My colleague, Ibrahim Seedat, Director of Public Transport Strategy at the South African Department of Transport, drew my attention to this great interview with former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa in Yes! Magazine.
I took Penalosa on a walking tour of the Central City during his visit to Cape town in 2008
In Ibrahim’s words, “Even though you have heard it all before, it is always a refreshing option to read Penalosa to counter the elitist tendencies in the South African built environment and urban transportation imagination. Even non-built environment specialists are understanding the power of this thinking in socially/physically divided SA public space – witness Jonny Steinberg’s column in the Sunday Times last Sunday (just after the 2010 World Cup).
Given the temporary coming out of the middle class, at least partially, into some of the public spaces, during the World Cup and given the mild euphoria and sense of happiness and belonging it created, it might serve as an example for why Penalosa-type thinking on public space can revolutionise SA cities.
But only if hardnosed trade-offs are made to favour happiness and the creation of great public space as opposed to exclusionary/inhumane/privatised spaces like highways, malls, parking lots, golf/country clubs, gated communities, private estates etc.” Exactly!
Given the huge challenges of poverty, unemployment and homelessness in South African cities, I sometimes get the impression that colleagues involved in city development work regard the creation of public spaces or debates about people vs. cars as irrelevant to the needs of the poor. Penalosa makes it very clear why these things are at the heart of constructing the democratic city: “Public spaces are not a frivolity. They are just as important as hospitals and schools. They create a sense of belonging. This creates a different type of society—a society where people of all income levels meet in public space is a more integrated, socially healthier one.”
Enjoy the interview.
Discussing the planned upgrade to Greenmarket Square, which was completed in time for the 2010 World Cup. This included taking cars off the roads on three sides of the square, giving this space over to people
Discussing the plannned upgrade to the Grand Parade, Cape Town's oldest public space. Phase one of the upgrading was completed in time for the 2010 World Cup. The Grand Parade was successfully used as a World Cup Fan Fest in Cape Town
Crossing the dreaded Strand St, a busy six lane road that cuts the Cape Town Central City in two. Efforts to 'tame' Strand Street and make it less inhospitable to people are still ongoing
Discussing the problem of 'mermaid' buildings (nice on top, horrible below) where car parking garages on the ground floor sterilise the public space around the building
For a funny story about Penalosa’s visit to Cape Town in 2008, read my previous blog Keep off the grass
Public spaces including those indoors e.g. Cape Town station, also contribute to the self worth of Capetonians or commuters. Many commuters having to use dark, dirty and crime infestested public transport nodes have become accustomed to these spaces, and have thus attached a self worth to their existence or importance in the city.
A commuter who has to use a building that has the light airy-ness of perhaps CTIA rather than the old Cape Town station, is likely to feel very different about their place in the city or in the minds of city authorities.
Architecture, both in the form of outdoor public space and indoor covered public spaces are both essential to all Capetonians. However, each space must suit the end user. A public park in Green Point must be designed differently to a children’s park area in a township. A one size fits all approach by simply adding some brickpaving is not a sustainable solution.