Urban Cohesion : an investigation of the role of urban design in creating integrated sustainable neighbourhoods around Johannesburg's southern gateway

Abstract

T h e r e h a s b e e n a g l o b a l s h i f t i n t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e r o l e o f c i t i e s .P r e v a i l i n g i s s u e s a r o u n d p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h , u r b a n i s a t i o n , t h e d e p l e t i o n of natural resources as well as the recent occurrence of a global pandemic has highlighted the need for current and future cities to place sustainable practices at the forefront of development. The trend of sprawling cities and need for more transportation capacity has had a major impact on carbon emissions and exacerbated social injustices in cities like Johannesburg. This has impacted the quality of life within the city as well contributed to various economic, social and environmental injustices within the city.

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r e a l i t i e s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d u r b a n i s a t i o n , J o h a n n e s b u r g i s a c i t y w i t h a c o m p l e x p o l i t i c a l p a s t , w h i c h h a s r e s u l t e d i n a f r a g m e n t e d a n d u n e q u a l s p a t i a l l a n d s c a p e . T h e c i t y i s c o m p r i s e d of various political scars, including the mining belt, which has become a symbol of the city’s origin, identity, and history. This physical barrier divides the city and acts as the ultimate buffer space. This toxic residual landscape is polluting above and below ground and has a major environmental and socio-economic impacts on the city. Due to its strategic location the now residual mining land has been gaining public and private interest in attempts to reimagine these brownfields as a place of opportunity and development.

T h i s r e s e a r c h p r o p o s a l i s a n a t t e m p t t o f o r m u l a t e a n u r b a n s t r a t e g y t o r e d e f i n e t h e m i n i n g b e l t w a s t e s c a p e s l o c a t e d a t J o h a n n e s b u r g s S o u t h e r n G a t e w a y, i n t o a a r e a s o f p r o d u c t i o n , o p p o r t u n i t y a n d c o h e s i o n t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d t o r e s t i t c h t h e c i t y a n d c r e a t e r e s i l i e n t , i n t e g r a t e d a n d s u s t a i n a b l e n e w h a b i t a t s f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . T h e p r o p o s a l unpacks various urban design methods and tools that can be employed to create more resilient, circular and sustainable neighborhoods and networks within the city.