Justin - Presentation

The presentation is about the urban planning section of Project 2, an ecological nexus in Karika, South Africa. Karika is a town with a rich history and diverse architectural styles. The market square is the focal point of the precinct, connecting the industrial zone and residential area. The area has a lot of pedestrian traffic but lacks green spaces and environmental sustainability. The goal is to improve traffic flow, public transport accessibility, and incorporate eco-friendly infrastructure to stimulate economic growth and enhance the CBD area. Hi there. Welcome to our group's presentation on the urban planning section of Project 2, an ecological nexus. To understand our proposal and thought processes, we need to first start with who and what Utenaig is, or now known as Karika is. Karika, located in the eastern Cape of South Africa, is a town rich in history and architectural charm. Established in 1804, Utenaig showcases a blend of architectural influences that reflect its diverse cultural heritage. The town centres a tapestry of Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian architectural styles, which collectively narrates the story of its colonial past and subsequent growth. The town was also revered for its cleanliness and natural greenery, earning it the nickname of the Garden Town. The focal point of our precinct is the market square located within the central business district, which serves the link between the industrial zone close to Swartkops River and the residential area, which is high in elevation, offering picturesque views of escarpments across the valley. The precinct is well connected in terms of vehicular transport and the area is dynamic and historically rich. Some notable buildings in the vicinity are the Droste building, a striking example of Cape Dutch architecture, with its grand gable and historic significance of a former magistrate's residence, and the old railway station, which is currently under renovation, is an architectural gem that echoes the Victorian era's industrial heritage. We identified that the area is a high energy area with plenty of pedestrian traffic, with the transport hubs and retail markets drawing people in. Also some spaces within the CBD create well defined public spaces. The CBD, apart from a few trees in the market square itself, lacks any connectivity to nature, offering little to no green spaces and those that do exist aren't maintained or secured. Vehicular connectivity is good, but we thought that the traffic flow, congestion and public transport accessibility needed to be improved. Environmental sustainability is non-existent within the CBD. Incorporating more eco-friendly infrastructure and environmental considerations could contribute to a more sustainable town. With the aforementioned considerations, we aim to address the urban regeneration process through thoughtful architectural interventions and sustainable design to further define and redefine public and community spaces, to encourage community engagement, stewardship and participation. This in turn will stimulate economic growth and the enrichment of the CBD area, allowing the market square urban precinct to reach its full potential.