Ilana Steenkamp URBAN DESIGN + PLANNING + ARCHITECTURE
The [D]Urban Core,
Durban CBD
The [D]Urban Core,
Durban CBD
Durban has seen large transformations in the past two decades and has developed into a multicultural melting-pot for people from all cultures, religions, races and backgrounds. Durban’s CBD is a vibrant space that represents the diverse nature of the city’s economy and inhabitants. Crime and fear are issues at the forefront of peoples perceptions of the inner city. The early 90s saw the rise of “crime and grime” in the inner city; this had an extensive influence on the development of South African cities and has in many ways resulted in dynamics of urban decay in Durban’s inner city, and the production of “edge cities” away from the fear inciting urban core. The city centre has however assumed a different role supporting vast numbers of commuters and traders. The CBD also represents the opportunity for increased tolerance, transformation, and development of an inclusive public realm that provides a common place of belonging. The city has seen some signs of a new appetite for development, but these processes are largely inhibited by the fears of the urban core.
This project is greatly influenced by the fears expressed by many of Durban’s residents whilst visiting the city. Bearing in mind the notions of fear +“otherness“ and chaos + control, the thesis attempts to shed some light on the perceptions that have developed around the inner city in a post- apartheid context. The project illustrates an alternative approach to creating safe spaces within the urban environment of Durban. Through providing a safe urban core, the city can allow for positive interactions to take place within common spaces and hence fulfil the role that cities have to play in fostering growth in society.
This project serves as an attempt to examine and develop new ways of regeneration that deal with the realities of inner cities (in contrast to the current trends of gated communities and security paraphernalia). A number of routes are earmarked as major activity spines (right) and are examined in terms of possible additions and alterations to the urban fabric in order to create a more safe and meaningful urban environment.
A historic [but covered] canal runs in a sickleshape cutting through the city’s orthogonalgrid. It is suggested that this canal be exposed, the route be upgraded and some low quality vacant warehousing be demolished at an appropriate location within the precinct area to serve as a new public square. This square will then be surrounded by a variety of rental stock and social facilities (below) ,currently hosted in under-utilised sites, for the benefit of residents of the area.Together these upgrades could lead to a reduction in crime & fear and hence a better quality of life for the city’s visitors and residents alike.
