Apart from some of the main forces that cities are faced with, in the present day and near future, one cannot neglect the past experiences that have created the city or influenced parts of it. The past is meant to serve as a record of the various mistakes, oversites and challenges that may have been experienced before by other professionals. In considering their successes and identifying their failures, contemporary practitioners can build on good practice and can ensure that they do not replicate the errors of the past. From a social point of view, past experiences also give urban planners and designers a better understanding of the people whom their plans and designs are meant to serve. One cannot also overlook the role that design and management theory plays.
The conceptual and theoretical framework went into detail regarding various past and more contemporary theoretical informants of neighbourhood design and management. It is upon this basis and various inputs from the numerous professionals interviewed, that the following criteria are proposed as a set of tools for analysing the current performance of the Albert Park area. It will inform its design in pursuit of its regeneration.
Some of the fundamental issues emanating from the interviews held with key stakeholders and professionals for the research included the idea of inner-city neighbourhoods being places that are critical to the functioning of cities both today and in the future. The role of urban centres is critical due to the current mass immigration of people to cities worldwide. Current statistics indicate that populations in urban centres will increase from the present 15% of the world’s population to 63% in 2050. African cities will urbanise faster than their counterparts in the developed world. Current estimates indicate that urban populations in Africa are growing at 3.5% per annum. Six of the ten fastest growing cities identified by World Bank analysts in 2013 are located in Sub-Sahara Africa. By 2050, it is estimated that 60%of Africa’s population will live in cities or urban centres. As a result of the current rapid urbanisation trends, the inner-city areas in African cities are under pressure to absorb new- comers and refugees. This is no less the case in South Africa as the following graphs illustrates.
Graph 2: Estimated Population Growth Rates in South African Cities
Source: http://cdn.mg.co.za/crop/content/images/2014/04/10/graphic-urbanisation2.png/580x455
The character of inner-city neighbourhoods is one of an environment that caters for multiple land-use activities and accommodates diverse population groups at high densities. The way in which this is done is what will vary dependent on location, availability of buildings and services, levels of migration trends and the reliance of the area to accommodate change. The criteria developed for the Albert Park area present eight key pillars considered not only to be essential to ensuring the success and relevance of inner-city neighbourhoods for establishing a status quo report about them, but also as fundamental to the character of inner-city neighbourhoods in the future. The following table presents these 8 principles. It demonstrates how the pillars relate to the key challenges cities are faced with. It includes elements of theoretical design together with specific issues contextual to the Albert Park area. Each of the pillars will be addressed separately and the criteria related to each pillar explained. Together they will be used to analyse the current state of affairs in Albert Park.
Table 2 presents a matrix of the Principle for the Design and Management of Futures Liveable Inner City Neighbourhoods. Key informants or forces that have led to the development of this criteria include:-
▪ Urbanisation;
▪ Climate Change;
▪ Globalisation;
▪ Existing Planning and Design Theories;
▪ Interviews with Planning Professionals;
▪ Residents Perspective;
▪ Historical Lessons Learnt; and
▪ Anticipated Futures.
Table 2 that follows, breaks down each key informant and its relationship to one of the eight identified principles. Each of these can then inform a set of criteria to see whether the principle is applicable or not.
An example of this would be the issue of urbanisation discussed in the earlier chapters of the research. The evidence presented showed that urbanisation has impact on modern cities in that the increased concentration of people in the city, means there is an increase in the demand on transportation systems. As a result one criterion for the design and management of future liveable inner-city neighbourhoods would be that they need to be places that are connected and permeable. This criteria can however be further broken down.
Each of the eight principles has been applied in the analysis of Albert Park. Linked to each is a set of criteria which is listed in a small table at the start of the discussion about the relevant principle as the following discussion will show.
Table 3: Principles for the Analysis, Design and Management of Albert Park
PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF FUTURE LIVEABLE INNERCITY NEIGHBOURHOODS KEY
INFORMANTS
PRINCIPLES
CONNECTED AND
PERMEABLE PLACES
PRODUCTIVE
PLACES
SPATIALLY
EFFICIENT PLACES
COMPLETE AND
INCLUSIVE
PLACES
ECOLOGICALLY
RESILIENT PLACES
LEGIBLE AND
ATTRACTIVE PLACES
TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED AND
WELL SERVICED PLACES
MANAGED AND
MAINTAINED
PLACES
URBANISATION Increased demand on transport systems.
Increased demand for jobs.
Increased demand for food.
Increased Densities.
