published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

The prevailing development pattern of sprawling suburbs prevents sustainability and can no longer be tolerated . Since the end of WWII the "American Dream" to own a single - family home on a large lot away from the blight of downtowns has greatly reduced the quality of life of North Americans. To reverse this trend sustainable development/ sustainability must be society’s goal. This means that the actions of society - particularly where community development/design is concerned - must promote environmental integrity, economic vitality , and social well - being . The recent New Urbanism Movement which focuses on community development/design makes this important realization . In doing so, it has fostered a series of alternative methods of community development/design which promote environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being. The most prominent examples are Traditional Neighbourhood Development, Transit Oriented Development, and, more recently in Canada, the Metropolitain Purlieu . However, these concepts are not panaceas to sustainability and can gain further insight from earlier development/design projects such as Village Homes in California . By combining the best of the ideas from these concepts and supplementing them with further ideas a concept which further enhances environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well - being is developed. However, such a concept is only useful if it can be successfully implemented. Thus, prominent barriers to sustainable community development/design such as uncertainty over cost and marketability , and inadequate regulations / guidelines to allow for or promote alternative methods of development/design must be overcome. One method of achieving this is through the use of the performance point system which is devised here. Regardless of the method of implementation used to enhance the environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being of a community, it is clear that immediate action is required . Without it, the quality of life of North Americans will continue to deteriorate and sustainability will not be realized .

This project will address the environmental and social issues associated with conventional community planning and propose solutions to these through written documentation as well as through masterplan-scale concepts of a proposed mixed-use project using principles derived from the New Urbanist movement. The site chosen to display these conceptualizations is that of the existing Delaware County Fairgrounds located in Muncie, Indiana. Two concepts for a traditional neighborhood development shall be the graphic product of the project. The concepts shall be used in a comparison of the potential for New Urbanist design principles applied within the confines of existing zoning and development regulation and New Urbanist-derived design principles applied in an unrestricted setting. The concepts will be used to illustrate the potential of the site as a primarily residential space. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the extent of Water Sensitive Urban Design activities in the George municipality in the Western Cape Province, in South Africa. Water resource management in urban areas worldwide had become unsustainable with the widespread implementation of outsized infrastructure, environmental degradation and overuse of natural resources. The result was a concept called Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). IUWM encapsulates the entire water cycle from rainwater to surface water, groundwater and wastewater, as part of urban water management, and not as separate entities. There was worldwide response to IUWM, with the USA formulating Low-Impact Development (LID), the UK designing their Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS), and New Zealand articulating Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD), all to improve urban water resource management. Australia responded with Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). WSUD explores the design and planning of water infrastructural development in an urban setting, vital in Australian cities which experience continuous severe water shortage conditions. The WSUD approach aims to influence design and planning from the moment rainwater is captured in dams, treated, and reticulated to consumers, to the point of wastewater re-use, as well as stormwater use. Various techniques are specified as part of the WSUD approach namely: the installation of greenroofs, demand reduction techniques, stormwater management and the re-use of treated wastewater for irrigation and fire-fighting. These WSUD activities can be implemented from large-scale efforts with whole suburbs working together to manage stormwater by construction of wetlands, as well as small-scale change in design and planning, e.g., with household rainwater tank installation for irrigation and toilet flushing. With South Africa’s progressive legislation at a national, provincial and local municipal level, various WSUD activities can be implemented to aid and guide municipalities. The study aimed to investigate what type of WSUD activities the George municipality has implemented, and to what extent the activities had an impact on water consumption, since the drought in 2009. The reasons behind any lack of implementation were also explored. Proof of only eight WSUD activities implementation could be found. Water debtors’ data and bulk water data was sourced in order to determine the effect of the eight WSUD activities on water consumption. Bulk meter data could however not be used to correlate with the debtors’ data since readings from many bulk meters had not been recorded. Debtors’ data did prove however that the WSUD activities had a short-term impact on water consumption in the suburbs where it was implemented. The reasons given for non-implementation were not satisfactory. Recommendations are that the municipality should focus on better planning and implementation of diverse activities and that keeping records and data should be made a priority to determine any progress made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die omvang van die Water Sensitiewe Stedelike Ontwerp (WSUD) aktiwiteite in die George munisipaliteit in die Wes-Kaap, in Suid-Afrika. Waterhulpbronbestuur in stedelike gebiede in die wêreld het nie-volhoubaar geword met die grootskaalse implementering van buitenmaatse infrastruktuur, agteruitgang van die omgewing en die oorbenutting van natuurlike waterhulpbronne. Die gevolg was 'n konsep wat Geïntegreerde Stedelike Water Bestuur (IUWM) genoem is. IUWM omvat die hele watersiklus vanaf reënval, tot oppervlakwater, grondwater en afvalwater, as deel van die stedelike waterbestuur, en nie as aparte entiteite nie. Daar was 'n wêreldwye reaksie te IUWM, met die VSA se Lae-impak-Ontwikkeling (LID), die Verenigde Koninkryk se ontwerp van hul volhoubare stedelike dreineringstelsel (SUDS), en Nieu-Seeland se formulering van Lae-impak Stedelike Ontwerp en Ontwikkeling (LIUDD), om stedelike water hulpbronne beter te bestuur. Australië het reageer met Water Sensitiewe Stedelike Ontwerp (WSUD). WSUD verken die ontwerp en beplanning van waterbestuur infrastruktuur ontwikkeling, in 'n stedelike omgewing, waar dit noodsaaklik was in die Australiese stede wat deurlopende tekort aan water ervaar. Die WSUD benadering het ten doel om die ontwerp en beplanning te beïnvloed vanaf die oomblik reënwater in damme opgevang is, behandel, en aan verbruikers versprei word, tot by die punt van afvalwater hergebruik, sowel as stormwater gebruik. Verskeie tegnieke word verskaf as deel van die WSUD benadering, naamlik: die installering van “greenroofs”, wateraanvraagbestuur tegnieke, en stormwater gebruik en hergebruik van behandelde afvalwater vir besproeiing en brandbestryding. Hierdie WSUD aktiwiteite kan implementeer word vanaf grootskaalse pogings met die samewerking van hele voorstede met stormwater bestuur deur die konstruksie van die vleilande, sowel as kleinskaalse verandering in die ontwerp en beplanning by huishoudings, byvoorbeeld met reënwatertenk installasie vir besproeiing en toilet spoel. Met Suid-Afrika se progressiewe wetgewing op 'n nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike munisipale vlak wat munisipaliteite steun en lei, kan die verskeie WSUD aktiwiteite ïmplementeer word. Die studie is gemik om ondersoek in te stel na watter tipe WSUD aktiwiteite deur die George-munisipaliteit implementeer word, en tot watter mate die aktiwiteite 'n impak gehad het op die water verbruik sedert die droogte in 2009. Die redes agter 'n gebrek aan implementering is ook ondersoek. Bewyse van implementering van net agt WSUD aktiwiteite kon gevind word. Data van die water debiteure en grootmaat water meters is verkry ten einde die effek van die agt WSUD aktiwiteite op die water verbruik te bepaal. Grootmaat water meter data kan egter nie gebruik word om te korreleer met die data van die debiteure aangesien die lesings van baie grootmaat water meters nie aangeteken is nie. Debiteure se data het egter bewys dat die WSUD aktiwiteite 'n korttermyn-impak op die waterverbruik in die voorstede waar dit geïmplementeer is gemaak het. Die redes gegee vir nieuitvoering is nie bevredigend nie. Aanbevelings is dat die munisipaliteit moet fokus op beter beplanning en implementering van diverse aktiwiteite en dat die hou van rekords en data prioriteit gemaak moet word om vas te stel of enige vordering gemaak is.

