Future of Public Spaces I: Barbara Southworth

PUBLIC SPACE

IN CAPE TOWN

1980’S TO NOW: WHO CARES?

BARBARA SOUTHWORTH

GAPP ARCHITECTS & URBAN DESIGNERS

CAPE TOWN PUBLIC SPACE:

1940’S TILL NOW: WHO CARES?

City Beautiful and the Establishment of the Foreshore1940s

1960s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Foreshore Freeway Construction / Demolition of District 6 / Separate

Development

Pedestrian Network for Central Cape Town

V&AW enclave of high quality public space

Equity & Integration: Regenerating the Townships

World Cup & Mega Projects – public space comes back to town and to

the private sector

1940’S CITY BEAUTIFUL

1940’S CITY BEAUTIFUL

1960’S DEVASTATION OF PUBLIC SPACE:

MODERNISM & THE FORESHORE

FREEWAY

1960’S SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT

• DISTRICT 6 FORCED REMOVALS

• BLACK PEOPLE “TEMPORARY LABOUR” PERMITS IN THE

WESTERN CAPE

1980’S REGENERATION

• GREENING OF THE CITY & CBD PEDESTRIANISATION:

• ST GEORGE’S MALL

• THIBAULT SQUARE

• GREENMARKET SQUARE

FIRST INSTANCE OF SPACE BEING RECLAIMED FROM CARS




1990’S PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC

SPACE

1. V&A WATERFRONT

2. CENTURY CITY

1990’S PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC

SPACE

1. V&A WATERFRONT

2. CENTURY CITY

2000’S EQUITY & INTEGRATION

1. CITY OF CAPE TOWN DIGNIFIED PLACES PROGRAMME

2. VIOLENCE THROUGH URBAN UPGRADING (VPUU)







• TO CONTRIBUTE TO A PROCESS OF URBAN RENEWAL THROUGH THE CREATION OF POSITIVE & BEAUTIFUL PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND HOPE

• TO INITIATE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT – TO BE A ‘STRATEGIC LEVER’ TO PROMOTE A SHIFT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT DELIVERY PRACTICES

• TO USE LIMITED INVESTMENT IN THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT STRATEGICALLY AND POSITIVELY TO TAKE A LEAD IN CREATING COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT CONFIDENCE


1. EQUITY - strategic location

2. PLACE MAKING - community

3. INTEGRATION

4. FREEDOM –minimalism & flexibility

5. GENERATION – activity, catalysis and incrementalism





PHILIPPI:

LANSDOWNE

CORNER


PROACTIVE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SPACE, LANDSCAPING &

FACILITIES

Source: City of Cape Town- Dignified Places

Programme

Lansdowne Corner- Phillipi

MANENBERG PLAY PARK: PLAY PARK,

FORECOURTS TO APARTMENT BLOCKS

GATESVILLE TOWN CENTRE: PUBLIC SPACE, MARKET AND SIDEWALK

IMPROVEMENTS

2000’S VPUU

2000’S VPUU

• Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU):

Khayelitsha- “Active boxes” - Positive occupation of perceived

dangerous spaces

• Safety and surveillance: Evidence based – survey of safety

conditions before and after intervention

• Community engagement with planning and management

Positive occupation of perceived dangerous spaces

2010’S BIG INVESTMENT

1. 2010 WORLD CUP – PUBLIC SPACE UPGRADING COMES

BACK TO TOWN

a. Fan Mile

b. Green Point Park

2. MYCITI & Non-Motorised Transport Focus (NMT)

3. “CATALYTIC” PROJECTS

4. CBD REGENERATION: PUBLIC LAND RELEASE

5. PRIVATE SECTOR BOOM

HEIDEVELD / GUGULETU STATION: PUBLIC SPACE, TRADERS STALLS, TAXI

FACILITIES



BACK TO TOWN



BACK TO TOWN



BACK TO TOWN

20-TEEN’S PRIVATE PRODUCTION OF

PUBLIC SPACE

PUBLIC SPACE IN CAPE TOWN 2030?

WHO CARES:

• ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?

• ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE?

• ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN IT?

Government & Nonprofit

Future of Public Spaces I: Barbara Southworth