Browsing by Author "Mentz, Adrian"

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    East City Precinct Design Code: Redevelopment through form-based codes
    (2014) Muller, Wayne; Comrie, Henri; Kammeyer, Heinrich; Mentz, Adrian
    This thesis confines itself to a consideration of urban development opportunity in the East City Precinct through the understanding of it former historical character and memory which can be implemented through Form Based Codes. It locates the design process in the sub-regional context and puts forward notional spatial proposal for the physical area of the East City Precinct and its surrounds. The application of theory is tested at precinct level and emphasis remains firmly on the public elements ordering the spatial structure. With all these considerations, this dissertation presents a piece of history of District Six and the importance of memory in relation to the East City. This contested site of memory and heritage informs the area’s contextual development amid the often-essentialising multicultural in particular to the ‘new South Africa’. In turn, an understanding of District Six’s urban quality which frames the intricacies of a restitution and redevelopment plan. It also illustrates the genuine uniqueness of its principles of urbanism, in contrast to market-oriented urban development which reproduces spaces of social fragmentation, exclusion and inequality. Indeed, the vision for the East City concerns long-term urban sustainability, an investment in a city of fluid spaces, a city of difference and meaning. This dissertation contends that there is a real role for urban and social sustainability in the redevelopment potential of the study area, with its historical, social, cultural and symbolic significance. Therefore its outline the key elements and principles for a development framework prepared for the study area and discuss the prospects for urban and social sustainability. This will inform where and how to apply form based codes with in the East City context.
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    The Free[way] City: An exploration of Inner City Renewal through the removal of Settlers Way Freeway in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
    (2014) Wasserman, P C; Comrie, Henri; Mentz, Adrian; Kammeyer, Heinrich
    The inner city of Port Elizabeth has faced a series of problems since the 1960s. These include forced removals, relocation of critical functions and the implementation of obdurate infrastructure. One of the most destructive of these forces was the construction of the Settlers Way Freeway in 1963. This freeway cuts through the inner city and had many buildings and neighbourhoods demolished for it to be realised. Since then it has caused more harm than good by only serving a select few while degrading inner city public space for others. This project investigates the possibility of the demolition of the Settlers Way freeway as it is essential for the appropriate future growth of Port Elizabeth's City centre. This will also have a large positive impact on the metro area in terms of spatial and economic benefit. The city centre is centrally located in the region and has a major spatial advantage in terms of trade and commerce. This alone should be enough reason for concern when it comes to social and economic reasons. An argument is formulated for the removal of the Settlers Way freeway and suggests a viable and realistic alternative in its place. This is done through a lens of economic rejuvenation of the inner city by using the freeway removal as a catalytic device for future development by unlocking land that is currently underutilised. This initiative is now more urgent than ever as continued urban sprawl is occurring on the peripheries of the city in the form of shopping malls drawing much needed economic investment further away from the city centre.