 1, is a new residential and retail development which was late built utilizing the rules ofNew Urbanismat The Big Bay Beach Estate, Bloubergstrand in Cape Town is being hailed as the first of its sort in South Africa ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . The site is a mixed-use development which creates a manner of life where occupants can populate, work

and drama at a “stone throw” off from a universe category beach ( Figure 2 ) ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) .

The co-developers of the site, Asrin and Muelaprop, jointly believe that Eden on the Bay offers occupants a life style with the atmosphere of village life with most thing about a 10 minute walk off, street design which is prosaic friendly ( Figure 5 and 6 ) , assorted lodging, direct, unobstructed beach entree, antic positions of Robin Island and the universe renowned Table Mountain, themed architecturally designed flats studios portraying quality architecture and urban design, complied with universe category installations and retail mercantile establishments all within close propinquity ( Figure 2 and 3 ) ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) .

Designed to resemble the picturesque small towns of the Cape’s-West seashore, it is apparent by looking at Figure 3 and Figure 5 characteristics include but are non limited to white slicked walls and fluxing paved courtyards ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . Piet Bakker of Stauch Vaster/Act believes that “The west seashore style” , as he puts it, is “unpretentious and modest and as designs try to capture this …” ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . The development is a first of its sort in the country and is significantly different and radical to developments that have preceded in the Big Bay country.

Eden on the Bay is basically a low denseness development dwelling of unfastened infinites. Figure 3 depicts edifices with non-continuous pitched roofs, courtyards, prosaic paseos and besides observe how the edifices are no taller than three narratives high ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) .New Urbanismrules such as walkability, assorted lodging every bit good as mixed-use and diverseness can all be identified in this image. “You will non see high denseness development here” says Ishmail Essa, the CEO of Asrin.

Light adjustments and street furniture have besides been designed to further heighten the west seashore manner ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) as depicted in both Figures 5 and 6 exemplifying quality architecture and urban design. The edifices are situated within a duneveld landscape, which is being specifically planted with understanding to the autochthonal flowered heritage of the country ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . The landscape excessively indicates a kind of contrast to what has been seen in old Big Bay

developments. Eden on the Bay sits on a sensitive place of this old strip of coastline and the landscape gardening needed to esteem that fact ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . The landscape has non merely been preserved, but has besides been improved and enhanced, with much accent placed on animating the original landscape of dunes and strandveld fynbos ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) Says Nicole Robertson Swift of Urbanscapes, the landscape architects speaks of sustainability, yet another rule ofNew Urbanismwhich has successfully been used in developing Eden on the Bay “Eden on the Bay is genuinely alone in that it is a sustainable development which strives to hold a symbiotic relationship with nature.”

The site besides places itself in the head technologically by being equipped with province of the art communicating systems. All flats, studios, and penthouses within the development are fitted with stopper and play centralised communicating systems which guarantee and vouch instantaneous entree to telephone and broadband cyberspace services, every bit good as cheaper line leases and international calls ( universe Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . The system is farther enhanced by being serviced by 24/7 support, which makes it ideal for those who work from place. Other important benefits of Eden on the Bay are found by agencies of free internal phone calls to any line within the development, a centralised DSTV dish, and distant entree control ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . Eden on the bay has besides produced other positive effects in the country. These can be found in improved public comfortss, including a new province of the art life rescuers centre and the upgrading of the original block of houses which are both situated on the beach ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) . There are broad decked public paseos within the development and along the beachfront promoting walking and other agencies of conveyance such as bikes which can be seen in Figure 6 in bend making enduring benefits on the environment. Image 5 clearly depicts this where the encouragement of walkability is clearly illustrated. A 200m long natural grassed amphitheater in forepart of the eating houses and retail composite can besides be seen in Image 4, this is specifically for public usage and promotes mixed-use and diverseness which allows people from many different backgrounds to garner and interact with one another, non merely that but it can besides be used for a assortment of intents. A jurisprudence enforcement installation is besides built within the complex to serve the beach and environing countries ( World Class Mixed-Use…

2006:1 ) . Harmonizing to Ishmail Essa and Anton Chait, ( World Class Mixed-Use… 2006:1 ) the challenges that were presented to the developers were the fact that:

“this subdivision called for a harmonious commixture of private and public infinite. At peak vacation times big Numberss of people visit Big Bay each twenty-four hours. A manner had to be found to do this non merely possible despite the new built environment for the occupants and other visitors.”

Eden on the Bay provides a more than equal solution to this challenge. It achieves this by supplying a meticulously good designed mixed-use precinct within the Big Bay Beach Estate offering breath-taking positions, superior public comfortss, more than equal parking installations as seen in Figure 7as good as an belowground parkade, a well-planned retail mix offering universe category eating houses and specializer stores, and universe category flats with premium installations. All of this is located merely 20 proceedingss off from the metropolis Centre.

After careful scrutiny of all the New Urbanism elements present it is evedant that in Boubergs Eden on the Bay many of these elements are aligned with those of New Urbanism. This has resulted in a vicinity which enriches its inhabitants’ manner of life and besides provides an first-class, enriching experience for those who visit or holiday at that place. Not merely has it been successful in utilizing the rules of New Urbanism design, but it has besides succeeded in being feasible and sustainable within a South African Context.

Updated: Apr 29, 2023
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Sustainability of New Urbanism in South Africa: A Survey. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/new-urbanism-new-essay

Sustainability of New Urbanism in South Africa: A Survey essay
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