March 16, 2017
Nicolas Ansara
The Kosovo Sustainable Settlement Redevelopment Program
Design Space Africa, the City of Cape Town, Kosovo Community
Abstract
South Africa, like many countries of the Global South, has witnessed explosive growth in
urban population in recent decades. In a post-apartheid time, the majority of urban growth
has accumulated in densely populated informal settlements. These areas delivered poorly
planed and constructed single unit housing lacking adequate and necessary services,
leading to increased economic and social exclusion in urban sprawl, with a need for full
scale settlement redevelopment.
The Kosovo Informal Settlement is one of the oldest and densest in Cape Town, South
Africa, with a population of more that 26,000 in an area of 28 hectares. Kosovo is facing
many challenges with poverty, hunger, poor health and sanitation, violence, environmental
degradation, and fire and flood risks amplifying the necessity to hold priority in the
redevelopment process.
How can you provide urban upgrading and redevelopment and meet the needs of the
community sustainably? The design of the Kosovo informal settlement redevelopment
used multiple planning principles, which include space and movement systems,
appropriate building sizing, sustainable infrastructure design and planning, building
efficiency, and effective land use. Health, safety and security, community education and
opportunities, and sustainable resource use must also be considered.
Settlement land use can be developed for mixed-use opportunities such as community
gardening, education, and training advancements to optimize access for employment
options.
The Kosovo Informal Settlement is a community with multiple opportunities for
advancement in sustainable planning if the proper leadership, community participation
and redevelopment stages are introduced and carried out effectively.
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The Kosovo Sustainable Settlement Redevelopment Program
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Project Background
2.1 Context
2.2 Physical Description
2.3 Social Profile
2.4 The Informal Settlement Challenges
2.5 Next Steps
3. Design Approach
3.1 Density and Land Use
3.2 Typology and Lifestyles
3.3 Communal Movement Systems
3.4 Community Places and Spaces
3.5 Community Participation
3.6 Mixed-Use Development
3.7 Sustainable Applications and Practices
3.8 Implementation
4. Finding
4.1 Design Planning
4.1a Site, Land, and Community Understanding
4.1b Conceptual Design
4.1c Schematic Design
4.1d Design Development
4.1e Creation of Final Documents
5. Conclusions and Future Directions
5.1 Goals, Approach, Outcome
5.2 The Challenge of Creating Sustainable Human Settlements
5.3 The Future of Kosovo
6. Acknowledgements
7. Appendices
8. References
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1. Introduction
Image 1.1: Kosovo Informal Settlement
Image 1.2: Local Market Shop
Cities in the Global South are fast growing, poorly planned, badly managed, inadequately
resourced, and often consist of people living in difficult circumstances. Shantytowns and
informal settlements have formed on the outskirts of major cities. Many have been found
moving toward the major cities of South Africa. “An informal settlement is defined as an
area where groups of informal dwellings that often do not meet basic building safety
standards, such as wood and iron structures, have been constructed on land that the
occupants have no legal claim to, or occupy illegally” (CoCT, Sustainability Report, 2005).
These towns have become home to millions of South Africans. Residents often live in
conditions of deprivation in unstable shelters with a floor area often less then 20 square
meters (M2). The existing households are commonly constructed from scavenged materials
such as corrugated galvanized iron, plastic, cardboard or timber sheeting. In multiple
informal settlements shack densities exceed 200 households per hectare.
Each informal settlement receives very basic services. The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has
more then 350 informal settlements within its metropolitan area. The CoCT typically
provides a few communal standpipes where the residents can access potable water, a few
communal toilet facilities that are often damaged or broken due to lack of upkeep and
community violence, and minimal waste removal services. Few settlements have been
adequately managed due to the result of illegal land settlements where local authorities
have minimal jurisdiction.
The CoCT and the South African National Department of Human Settlements (DHS) are
jointly planning a catalytic human settlements program termed the Southern Corridor
Integrated Human Settlements Programme (SCINSP). The program will work to redevelop
27 informal settlements (Webster, 2016). DHS and CoCT will provide multiple local urban
design and architecture firms the opportunity to propose a complete urban redevelopment
for a number of these informal human settlements.
