By 2030 South Africa must see more integrated‚ balanced and vibrant urban settlements‚ and yet more than 60% of the land projected to be included in urban areas by 2030 has yet to be designed and developed.
“To achieve this‚ the country must clarify and relentlessly pursue an integrated vision for urban development‚” president of the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) Daniel van der Merwe said on Thursday.
Opening Africa’s largest architecture festival‚ ArchitectureZA 2015‚ Van der Merwe‚ said‚ “This year’s ‘Future City’ theme is more relevant and urgent than ever before. For the first time in human history the majority of humans are now urbanised and the rate is accelerating.
“Our new era of urbanisation is already dramatically shaping the cities and countries we live in‚ offering new opportunities and creating new challenges as we collectively redefine the future of our planet especially in the face of climate change and unprecedented demands on precious resources.”
He said the United Nations estimated that 71.3% of South Africa’s population would live in urban areas by 2030.
“Johannesburg and its population are set to expand by 66% over the next 20 years.
“Already our cities and large towns produce over 80% of the national gross value added and metros are growing twice as fast as other cities.”
High concentrations of people‚ buildings and infrastructure‚ increased risk to natural disasters‚ climate change and variability.
“Reducing urban risk is critical to achieving sustainable urban growth. Safety‚ particularly in public spaces‚ is an essential ingredient for the creation of liveable and prosperous cities.
“Urban spaces need to be designed and managed in a humane way that makes citizens feel part of communities‚ and which will make them feel safe from violence and crime‚” said Van der Merwe.
“By 2030‚ South Africa must see more integrated‚ balanced and vibrant urban settlements. The alternative is too dreadful to contemplate. And yet over 60% of the land projected to be included in urban areas by 2030 has yet to be designed and developed. To achieve this‚ the country must clarify and relentlessly pursue an integrated vision for urban development.”
He said architects and urban designers played a critical role in this to develop cities which offered its residents access to social and economic services‚ inclusive‚ sustainable economic growth and development and spatial transformation.
“They need to be included now more than ever by government as part of the team which must tackle our future challenge and to maximise opportunities towards humane cities.
“Architecture is a powerful weapon for social enablement. It plays a critical role in shaping the future of the city and architects have the potential to ignite social change and transformation. Their abilities can be used to create better living spaces that address the needs of today and pave the way for the people of tomorrow.
“Architecture is not only a product of culture‚ but it is culture-forming. Architecture forms the frame for the ways in which people experience their lives‚ themselves‚ and their relationships with others. Architecture and the built environment is extremely revealing of the ways in which we view and construct ourselves as a society and as individuals within that society‚” Van der Merwe said.
AZA2015 enables architects and designers to meet‚ debate and answer definitive questions‚ such as: How have cities been shaped and how will they continue to shape our modern world; and what are the key issues challenging future cities‚ and in particular South African cities and how can these challenges be overcome using innovative‚ elegant solutions?
The event is jointly run by the Gifa and the University of Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg AZA2015 Festival takes place from September 24-26 at The Sheds in Newtown.
SA needs integrated vision for urban development
By 2030 South Africa must see more integrated‚ balanced and vibrant urban settlements‚ and yet more than 60% of the land projected to be included in urban areas by 2030 has yet to be designed and developed.
“To achieve this‚ the country must clarify and relentlessly pursue an integrated vision for urban development‚” president of the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) Daniel van der Merwe said on Thursday.
Opening Africa’s largest architecture festival‚ ArchitectureZA 2015‚ Van der Merwe‚ said‚ “This year’s ‘Future City’ theme is more relevant and urgent than ever before. For the first time in human history the majority of humans are now urbanised and the rate is accelerating.
“Our new era of urbanisation is already dramatically shaping the cities and countries we live in‚ offering new opportunities and creating new challenges as we collectively redefine the future of our planet especially in the face of climate change and unprecedented demands on precious resources.”
He said the United Nations estimated that 71.3% of South Africa’s population would live in urban areas by 2030.
“Johannesburg and its population are set to expand by 66% over the next 20 years.
“Already our cities and large towns produce over 80% of the national gross value added and metros are growing twice as fast as other cities.”
High concentrations of people‚ buildings and infrastructure‚ increased risk to natural disasters‚ climate change and variability.
“Reducing urban risk is critical to achieving sustainable urban growth. Safety‚ particularly in public spaces‚ is an essential ingredient for the creation of liveable and prosperous cities.
“Urban spaces need to be designed and managed in a humane way that makes citizens feel part of communities‚ and which will make them feel safe from violence and crime‚” said Van der Merwe.
“By 2030‚ South Africa must see more integrated‚ balanced and vibrant urban settlements. The alternative is too dreadful to contemplate. And yet over 60% of the land projected to be included in urban areas by 2030 has yet to be designed and developed. To achieve this‚ the country must clarify and relentlessly pursue an integrated vision for urban development.”
He said architects and urban designers played a critical role in this to develop cities which offered its residents access to social and economic services‚ inclusive‚ sustainable economic growth and development and spatial transformation.
“They need to be included now more than ever by government as part of the team which must tackle our future challenge and to maximise opportunities towards humane cities.
“Architecture is a powerful weapon for social enablement. It plays a critical role in shaping the future of the city and architects have the potential to ignite social change and transformation. Their abilities can be used to create better living spaces that address the needs of today and pave the way for the people of tomorrow.
“Architecture is not only a product of culture‚ but it is culture-forming. Architecture forms the frame for the ways in which people experience their lives‚ themselves‚ and their relationships with others. Architecture and the built environment is extremely revealing of the ways in which we view and construct ourselves as a society and as individuals within that society‚” Van der Merwe said.
AZA2015 enables architects and designers to meet‚ debate and answer definitive questions‚ such as: How have cities been shaped and how will they continue to shape our modern world; and what are the key issues challenging future cities‚ and in particular South African cities and how can these challenges be overcome using innovative‚ elegant solutions?
The event is jointly run by the Gifa and the University of Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg AZA2015 Festival takes place from September 24-26 at The Sheds in Newtown.
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