Compaction of land-uses.
Key minor centre/
nodal points.
Multi-user places.
Protection of the poor against displacement by the wealthy.
Safer integration of foreign nationals.
Improved civic and social facilities.
Innovative methods of energy provision.
Improved signage and public realm
treatment.
-
CLIMATE CHANGE Need for increase in NMT and improved public transport systems.
Innovative sources of food.
- Protection and
restoration of ecological infrastructure.
Green efficient architecture and design.
Indigenous and edible plants and trees in parks and streets.
Technology and Green Buildings mitigate some climate change impacts.
Green rooftops.
Urban Agriculture.
GLOBALISATION Access to regional connecting points.
Access to web systems and markets.
Need for more local businesses.
Improved access online education opportunities.
- Platforms for
cultural exchange.
Improved place- making.
- - -
PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF FUTURE LIVEABLE INNERCITY NEIGHBOURHOODS KEY
INFORMANTS
PRINCIPLES
CONNECTED AND
PERMEABLE PLACES
PRODUCTIVE
PLACES
SPATIALLY
EFFICIENT PLACES
COMPLETE AND
INCLUSIVE
PLACES
ECOLOGICALLY
RESILIENT PLACES
LEGIBLE AND
ATTRACTIVE PLACES
TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED AND
WELL SERVICED PLACES
MANAGED AND
MAINTAINED
PLACES
EXISTING
PLANNING AND
DESIGN THEORIES
Complete streets design.
Walkable communities.
Internal and external accessibility.
Formalisation of the informal sector.
Vibrant Public Realm.
24 hour entertainment and activities.
Increased densities in cities.
Promote mixed-use development (live- work and play environments).
Adequate provision public space and civic/
social facilities.
Improved sense of community.
Water sensitive urbanism.
Environmentally friendly forms of energy.
Promote recycling initiatives.
New food sources (Urban Agriculture initiatives).
Quality public spaces.
Scale of buildings.
Architectural language.
Buildings that define and complement the public realm.
Free Wi-Fi zones.
CCTV surveillance of public spaces.
Innovative waste disposal methods.
Online management and maintenance systems.
INTERVIEWS WITH
PLANNING
PROFESSIONALS
Reliable and safe public transportation system.
Safe and walkable streets.
Foster cycling culture in the CBD.
Develop pedestrian only streets.
Public private partnerships, Incentives to private developers.
Increased opportunities for informal businesses.
Urban agriculture.
Education opportunities and facilities.
Increased housing provision.
Regeneration of key areas.
Area specific housing solutions.
Improved integration of community.
Innovative and bold projects promoting ecological
resilience.
Green building standards.
Community gardens.
Basic street-scape interventions to ensure aesthetic appeal of area.
Shaded walkways for commuter comfort.
Clear signage, Landmark features and places.
- Dedicated
management structures.
PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF FUTURE LIVEABLE INNERCITY NEIGHBOURHOODS KEY
INFORMANTS
PRINCIPLES
CONNECTED AND
PERMEABLE PLACES
PRODUCTIVE
PLACES
SPATIALLY
EFFICIENT PLACES
COMPLETE AND
INCLUSIVE
PLACES
ECOLOGICALLY
RESILIENT PLACES
LEGIBLE AND
ATTRACTIVE PLACES
TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED AND
WELL SERVICED PLACES
MANAGED AND
MAINTAINED
PLACES
RESIDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE
Safer local streets.
Improved local employment opportunities.
Adequate recreational space.
Secure tenure.
Better managed buildings.
Improved service provision for all.
- Improved safety,
attractive and well maintained places.
Attractive public realm.
Improved quality of services provision.
Well maintained public realm.
HISTORICAL
LESSONS LEARNT
Improved accessibility of broader city areas.
Develop incentives for investors.
- Ensure racially
integrated places.
- Unique offering for
city the form of shops, feature place etc.
Technological methods of
monitoring crime and ensuring safety.
-
ANTICIPATED
FUTURES
Increased access to internet and other modern means of communication.
Online access to public transport information.
Free Wi-Fi at public transport stops.
.
Food production concerns.
Home businesses.
Community gardens and markets.
- Multiple
residential options (holiday, rental, purchase).
Preservation of heritage and culture.
Safe facilities for improved interaction.
Green and efficient buildings.
Roof-top gardens.
- Development of
virtual libraries.
Innovation hubs.
Smart City principles for maintaining public infrastructure and services.
Increased community participation in maintenance activities.
Source: Author (2016)