Protea Village Restitution Claim: Environmental and Technical Feasibility Study

CLIENT:  CITY OF CAPE TOWN
DATE:  JANUARY 2004
AREA/EXTENT:  12.4ha
LOCALITY:  BISHOPSCOURT, CAPE TOWN

The Project Challenge The Client’s brief required a team of professionals to identify the practical implications of resettlement to enable the CoCT, the State and the Claimant Community to make informed decisions on the implications and logistics of resettlement. The brief also required the team to formulate broad design guidelines for the proposed redevelopment of the site including preferred locations and densities for resettlement. Sensitive heritage and environmental issues related to the fact that the majority of the site has always been undeveloped and served as an important public recreational role, made for a very complex set of dynamics and called for a sensitive response to the needs of the various stakeholders. While the guidelines did not include a housing layout they required the preparation of a Development Framework and written guidelines to protect the physical and cultural / historical landscape; and guide the nature of the proposed development. Planning and Design Principles / Approach The built environment professionals on the team adopted a framework based on a number of important principles including: Social justice in terms of restoring land rights to people who were displaces as a result of Apartheid rule. The creation of a more equitable city in which opportunities are more evenly and equally distributed. Environmental sustainability in which the needs for social and economic development are carefully balanced against the long term needs of the natural environment. Conservation of historically, socially and environmentally meaningful aspects of the built and un-built environment. Shared rules within the group determined access to land and the manner in which the communal facilities such as the cricket field and school were used. Ultimately the physical form should reflect a community claim based on historical settlement patterns but at the same time having regard for the need of the claimants in a current day context.

Figure 1: Proposed Development Framework Contact us for further info Back to Projects