INDUSTRY EXPERTS new urbanisation with
INDUSTRY EXPERTS new urbanisation with
AMDEC group
“ The resurgence of mixed-use living with an emphasis on a conveniencebased offering is something known as New Urbanism ,” says Nicholas Stopforth , managing director of the Amdec Group .
The past decade has seen a surge in mixed-use property development , a concept described by developers as a space that provides the public with a place that combines living with business and pleasure .
The growth and development of South Africa ’ s major cities in recent years has made space one of the most valuable commodities of our time , but is the mixed-use property concept really all that new ?
Prior to the industrial revolution in the 18th century , communities around the world were characterised by what we would consider “ mixed use ” by modern standards . People lived side by side with merchants and tradesmen , an eclectic mix of residential , commercial and retail .
Fuelled by a demand for more effective security , South African suburbs have seen a rise in residential communities and estates over the past 20 years , which have been a natural precursor to the advance of mixeduse developments .
At the vanguard of this mixed-use property revolution are several key developers , such as the Amdec Group . In an effort to meet consumer needs for quality and convenience , Amdec Group ’ s focus has been on the creation and transformation of precincts to serve as multiple-use spaces where public and commercial areas are interdependent .
“ The resurgence of mixed-use living with an emphasis on a convenience-based offering is something known as New Urbanism ,” says Nicholas Stopforth , managing director of the Amdec Group .
South Africa ’ s history of rural-urban migration over the decades , combined with more affordable access , cars and cheaper fuel , meant that major cities became surrounded by an urban sprawl of suburbia . What New Urbanism aims to do is act as the antithesis of urban sprawl . It identifies a densely populated environment and creates a pedestrian-friendly environment where the population has convenient access to residential , commercial and retail spaces .