| Summary: | Research Report Document
This document is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree: Master of Architecture (Professional)
at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in the year 2017 === The housing crisis is a global problem, however, the issues faced in South
African settlements largely stem from the colonial system which enforced
separation by violating specific groups of people’s rights to adequate
housing: “The right of every woman, man, youth and child to gain and
sustain a safe and secure home and community in which to live in peace
and dignity”. This system contributed to the low densities found in South
African cities today, and although we are more than two decades out of
the colonial regime and its laws, our urban landscape is still characterised
by a limited range of housing types, unequal accessibility to urban
opportunities, and a lack of social integration. The urban quality of our
cities today makes housing in well-located areas unaffordable for the
urban poor, thereby displacing them to the urban peripheries, far from
employment opportunities and important social amenities.
Tembisa (established in 1957 for black South Africans who were forcefully
removed from areas in Edenvale, Germiston, Midrand and others) is an
example of such townships. The housing projects in these areas have
continued to perpetuate the colonial urban form by creating large
settlements of low quality mass housing. Unfortunately, this pattern has
strengthened the income and racial lines that solidify the segregation still
experienced today, consequently, the disadvantaged remain confined in
poverty situations and long term social costs. The daily commute to
economic and social urban opportunities comes at a great cost to the
residents as access to transport systems is limited and often expensive,
even private car ownership has become expensive as these commutes
often need to be taken every day of the week.
Analysis of the study area revealed that beyond the provision for families,
there is an emerging class of singles and childless, young couples who are
seeking well-constructed, smaller homes in pleasant walkable
communities. However, they don’t want to relocate due to the
affordability of lifestyle and existing social networks. Currently, Tembisa
is missing the housing types, amenities and urban opportunities
necessary to meet these people’s housing needs.
In this report, an innovative approach in the processes of planning our
human settlements in such peripheral townships was explored. Principles
were mainly derived from international and local precedents, and the
preceding sustainable design guidelines such as the Comprehensive
Housing Plan (CHP) for the development of Integrated Sustainable Human
Settlements Breaking New Ground (BNG). These policies emphasise the
re-integration of cities through the densification of existing infill, welllocated
areas for mixed-income classes in an aim to develop integrated
human settlements. Internationally, vital guidelines were adopted from
Bioregional’s One Planet Living concept: “A vision of a world in which
people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s
resources.” This concept developed from their experiences at BedZed
ecovillage in London, a project which ultimately influenced their national
building regulations.
A combination of the different policies, design principles and guidelines
was linked to the end-user preferences expressed during the analysis, in
an aim to meet the needs of the people more efficiently. The link
revealed that integrating a variety of tenure options and housing types
(rental, bonded, and subsidized); various densities; a higher level of
services and commercial opportunities will meet larger groups of people’s
needs, and encourage social interaction in housing developments.
Furthermore, implementing the principles expressed in these policies
emphasises community participation, social and economic development
throughout the project. This research report bridged the gaps between
policy, principles and implementation by adapting global sustainable
principles to a specific context, thereby creating a new and improved
neighbourhood character to be proud of. === MT 2018
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