The Kosovo Informal Human Settlement is located in the Cape Town, South Africa
metropolitan area. Originally settled in 1998 on 28 hectares of land, it is one of the oldest
and most dense informal human settlements in the city.
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Image 1.3: Kosovo 1992
Image 1.4: Kosovo 1999
Image 1.5: Kosovo 2016
The SCINSP seeks to improve the living conditions of two large clusters of informal
settlements near the Cape Town airport, called the Airport precinct, which is made up of 12
communities, including Kosovo. These clusters are regarded as priorities to the CoCT and
DHS because of their age, size, density, and poor level of services, unsuitability as well as
health and safety risks.
How can you provide urban upgrading while meeting the needs of the community
sustainably? By providing a sustainable urban redevelopment to the Kosovo Informal
Human Settlement we have the opportunity to implement and meet the core goal of
sustainable development. Sustainable development can be defined as a process for
meeting human development goals while sustaining the ability of natural systems to
continue to provide resources and services.
The SCINSP program promotes an integrated approach to human settlement
redevelopment ensuring that economic, connectivity and livelihood issues are all
considered. DesignSpace Africa (DSA) worked with SCINSP to revitalize the Kosovo
community – creating, designing and planning sustainable informal human settlements for
all social classes. Using SCINSP’s sustainable re-development process we can improve the
households of the current residents, reduce the community risks of flood and fire disaster,
and provide better access to, and opportunities for, improved livelihoods (Webster, 2016).
With a full project area of 28 hectares, we focused on a two-hectare region of the Kosovo
Informal Human Settlement containing approximately 225 to 250 households.
Image 1.6: Existing Restroom Facilities
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Image 1.7: Extreme Overcrowding
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The Kosovo Sustainable Settlement Redevelopment Program
Kosovo is in the process of a social and developmental community restructuring.
Community leaders are working with the CoCT and DSA to create comprehensive goals that
address economic development, social development, and environmental protection
through sustainable practices. Kosovo faces issues with overcrowding, lack of suitable and
safe housing structures, ineffective infrastructure for waste disposal and removal, absence
of proper public transportation, community health issues due to sub standard living
environments, risks of destruction from fires and flooding due to extreme density,
depletion of natural landscapes, and minimal opportunities for economic development and
employment options. An urban redevelopment can address these issues while considering
the impact developmental changes have on the natural environment. The residents of
Kosovo moved to the Cape Town area in search of a new and better life, yet they ended up
getting grounded due to the lack of facilities and infrastructure
2. Project Background
2.1 Context
20 percent of Cape Town’s residents live in informal housing, which continues to be a
significant development challenge for the city. The housing deficit in Cape Town is
currently around 345,000 units, with 220,000 of these households living in a mix of
informal settlements and backyard shacks. The CoCT has been developing an informal
settlement database that categorizes settlements into four areas: (I) can be upgraded as is;
(II) can only be upgraded if accompanied by de-densification; (III) cannot be upgraded for
health and safety
reasons; and (IV)
cannot be upgraded
due to land needed for
other developments
(Webster, 2016)
2.2 Physical
Description
The Kosovo Informal
Human Settlement is
located in the suburb of
Philippi in the Cape
Flats area of Cape
Town, north of the
R300 and west of the
Philippi Police
Academy. The area is
mostly flat and covered
with unconsolidated
sandy soils overlying
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Figure 2.1: Philippi Township
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The Kosovo Sustainable Settlement Redevelopment Program
Malmesbury shale bedrock (Cape Flats, 2016). There is a high water table close to the
ground surface, which exacerbates risks of flooding during the winter rainy season. The
average annual precipitation is approximately 515mm or 21 inches (WeatherSA, 2009).
