multimodal solutions which seamlessly
connect different modes of transport
according to customers’ specific needs.
Increasingly there will be an acceleration
of the development of multi-use work/
play/live development nodes which will
allow people to walk, travel and cycle short
distances. Technology allows more people
to work from home and the development of
collaborative workspaces inside residential
developments is becoming mainstream.
As the physical city transforms so does the
digital city connecting us more and more
on a virtual level.
I am very much encouraged by Johan-
nesburg’s commitment to the regeneration
of the inner city, and the upliftment of poor
and informal periphery areas. The trend
towards public –private partnerships will
contribute towards unlocking the city’s
development potential. The implication
is also that public-private management of
city nodes will increasingly become the
way of servicing our city.
Working together
There seems to be somewhat of a divide
between architects and town & regional
planners / urban developers, the ideal
would be for these disciplines to work
together all the time. The prospects of
what can be achieved are very exciting.
The complexities of building projects
are already driving a more collaborative
approach. New materials technologies,
rapidly developing eco-green specialist
solutions, our urban complexities,
new additional regulations and ever-
Cranes
expanding digital opportunities combine
with sociological, consumer psychology
and future trend challenges. Simply put,
necessity is dictating an ever increasingly
cross-disciplinary specialist team approach
as it ensures more sustainable cost-
effective and workable ‘deep thought’
solutions. This trend is also becoming
a reality in ever increasing partnerships
between national, local government
departments and SEO’s with the private
sector to enable our developmental goals.
Thinking outside of the box
South African architecture is somewhat
“shor t-term goal” orientated that
leads to no real experimentation. But
here are exceptions. There is a recent
increase in the scope and scale of
architectural experimentation and in the
numbers of award-winning buildings and
architectural practices where this comes
to the fore. We see it especially with
projects that are community focused
and are driven by an eco-green, social,
urban regeneration or transformation
agenda. Budget constraints are dictating
a more innovative and experimental
design approach. Solutions are sought
which aim towards maximising simple
technologies, using traditional materials
in new ways, and in the way in which
spaces must be considered to perform
multiple functions or accommodate
different needs. Opportunities in our urban
areas are accelerating, allowing for more
unused buildings and open land to be re-
imagined and adapted to different uses.
Many young architects and developers
are taking the lead and I foresee an
increase in the emergence of new or
retrofit hybrid and multi-use buildings
which are contextualised within activated
urban districts.
New approach to retail
An exciting aspect of architecture and
mixed-use developments are the lifestyle
centres that are starting to replace the old-
fashioned shopping mall. If done well, they
can transform an urban area and become
a destination in even the most challenged
of areas. Personally, I think the days of
general shopping centers with large
departmental stores are numbered. Not
only is there an oversupply but the trend
is towards smaller ‘lifestyle’ orientated
centers serving the needs of immediate
neighbourhoods. In part this is driven by
the cocooning trend, where consumers
stay home and consider domestic
entertainment options, which has been
slowly gaining traction as consumers are
saturated more and more with always-
on internet and related entertainment
options. The home is becoming less of a
living space and more of an entertainment
space. In short, consumers are finding less
reasons to leave their home. Movies can
be ordered via on-demand services and
clothing can be purchased online. We see
a growth in the DIY market and people
growing their own veggies, cooking,
gardening and ‘going off-grid’ becoming
trendy. Lifestyle centers are fulfilling these
new ‘aspirational home focused’ needs.
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