A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Conceptual commentary of public spaces in Durban, South Africa
Within the context of African cities that are considered to have poor economicprospects and are failing its inhabitants, this article explores and assesses the qualityof Durban’s open public spaces through a phenomenological lens, by applying theconcept of the sociality of public space and drawing on different theorists’ ideas ofwhat constitutes a good open public space. Various factors have led to the corrosionof open public spaces, including modernism and globalisation and their resultanteffects as well as spatial apartheid in South Africa. The following theories are usedto understand open public spaces: Jacob’s “eyes on the street”, which supports saferpublic spaces; Massey’s theory of thrown-togetherness, which advocates for a rangeof different elements present in public spaces, and Parkinson’s democracy of publicspace, which encompasses the way in which people express themselves in publicspaces. The research methodology includes a literature review, phenomenologicalethnographic observations, mapping, and drawing with written narrative. The spacesconsidered in the study include a range of Durban’s successful and less successfulpublic spaces, including the beachfront, parks, gardens, and a public square. Thearticle concludes that open public spaces are a necessity for quality civic life and arestill considered a luxury in Africa.
Conceptual commentary of public spaces in Durban, South Africa
Within the context of African cities that are considered to have poor economicprospects and are failing its inhabitants, this article explores and assesses the qualityof Durban’s open public spaces through a phenomenological lens, by applying theconcept of the sociality of public space and drawing on different theorists’ ideas ofwhat constitutes a good open public space. Various factors have led to the corrosionof open public spaces, including modernism and globalisation and their resultanteffects as well as spatial apartheid in South Africa. The following theories are usedto understand open public spaces: Jacob’s “eyes on the street”, which supports saferpublic spaces; Massey’s theory of thrown-togetherness, which advocates for a rangeof different elements present in public spaces, and Parkinson’s democracy of publicspace, which encompasses the way in which people express themselves in publicspaces. The research methodology includes a literature review, phenomenologicalethnographic observations, mapping, and drawing with written narrative. The spacesconsidered in the study include a range of Durban’s successful and less successfulpublic spaces, including the beachfront, parks, gardens, and a public square. Thearticle concludes that open public spaces are a necessity for quality civic life and arestill considered a luxury in Africa.
Conceptual commentary of public spaces in Durban, South Africa
Cloete, Magdalena (author) / Yusuf, Salena (author)
2018-12-31
Town and Regional Planning; Vol. 73 (2018); 35-46 ; 2415-0495 ; 1012-280X
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
720
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