2.3 Social Profile
In 2016, Kosovo covered an area of 28 hectares at a population density of approximately
910 inhabitants per hectare and a shack density of 230 per hectare (Webster, 2016). It has
become one of the oldest and most dense informal settlements in Cape Town. Kosovo was
first settled in 1998 as the result of a planned land invasion. A social survey conducted in
2006 by ARG Design indicated a young population with the majority of the residents falling
in the 21-40 age group
and a large number of
children below six
years of age (ARG
Design, 2006). High
levels of poverty were
also recorded – the
settlement has an
unemployment rate of
approximately
51percent. It is
currently estimated
that 77 percent of
Kosovo residents earn
a monthly income
ranging from South
African Rand (R)0R1600 per month, 1
South African Rand is
equal to 0.073 US
Dollar. 14 percent
earn between R1601R3200, and 9 percent
earning more than
R3201 a month
(Adlard, 2012).
2.4 The Informal
Settlement
Challenges
Figure 2.2: Kosovo Settlements 3 Regions
Overcrowding, a high
water table, poor soil conditions, wind driven winter rain, wind blown sand, and high
summer temperatures are a few of the elements that present a challenge to designers and
planners. When working toward redevelopment all of these factors need to be considered
to create a new sustainable settlement plan.
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Seasonal fires and floods, personal safety and security, poverty and hunger, and grey water
and solid waste pollution aggravated by the high water table add to multiple community
health risks. The human health related issues are just as important to consider when
planning for growth and expansion. Proposed programs must strike a balance between
cleaning up a community and properly redeveloping it.
2.5 Next Steps
The DHS and CoCT began the initial stages of the SCIHSP in March 2016 and the program is
projected to reach completion in December 2022. The time and planning process is a
collaborative effort -- city officials, community leaders, design firms, and volunteer
residents must all work together to identify opportunities to transform the existing
informal settlement into one that embraces sustainable development and looks toward
future planning and maintenance.
3. Design Approach
The design plan was meant to create an integrated and sustainable human settlement. The
goals of the plan were to provide for both low and middle-income earners, create an
opportunity to live in a settlement that is inclusive and integrated, with businesses and
social facilities close to residences.
The urban plan connected the selected area of Kosovo with its surrounding context and
facilities. The plan addressed place making, density, typology, communal movement,
participatory incremental upgrading, and mixed-use development. Varying household
sizes and numbers, key communal areas, and open public spaces were determinants that
helped to effect and plan layout and future design.
Figure 3.1: Cape Town Metropolitan Movement Structure
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Implementation began with the redevelopment of a two-hectare region of Kosovo that
contains between 225 and 250 households. This selected area is located along the western
border and includes the main route in and out of the community. This area now includes
access, water, grey water, safe sanitation, waste reduction and removal, fire fighting
services, electricity, and the reintroduction of efficient public and green spaces. The
housing
redevelopment
process vacates
and fills low-lying
land for building.
Mixed-use
development was
used for retail and
business
opportunities
along main
transportation
routes with
housing above, and
single and double
level family
housing will be
built throughout
the area,
surrounding
Figure 3.2: Kosovo Redevelopment Area Plan
communal spaces.
Courtyard spaces and public pathways are utilized to build up and maintain integrated
infrastructure and services that can optimize soil, water, and energy to allow for productive
reuse.
3.1 Density and Land Use
The extreme density of Kosovo has been the cause of numerous issues, including health and
environmental safety, since its initial settlement. Moving forward with the design planning,
density and spacing of households was planned to allow for connections and movement for
all residents. The existing settlement has shacks placed extremely close together, fitting
any space that was available.
Within the two-hectare redevelopment area space, commercial, housing, and public spaces
and units were distributed proportionally. The land was divided based on percentage use
and needs creating a combination of 35 percent non-residential to 65 percent residential
spaces with some overlapping connections. Mixing multiple story social housing with
single level detached housing, stacked housing and commercial facilities allowed for the
optimization of space with minimal resident displacement from allocated spaces.
