No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1999.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Not available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2000.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

At this political time and age, when apartheid has been repealed , the housing backlog determined and the government has committed itself to housing the previously disadvantaged and made resources available , it is imperative to deliver housing at scale. This delivery should happen in a manner that not only provides housing opportunities to the poor and homeless but also ensures that where they are located they have equal access to opportunities. This study aims to identify opportunities that avail themsel ves to housing development interventionists to enable them to restructure the city through housing development. It also warns ofthe limitations that these interventionists are likely to encounter in this endeavour. The study will therefore be informative to a number of people and organisations involved in housing delivery. The objective is to identify the limitations and opportunities and then suggest some innovative interventions that have the potential to circumvent limitations and maximise opportunities to restructure the city. Potential beneficiaries ofthe study include officials ofthe city of Durban, policy makers at both provincial and local level, students, private developers, planners and other professionals in Durban and elsewhere. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1999.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1997.

Urbanisation is one of the most forceful social and economic trends currently affecting large cities in the developing world and is an important component of national economic development processes. This is despite the general decline of formal urban economies in both developed and developing countries. A mirror-image reflection of the urbanisation process is increasing urban poverty, clearly evident in large cities and metropolitan areas in South Africa. The urban poor, local government, and urban planners have responded to urbanisation and poverty in different ways. Informal settlement processes take place and consolidate themselves in a climate of isolation and continuous conflict with the rules of the established formal urban economy, with the informal sector providing a safety net for survival. With the barest minimum of resources people living in informal settlements have provided some sort of shelter for themselves in spite of successive and systematic governmental opposition. They have generated many income earning opportunities in the informal sector; and in some cases they have made and effort to supplement household food supplies through direct production within the city. The practice of urban agriculture is guided by the "logic for survival" and it may be equated to squatter housing and street trading in that they are all examples of innovative responses from the urban poor. In the recent past the general response of local government planning authorities in African cities has been the fomiulation and implementation of urban management programmes linked to poverty alleviation programmes. It is within this context that various government authorities have responded by repressing the survival strategies of the urban poor, · tolerating it if they lacked the capacity to control it, or encouraging it by having had enabling mechanisms in place to support such activities. Generally, government authorities have used all of the above strategies simultaneously due to a relatively greater acceptance or tolerance of some informal activities in comparison to others. The practice of urban agriculture has been repressed in certain countries, while tolerated or promoted in others. For urban planners the connection between food and the land on which it is produced has become increasingly remote and abstract as an issue that directly concerns urban planning and wellfare. Food production and distribution is intricately linked to the global economic trade, and it will be difficult to change the terms of trade in an effort to produce subsistence food supplies. People living in urban areas are reliant on the cash purchase of food which in turn is linked to levels of affordability. However in the face of declining real incomes and reduced purchasing power, and as mentioned above, the poor and destitute have resorted to supplementing their household food supplies through direct production within the city. Food relief programmes are an added expense to government's already overburdened coffers. As such food security is a matter that urban planners and policy makers should consider from now on. Urban agriculture has an important role to play in feeding the ever growing urban popUlation, especially the urban poor. The planning of cities rarely considers the production of urban food supplies since the prevailing attitude is one that consigns food production to the rural areas, with the focus of the city on the pursuit of economic activities. There is an compelling urgency to defeat the ethical, ideological, psychological, attitudinal and practical obstacles to promoting urban agriculture since positive policies in support of urban agriculture are unlikely to emerge from this negative frame of mind. / Thesis (MTRP)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

