Mixed-use precincts are growing in popularity across the globe. And it’s not surprising given that they’re all about creating spaces where residents are able to live, work and play. But it doesn’t end there. These ground-breaking developments also have plenty to offer the cities they’re located in, starting with…
Harbour Arch, the latest development from the Amdec Group, will, once completed, become the largest sustainable mixed-use development in the Cape Town CBD. Comprising six individual towers and 198 000m2 of usable space, this R14 billion investment in the Mother City will reflect many of the principles of New Urbanism.
With the United Nations projecting that, “the world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with close to 90% of this increase taking place in Asia and Africa,” it’s evident that urban planners have their work cut out for them in terms of shaping the walkable cities of the future.
There’s no denying that 2020 has been an extremely challenging year – for our country, our economy, and our people. We’ve endured a gruelling six-month national lockdown where both lives and livelihoods were lost. We’ve witnessed a massive rise in homelessness and unemployment across the country, and seen entire industries collapse under a lockdown that many believe to be one of the most restrictive in the world.
Covid-19 might have thrown a spanner in the works for international tourism, but Cape Town can still lay claim to being voted the “Best City in the World” by the Telegraph in 2019, for the 7th year running, beating Tokyo, Sydney, New York, Venice, and Florence. In their write up, the Telegraph described the Mother City as an “unparalleled destination”, a “coastal gem, lying in the shadow of a cloud-hugged mountain”, and the “jewel in Africa’s crown”.
Previous generations might have grown up longing for a family home in the suburbs complete with white picket fence, rolling lawn, and swimming pool, but today’s 30-something’s have very different aspirations. When it comes to choosing where and how to live, millennials are motivated less by the need for privacy and permanency, and more by the need for freedom and flexibility. They want to be able to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams; to travel, and explore the world; to upsize, or downsize, depending on their circumstances; to semigrate, or even emigrate, to further their careers.
There is, as the saying goes, no place like home. The word conjures up feelings of safety, sanctuary, peace, and privacy. “Home” is our refuge from the outside world, a safe place to relax and recharge, a soft landing at the end of a busy day.
Picture the scenarios. Workers in high-rise office buildings, surrounded by more high-rise office buildings – not a park, a bit of greenery, or an open space in sight. Or, they’re working in an office park near roughly nothing. What do they do over lunch? When or where do they go to relax or take a break? Where can they get lunch, grab a coffee, or do their shopping? How long do they have to travel to get there and how far do they have to go to take care of their daily needs – grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors’ rooms, health clubs, restaurants, coffee shops… etc.
All over the world people are choosing to scale down and they’re doing so for various reasons. In many cases, it includes a more compact living space, and property developers have responded to this trend. Locally, the Amdec Group, South Africa’s leading developer of New Urban lifestyles, is incorporating it in much of their forward-planning.
It’s become a buzzword of modern city living – walkability – but why is there such a focus on making it easier to walk around our neighbourhoods and cities? The answer is simple: walking is good for us.