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3.2 Typology and Lifestyles
Multi-story housing, single level detached housing and stacked commercial units define the
areas within Kosovo. The stacked commercial and residential units define the main transit
routes populating those areas with economic opportunities and creating connections to the
high-traffic routes in the settlement. The single-level detached housing plots fit together in
groups of seven to create a shared courtyard while allowing for the rotation and connection
of groups of seven to meet and form a larger open public green space for all residents to
utilize. Multi-story units have been intermixed in the settlement area to allow for multiple
family generations to be close and connected. These units provide additional space to
maximize the unit development for existing residents. (Reference Figure 3.2)
3.3 Communal Movement Systems
Movement routes helped to create plans. They prioritized pedestrian versus vehicular
movement, optimized lighting, utilized space for implementation of services, and allowed
for reintroduction of natural elements. The main transit route was adapted to introduce a
multi-modal approach that allows for private and public vehicles, and human powered
transportation to move efficiently through the settlement. This route travels through the
center of Kosovo, connecting the settlement and neighboring areas to all mixed-use
commercial and economic developments in Kosovo and allows for additional road
branches to grow, move and circulate the residential settlement.
Along with the vehicle routes, there are internal pathways and community courtyards that
are regulated solely for pedestrian-friendly movement through the spaces. These
pathways connect public courtyards and neighboring households to promote community
cohesion, allowing frequent and safe pubic interactions and movement due to the lack of
private motor vehicle availability.
3.4 Community Places and Spaces
Within each informal settlement upgrade there is a push to create, plan and activate welllocated and proactive health, safety, security and educational opportunities and places,
including:
• Informal market - an open public space for affordable, local economic and retail
activity, such as weekly farmers’ markets (Reference image 3.1).
• Urban squares - centralized common area for local and communal gatherings.
• Communal courtyards - spaces for washing, grey water reuse, waste collection
and sanitation points, bike services for internal circulation and servicing, and
areas for goods and services (Reference image 3.2).
• Early childhood development crèches - areas for 0-6 year olds during the day,
and multipurpose spaces for the community after hours.
• Social streets and courtyards – located along pedestrian and vehicular lanes,
allowing for local shops and economic opportunities (Reference image 3.3).
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•
Open, green spaces and parks - areas for active community use, including sports
activities, community gardens, or cultural performances and presentations
(Reference image 3.4).
Image 3.3: Social Street
Image 3.1: Informal Market Place
Image 3.4: Community Garden
Image 3.2: Communal Courtyard
3.5 Community Participation
It is imperative to gain community member participation in a redevelopment plan. The
design and planning process must allow for the exchange of ideas, the development of
wants and needs, the planning for maintaining the community’s cohesion, and the
acceptance of community opinions throughout the design planning phase in order to
develop the best possible plan for residents.
Community involvement occurs beyond meetings and discussions. With an intensive land
clearing and rebuilding process, residents with the ability to work and participate in the
rebuild have the opportunity for economic and educational advancements. This helps
residents take ownership of new structures and homes, causing them to feel a bond to their
home, their community, and the areas they live in. This can motivate residents to continue
to maintain the area so that it may thrive far into the future.
All aspects of the design process were approached under current conditions. Considering
that there would be no issues or damaging circumstances within the social-political context
in South Africa and the CoCT.
3.6 Mixed-Use Development
Mixed-use development is a type of urban development that blends residential,
commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses while providing pedestrian
connections to all areas. Many human settlements, such as New York City, Mexico City’s
Avenida Insurgentes, and Hong Kong’s Central Business District, have benefited from
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mixed-use patterns. The benefits may include greater housing variety and density, reduced
distances between housing, workplaces, and retail businesses, more compact development,
stronger neighborhood cohesion, and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environments.
Informal settlements have an opportunity to enhance their community with the promotion
of efficient and effective commercial spaces and buildings in the local residential
community.
3.7 Sustainable Applications and Practices
Every informal settlement has goals to redevelop its spaces and create a better lifestyle for
all residents. In order to do this and maintain that lifestyle, they need to understand and
implement a number of sustainable practices and ideas, ranging from sustainable housing,
local building material use, implementation of sustainable energy systems, proper waste
management practices, efficient water and sanitation services, and the introduction of local
urban agriculture.
• Sustainable housing - building in indigenous styles, constructed from locally
available materials, following traditional building practice and patterns
(VASSA, 2008).
