This Page : Examples of standing and hanging mall signage
Opposite Page : Impressive entrance to the Skywalk link site than in responding to the public realm . This is a real problem often faced by urban designers and requires a balance between commercial pragmatism and enforcement of design principle .
The planning vision anticipates that residential units will be interspersed throughout the site in the form of studio and loft apartments , flats and group houses . In this way , Century City will remain a vibrant place after business hours . The initial market response to this residential component has taken time to gain momentum , although several development projects in the pipeline include an upper level of residential apartments . Hopefully , over time the attractions of the site and the convenience of living close to all the amenities of Century City , will prompt developers and buyers to invest in the residential sector as well as in the business sector .
Conclusion Future challenges remain at Century City , which are being addressed , but require ongoing work . These include the provision and management of public transport and balancing urbanism with sustainable environmental management . In the field of transportation , a sophisticated impact assessment and modelling exercise has been completed , with innovative arrangements for joint public private sector funding to install
transport infrastructure . It will be a fine day when the rail authorities construct a railway station on the designated site , but in the meantime public transport will rely on buses and taxis . An internal shuttle bus system is already operational and a central terminal has been constructed for buses and taxi services . Combining urban places and natural systems will remain a challenge , but is important for true sustainability . Higher density mixed use development is sought in Century City ; around the multi-purpose wetland , alongside the more intimate local canals , and overlooking urban squares and landscaped spaces . It is in these spaces where urban greening will help to achieve the balance that is needed .
The aim is to develop Century City into a place that is lively , safe , rich to the senses , full of choices , ecologically sustainable and economically viable . It will be a vibrant place to live , shop , do business and have fun . While the achievements to date have been impressive , there is much still to be done to complete the vision . Hopefully the positive co-operation and partnership that has emerged between Monex and Blaauwberg Municipality will continue with the new unicity local authority . Certainly Century City should not be regarded as unwelcome competition to the CBD or Waterfront , but rather as complementary , helping to increase the economic base of the region with concomitant increases in jobs , salaries and tourists , and providing the citizens of Cape Town with a greater range of choice and opportunity .
34 Canal Walk