THIS week, the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA KZN) launched the Spatial Inequality Dialogue Series. With several panellists featuring in the programme, experts will share thoughts on how better design could address the underlying issues around the riots of July 2021 and recent KZN floods.
The first session in the series takes place at SAIA KZN in Glenwood, on Thursday, July 7, where eThekwini Municipality deputy mayor, Philani Mavundla, is expected to attend.
Speaking to Berea Mail ahead of the launch were panellists: Nathan Iyer, Mfundo Maphumulo and Dr Viloshin Govender.
“Architects are at the forefront of developments in cities from urban design planning to feasibilities, to implementation. We are duty bound to be at the forefront in finding solutions when things don’t work out,” said Maphumulo, the SAIA KZN sub-committee chairperson for Continuous Professional Development.
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In a bid to find solutions, the dialogue will ask who the city belongs to, how tactical urbanism can empower marginalised communities, and what parallels exist between economic marginalisation and spatial inequality.
Spatial inequality in Berea
For urban designer and dialogue facilitator, Iyer, spatial inequality is evident in the Berea area and surrounds.
“Within the Berea context, you would find on the lower side of the ridge, places like Cato Crest and Bonela, which are sadly underdeveloped and disconnected from the mainstream economy. Enhancing opportunities within these areas to generate local economies and sustain incomes and services is important, rather than serving merely as a ‘labour pool’, ” said Iyer.
He explained that urban designers work to design more equitable cities, smaller precincts and public spaces.
“Some of the projects that we have undertaken include the Point Promenade, the Moses Mahbida Stadium and Peoples Park precinct, where we focused on designing accessible and people-friendly spaces,” said Iyer.
Iyer hopes the collective outcomes of the dialogue will lead to tangible change and improve the livelihoods of Durban’s residents.
The next generation
In his role as education chairperson, Govender introduces students to the broader goals in the field, offering them the opportunity to interact with practising architects.
“Spatial inequality looks at the injustices of the past. Durban is a city that was developed on apartheid planning principles, so we are trying to look at ways to restore justice and create an inclusive city. We look at the ‘right to the city’ theory, which considers how spatial divisions were set and who the city belongs to,” said Govender, who is also a lecturer at the School of the Built Environment and Development Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Past inequalities are continued in current times as developers are drawn to affluent areas.
“We will see developments being built in areas like Ballito and uMhlanga, but rarely are developments done in township areas. That’s inequality. We are looking for ways to change the mindset of stakeholders and architects to start developing these areas to create socio-economic opportunities for people living there. This also looks at parallels between economic marginalisation and spatial inequality,” said Govender.
Developing informal areas has long been debated in the architecture field.
“There is a debate as informal settlements are seen as illegal, however, when government intervenes, people are often relocated to areas that are inconvenient for them, often far from their places of work. We are asking architects and governments how to take these people’s opinions, needs and wants into the design process by using a bottom-up approach to planning and design, to co-create and share knowledge,” said Govender.
For more information on the dialogue, visit www.kznia.org.za.
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