• Sustainable building materials - locally produced and sourced, recycled
materials that have a low environmental impact and are thermally efficient,
and use of renewable resources.
• Renewable energy - obtained from natural resources such as wind and solar.
Due to South Africa’s climatic position and wind availability they have the
potential to effectively and efficiently harvest wind and solar power
• Waste management - South Africa’s standard method is disposal to land fill, but
more holistic approaches through proper infrastructure and service integrated
plans are achieving reduction, reuse, and recycling.
• Water and sanitation - reduction in usage through low flow and increased
efficiency applications, rain water collection, grey water systems, local sewage
processing and re-use in agriculture as well as implementation of 1:1 services
for residents.
• Urban agriculture - enhances social justice, boosts food security, increases
ecological sustainability, offers learning opportunities and responds to the
needs of all within the informal settlement context.
3.8 Implementation
Once planning and design has been completed and approved, implementation of the
settlement redevelopment will occur on a cluster-by-cluster basis. Cluster size will be
determined by multiple factors, such as immediate need, time to complete one building
redevelopment, and availability of existing open space. During the redevelopment clusters,
residents will have the opportunity to stay with neighboring families and households. This
will minimize lifestyle disruption and help facilitate the building of stronger community
cohesion. This method was successfully practiced during the redevelopment of the
Flamingo Crescent settlement in northwest Cape Town Metro (South African SDI, 2015).
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Figure 3.3: Kosovo Implementation Plan
4. Findings
Based on community assessments and resident interviews, it was discovered that there is a
vast list of needs and wants for a sustainable settlement redevelopment. Residents do not
currently have adequate access to water and sanitation services, as there are only a few
communal standpipe potable water stations throughout the 28 hectares of Kosovo. Most
growing families are confined to unstable housing structures of less than 20 M2 -- they need
spaces that can be adapted and built upon for changing needs and growth.
Overcrowding is a major concern in Kosovo as well. Shacks are placed to fill spaces
without any planning concern or special assessment. This leads to safety risks with fire
spread and flooding. In order to improve the livelihoods of all residents housing structures
need to be established and built according to the national building codes to guarantee
suitable and safe structures, with access to proper electrical services in each unit.
As all settlement issues build upon each other, the extreme density and lack of proper
sanitation services leads to the build up waste and the lack of adequate waste disposal and
removal because government services cannot properly access the settlement areas.
Residents want better opportunities for economic development and employment close to
their households. More efficient and cost effective transportation would help them to
create a better opportunities and lifestyle for their families.
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Even with all of these needs, residents believe one element to be of most importance: zero
community displacement. They see the necessity for redevelopment but they have formed
a strong community and culture within their settlement and do not want to be displaced in
order to receive these services and upgrades.
Moving forward with redevelopment plans and community desires, sustainable building
and urban planning principles need to be considered, adjusted for, and connected to match
the needs and wants of the community. Some principles to be considered are:
o Think Small - use fewer resources, have less environmental impact, require less
energy.
o Heat with the Sun - orientation and planning to maximize solar gain when
appropriate, use of materials that absorb sun’s energy during the day and
dispatch it slowly at night.
o Keep your Cool - passive design, proper insulation, promote natural ventilation.
o Use Renewable Energy - solar water heaters, solar panels, geo-thermal, etc.
o Conserve Water - harvest rainwater, implement a grey water recycling system,
plant indigenous plants, reduce irrigation, etc.
o Use Local Materials - reduced carbon footprint, decrease costs, local economic
benefits.
o Use Natural Materials - can have more aesthetic appeal, better for local health,
promotes natural circulation in homes, promote daylighting.
o Save the Forests - use wood carefully, opt for abundant earthen materials
whenever possible.
o Recycle Materials - give new life to discarded or disused materials, provides
opportunity to be creative and resourceful.
o Build to Last - use systems and structures that are designed to last and survive.
o Grow your Food - improves quality control and increases resilience.
o Share Facilities - co-housing and eco-villages are a good way to save space and
share facilities. Incorporate common areas that promote social activity, helps
build community cohesion and promote unity (Khalili, 2012).
