Modderfontein – the city of the future
The Chief Executive Officer of Zendai Development South Africa, Mr Anthony Diepenbroek, projects that once completed the Moddernfotein New City will attract close to 100 000 people due to its liveability.
Picture a bustling urban centre with a modern, integrated transport system, high-rise buildings, a place where people work, live and play, a technology-orientated smart city.
Count 15 years from now and this how the serene Modderfontein will look, at least according to the vision of developers of the multi-billion Modderfontein New City.
The R84-million Modderfontein New City will represent all the aspects of a smart city; one that responds to the demands for accessible information technology and that provides effective integrated public transport systems.
The Chief Executive Officer of Zendai Development South Africa, Mr Anthony Diepenbroek, projects that once completed the Moddernfotein New City will attract close to 100 000 people due to its liveability.
“The South African city of tomorrow will be driven by the twin needs of access to information technology and viable integrated public transport systems. Both of these factors are aligned to prevailing development principles which demand that population densities maximise economic delivery of services – the higher the population density, the less the cost of delivering the cornerstone requirements of any major new urban development,” said Mr Diepenbroek.
He said the Modderfontein New City must be on a par with the changing lifestyle of citizens affected by urban sprawl and it should make it easier for people to own homes closer to places of work and economic opportunities.
“The penalty for this is that numerous families are allocating an estimated 40 percent of their monthly income to transport. In some cases, this challenge restricts the dream of home ownership for many families,” said Mr Diepenbroek.
The Gautrain, which already has a railway line that runs through Modderfontein, will strategically connect with the Johannesburg CBD, Sandton, Pretoria, and the OR Tambo International Airport.
In this context, a reduction in transport costs, as a percentage of monthly income, allows the saving to be diverted.
“Clearly if this is done in an environment with convenient access to recreational facilities, the overall outcome becomes an attractive living and working environment,” he said.
The development of 1 600 hectares of land will feature a mixed land use, including educational and health facilities, transport and apartments for rental and for sale, all in close proximity.
Mr Diepenbroek said South Africa’s middle glass is growing at a fast pace and will require a new, integrated approach when developing urban centres.
“The previous system of creating arteries along which people travel to existing urban centres from outlying areas will simply not be able to cope in the medium to long term,” he said.
The Moddernfotein New City will embrace the high density spine system similar to the City of Johannesburg’s new spatial vision, the corridors of freedom, according to Mr Diepenbroek.
The Moddernfotein New City will serve a 24-hour district.
“It seeks to be a place where people will want to live, work and enjoy the benefits of various recreational offerings on their doorstep,” he said.
Shanghai Zendai is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has developed numerous homes, hotels and offices in 12 Chinese cities. Among its flagship projects are two five-star hotels in Shanghai, the Himalaya Complex and the Radisson BLU. The Himalaya Complex has a shopping mall, offices and a centre for fine art and performing arts.