The degeneration and decay of urban areas is a result of a combination of factors that lead to the downward spiraling of the performance of the economy concerned, the quality of life of citizens residing in the area, a lack of investor confidence, and environmental degradation and vice versa. The purpose of this study was to determine if South Beach, Durban, is blighted, what the causes of blight in the area are, how the existing blight can be eliminated and if it requires an urban renewal intervention. Through various methods, such as mapping, observation studies, questionnaire surveys, and interviews, it was determined that certain areas of South Beach are in a state of economic, physical and social decline. The decay of the case study area is occurring in pockets, with a greater concentration on Point Road. The decay of the region is due to a culmination of contributive elements that are slowly leading towards a blighted neighbourhood. Forms of blight that have been noted in the case study area are physical, functional, frictional and economic. This is partially because land-uses are incompatible, there are several vacant sites and empty buildings, the area lacks green spaces, and there are also several irregular-shaped sites. Other factors contributing to the blight of the area are the land-uses of South Beach, which are not in keeping with what was the original intent, i.e. what the area was zoned for. This has also given rise to blight in the case study area. South Beach's deterioration and urban decay is due to many factors, including poor maintenance and the mismanagement of buildings, poor co-ordination between key role-players and stakeholders, a lack of urban management, unsafe areas, and a lack of the private sectors' contribution. In order to reduce the spread of the various forms of blight evident in the area, the South Beach case study area requires an urban renewal intervention. Urban renewal of the area is required to attract investment; to create an environment that is aesthetically simiiar to, and works in conjunction with the new uShaka Island and Marine Theme Park, attractions at North Beach, Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World; and to position itself as an active role-player within the Golden Triangle of Suncoast, uShaka Island and the International Convention Centre. Recommended methods of renewal are aimed at sustainability and the rehabilitation, conservation, and revitalisation of the area. There is a need to collaborate strongly with the private sector in order to renew South Beach. The collaboration will increase the confidence levels of both domestic, as well as foreign investors. Other recommendations for the sustainable urban renewal of South Beach include the proper urban management of the case study area, management of the buildings, incentives provision to the respective stakeholders, and ongoing public participation processes. By-laws also need to be passed to ensure that the area is properly renewed and that it will be sustainable over the long-term. South Beach does require an urban renewal intervention in certain areas that will address the physical, social and economic spheres of the case study area. In order for the area to be renewed in a sustainable, transparent and equitable manner, all stakeholders must be equally represented and their views taken into account in the planning, implementation and monitoring phases of the renewal of South Beach. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

In South African cities, the subdivision of the social world and spaces which the public inhabits tends to manifest and reflect itself in the leisure choices that the public makes. It has been proven that leisure choices and experiences affect an individual's mental state and experience and in addition, they superimpose a long lasting structure onto human societies. Contemporary inner city housing developments are infested with antisocial challenges which are in the form of delinquency, alcohol abuse and drug trafficking. If such challenges go by unchecked, it may lead to a totally deteriorated society and environment. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the possibility of facilitating social and economic upliftment amongst inner city youth through provision of adequate and appropriate leisure facilities and spaces. From a planning and an architectural approach, the intention is to reveal how architecture may be used to alleviate the social ills that have infested the residential inner city. It is believed that architecture and the built environment should play a role in correcting, improving and echoing the ethics and values of its users such that there is a mutual harmony and coexistence. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This thesis provides an overview of the history of urbanisation in South Africa) showing how the resultant fragmented) sprawling spatial form serves to degrade the environment as well as aggravate the plight of the poor. It is argued that science has played a significant role in affecting the way in which planning interacts with the environment. Science has allowed for the domination over) and the manipulation of the natural environment. The popularity of positivism has served to entrench a dualism between the natural world and people - resulting in both entities being planned for separately. This control over the ' natural environment is most apparent in cities. In an attempt to alleviate the marginalisation and domination of the natural environment) a number of radical approaches towards the environment have gained popularity internationally) including ecofeminism and ecosocialism. It is argued however) that these radical approaches are inappropriate within a South African context) as they serve to politicise the environment) and are in fact inherently reductionistic and dualistic. This thesis suggests that sustainable development is an appropriate paradigm to bridge this duality) as it addresses the long term needs of people and the natural environment. A sustainable development approach for cities takes its lead from Local Agenda 21) which encourages cities throughout the world to develop strategies to ensure an improved quality of life for all their inhabitants) without depleting the natural resource base upon which city functioning depends. South Africa is currently undergoing a period of dramatic political and social change. Associated with this transition) new ways of reconstructing cities to increase the quality of life of all South Africans) especially the poor and marginalised are envisaged. This would necessarily include increasing the efficiency of the present urban form. The redevelopment of Cato Manor is used as a case study) illustrating its potential to contribute towards a model for sustainable urban development. This is done through a critique of the planning process as it is unfolding presently. The period of transition provides scope for the introduction of a sustainable development model within planning for low income communities in the Cato Manor project. However) the development has been plagued with 1I1 a number of challenges including institutional, legal, financial, environmental, capacity and public awareness. These challenges have thus far hindered the successful introduction of a sustainable development model, as the development does not appear to meet a primary objective of sustainable development - alleviating poverty and increasing the quality of life of all people, without imposing unsustainable demands on the natural environment. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1995.