Building construction, special planning, and community participation are important
elements that help to make a settlement redevelopment efficient and effective. A city or a
planner can create a plan to be implemented but without the support and personal
ownership from the community, these plans and ideas will not maintain effectiveness.
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Even with all ideas, goals, and elements addressed there are a number of challenges that
can arise when attempting to create a sustainable human settlement.
4.1 Design Planning
Moving forward with the redevelopment of Kosovo, many stages of architectural design
and urban planning needed to be addressed and accounted for. This process can be split
into five key phases.
(1) Site, land, and community understanding and analysis: before a design project begins
planners need to visit, study, and understand the context surrounding the specified site.
(2) Conceptual design: is initiated through research into the needs of a project, desires of
the client, and practical programming of the design process.
(3) Schematic design: this begins the phase of compiling all previous information gathered
in order to create multiple plans and design options to be considered. These are done
through sketches and simple mock ups to help visualize a direction to take.
(4) Design development: will take the selected schematic design and suggested
modifications and revise the design to meet desired needs. It is also the phase that allows a
designer to design and receive feedback in order to create a finalized design plan.
(5) Creation of final documents for submission: once a design has been finalized drawings,
notes, and technical specifications are produced.
4.1a Site, Land, and Community Understanding
DesignSpace Africa planned and initiated site visits to the Kosovo Informal
Settlement during the summer of 2016. Different political, religious, and communal
leaders in the three regions of Kosovo led the visits. Each leader showed us their
home and provided the team with their stories and connections to the land and its
people. These interviews provided a different understanding of the land, its
structures, and its settlement needs.
The settlement visits helped to assess, analyze and interpret site and city mapping
activities, which were used to compile proper maps for future site development. A
number of mapping tasks were initiated, including understanding the movement
structure, suburbs and city structure, historical growth, and region, township, and
settlement specifics of the existing settlement boundaries and its connection to the
larger Cape Town Metropolitan area. The maps developed differ in scale ranging
from the Cape Town Metropolitan Area to the Kosovo Settlement.
4.1b Conceptual Design
Group meetings and individual interviews were conducted, in person and via email,
with Kosovo residents to provide an appropriate list of community redevelopment
needs. This list was compiled based on multiple criteria, including the built
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environment, economic desires, natural environmental wants, and community
spirit.
Multiple common elements were assessed based on discussions with community
members. They all understood the reason for the SCIHSP but they wanted the
designers and planners to understand that they have built a community and families
within the boundaries of Kosovo since its initial settlement in 1998 and they do not
wish to lose that or have anyone forced out. They want decreased crowding, better
site planning, 1:1 water and sanitation services, room for growth and expansion
(where possible), more economic opportunities, and increased safe housing
structures and community security. Their wishes and desires help to create
multiple designs, with the goal of meeting each need in one way or another.
4.1c Schematic Design
With the compilation of all mapping exercises and community assessments, the
initial design development process began with the creation of multiple options and
opportunities for redevelopment and community upgrading. Initial designs began
with multiple layouts for the planning of new housing plot sizes and a mix of single
unit to multiple story units within.
The first design began with the mixed use of two to three story residential buildings
pieced together to create open spaces in the surrounding areas to promote
additional activities and community connections. The second design was adapted to
provide single unit structures with increased mixed-use spaces along major streets
and transit routes throughout the community. The third design began to combine
ideas from the first two designs, such as single unit housing plots which fit together
to create semi private
courtyard spaces and
connections to larger open
spaces that surround mixeduse retail and housing
developments along densely
populated areas and common
travel paths. All designs were
created to provide different
options to meet the needs of
the community and to help
visualize a few of the different
planning approaches.
4.1d Design Development
Moving forward with the third
design, which was a mix of
single residential units and
multiple story mixed-use units
along major transit routes, we
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Figure 4.1: Development Plan
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were able to adjust, make modifications and revise the design based on client and
community feedback.
Urban Planning:
Housing plots were created in three different sizes and orientations. Plots were
then pieced together in groups of seven in order to create a semi private courtyard
space among the units. These groups were then multiplied and rotated to create a
group of 21 plot sites, creating a larger communal courtyard space in between all
units. This pattern continued to expand, forming connected spaces throughout the
specified residential land area.
Once the residential areas were devised and met up with major roadways and
community transit routes units were adapted to create commercial spaces and
mixed-use areas. The main road in and out of Kosovo was lined with retail shops,
restaurants, and commercial spaces to create more economic and employment
opportunities for residents.
Individual Housing Development:
In addition to the urban plans for a redeveloped Kosovo, four different housing unit
plans were created to meet the needs for various housing and family sizes. Plans
were created with the intentions of adaptation, changing spaces, and growth as
needed. Each housing unit was designed with a transformative changing
opportunity -- they have main ground floor plans with possible additional loft
spaces that could be adapted for storage, additional bedrooms, or gathering spaces.
Figure 4.2: Housing Plan 1
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Figure 4.3: Housing Plan 2
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These plans are simple and contain access to adequate facilities and basic housing
necessities. Finally, the housing units were positioned on their plots to allow for
additional growth as deemed necessary.
4.1e Creation of Final Documents
After client, partner, and community feedback was received, designs were adjusted
based on suggestions and finalization of the urban plans and structure designs were
accepted. The production of all final drawings, notes and technical documents can
take place upon receiving this approval. Creating all documents within a specified
scale to meet requirements as well as maintaining professional delivery of all
materials allows for the project to move past the design planning process and into
the construction and implementation stages.
5. Conclusions and Future Directions
5.1 Goals, Approach, Outcome
By conducting interviews with different community leaders, religious leaders, residents,
families, and volunteers, we have gained a better understanding of Kosovo’s desires, wants
and needs for the future of their home and community. The most common developmental
changes that were recorded were that (1) residents understood that redevelopment was
necessary, but they wanted to make sure that no members of their community were moved
or displaced from Kosovo, (2) that they would have better and more efficient opportunities
for economic and educational development and employment through mixed-use planning,
and (3) that each household would be better constructed with materials that provided
suitable and safe structures for everyone.
The Kosovo community’s needs provided the opportunity to relate and connect each need
to various sustainable design and development principles that were implemented in the
design progress and future planning. For example, (1) think small plan for the numbers, by
using fewer resources, there would be fewer environmental impacts, fewer energy
requirements and would allow for better special planning to mitigate resident
displacement. (2) by using local, recycled and natural materials, you reduce the carbon
footprint, decrease costs, and increase the economic and job opportunities for residents.
(3) build to last, use and apply proper building standards for structures that are designed
for sustainability and maintainability in order to last and survive, not quick and cheap build
structures that will diminish quickly.
Research conducted, lessons learned, plans developed, and sustainability principles
implemented have led to the successful design planning of the Kosovo Informal Settlement
Redevelopment (See Figure 3.2). Based on existing cases and effective outcomes, the
process has identified techniques that can be implemented to properly adapt community
needs to meet sustainable development practices, and has shown how to properly include
community residents and provide them with the resources to gain ownership in the
redevelopment process.
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5.2 The Challenge of Creating Sustainable Human Settlements
South Africa has a wide variety of legislation and policies that affect urban planning,
housing, and water management in informal settlements. They are often complex and
difficult to implement which causes issues when attempting to redevelop for a sustainable
future (Felgate, 2013). There are a number of constraints that need to be addressed when
moving forward with informal settlement redevelopment. We need to move past shortterm thinking and plan for long-term social and environmental impacts with progressive
policies and sustainable solutions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Learning and development are essential
o It is important to understand and develop new approaches to urban
planning and upgrading while working with communities and
community-based organizations. New, innovative and sustainable
approaches will require transformation in working and planning
(Thompson-Smeddle, 2009).
Principles for designing sustainable settlements
o Need to understand that settlements are living and evolving human
communities and not an area where structures can be built and forgotten.
The built environment is meant to provide life, social interaction and
development of the community. Sustainable settlements are meant to
create a built environment that supports sustainable living, including
efficient urban and housing designs, integration of built and natural
environments, sustainable technologies, methods and materials, as well
as community participation.
Appropriate densification
o Special planning and development are important to the successful
redevelopment and de-densification of an area. Mixed-use development
corridors with increased density can provide efficient public transport,
local economic opportunities and varied services in residential areas.
Proper land planning and management can help to create a more
formalized development in existing informal settlements.
Integration and mixed-use development
o Physical and functional mixed-use developments allow for services
within walking distance limiting the need for motorized transport,
integrating private and public spaces and built and green spaces. Mixeduse plans for multiple activities in the same area, which helps boost the
informal economy and development.
Sustainable technologies
o Renewable energy options, such as solar water heating, provide longterm energy and cost saving while reducing environmental impact. The
design applications of north orientation, roof overhangs, insulation,
energy efficient lighting, and rainwater harvesting are all elements that
positively affect sustainable technology usage.
Sustainable materials
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•
•
•
o These are a mix of traditional and new technological materials. They
include the use of local natural materials and recycled building materials,
all of which lower transportation costs and environmental impacts,
reduce waste and are more cost effective (Roux, 2009).
Local economic development
o Informal settlement redevelopments provide work, income, skill
development, and opportunities for residents. Sustainable construction
also allows more money to remain and circulate in the local community.
Community participation and development
o Building a sustainable settlement is more than just infrastructure and
housing -- the residents need to become apart of the process. Planners
need to engage the community and work with them to develop a space
that they are proud of. Sustainable approaches value and encourage
variety, individual creativity and innovation.
Sustainable living and livelihoods
o It is more than housing designs, technologies and materials. The
community needs sustainable leadership, proper education, techniques
and practices. They need to feel ownership in their community in order
to continue to maintain and thrive in the newly developed settlement
(Greyling, 2009).
The redevelopment of informal human settlements to meet the goals of sustainable
settlement provides a multi-dimensional challenge. We must inspire community leaders,
planners, designers, and officials to attack solutions with innovative and progressive
approaches in order to conquer the challenges associated with sustainable human
settlement development.
5.3 The Future of Kosovo
The Kosovo Sustainable Settlement Redevelopment Program will continue after the project
is passed on. The deliverables, plans, and objectives will move forward with designers,
planners, and architects at DSA in cooperation with the CoCT, leaders of the SCINSP, and
community leaders and residents of Kosovo. A project of this scale with a site of 28
hectares and a timeline of 6.5 years from inception to completion will require the support
and efforts of multiple stakeholders and workers to complete it. Future interns at DSA and
current architects will work timelessly to meet the needs of the community and redevelop
the settlement sustainably.
Once implementation begins DSA and the CoCT will have the ability to monitor the success
rate of varying redevelopment elements, such as structure maintenance, sustainability of
community gardens, new business survivability, and decreased unemployment. These will
all be monitored throughout targeted time periods: six months, 1 year, 5 years, and 10
years, with the hope for minimal government interventions.
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6. Acknowledgements
The Residents of Kosovo
Luyanda Mpahlwa- DesignSpace Africa
DesignSpace Africa Team Members
Michael Webster- Departmental Projects Coordinator
CORC
Edward Cook, Associate Professor ASU
7. Appendices
Figure 1: Cape Town Suburb and City Structure
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Figure 3: Kosovo Redevelopment Site
Figure 2: Kosovo Housing Density
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Figure 4: 3 different plot sizes
Figure 5: Plot Combo
Figure 5: 7 Unit Plan
Figure 6: 7 Unit Combo
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Figure 7: 25 Unit Plan
Figure 8: 25 Unit Combo
Figure 9: 75 Unit Plan
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Figure 10: Housing Plan 3
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Figure 11: Housing Plan 4
Figure 12: Housing Section 1
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Figure 13: Housing Section 2
Figure 14: Open Activity Field
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Figure 15: Residential Courtyard- Day
Figure 16: Residential Courtyard- Night
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Figure 17: Social Street at Night
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Sunday Times, 2008. Designer Shacks: Sea-facing Double- and Triple-Storey Bungalows in Hangberg, above
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