Tao Yuen Ting, Josephine. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2009-2010, design report." / "May 2010." / Includes bibliographical references (p. [86-87]). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1.0 --- synopsis : site background . the urbanization procedure? . compelling factors for an alternate urbanization . farming an opportunity . hypothesis --- p.6 / Chapter 2.0 --- research : farming in social potential . farming in energy potential . farming in water potential . farming practice . cases study . density study --- p.22 / Chapter 3.0 --- site design : site criteria . retaining the local farming entities . layout strategy . optimizing building with farming --- p.46 / Chapter 4.0 --- building design : massing component . compositiong strategy --- p.62 / Chapter 5.0 --- bibliography : --- p.86

The prevailing development pattern of sprawling suburbs prevents sustainability and can no longer be tolerated . Since the end of WWII the "American Dream" to own a single - family home on a large lot away from the blight of downtowns has greatly reduced the quality of life of North Americans. To reverse this trend sustainable development/ sustainability must be society’s goal. This means that the actions of society - particularly where community development/design is concerned - must promote environmental integrity, economic vitality , and social well - being . The recent New Urbanism Movement which focuses on community development/design makes this important realization . In doing so, it has fostered a series of alternative methods of community development/design which promote environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being. The most prominent examples are Traditional Neighbourhood Development, Transit Oriented Development, and, more recently in Canada, the Metropolitain Purlieu . However, these concepts are not panaceas to sustainability and can gain further insight from earlier development/design projects such as Village Homes in California . By combining the best of the ideas from these concepts and supplementing them with further ideas a concept which further enhances environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well - being is developed. However, such a concept is only useful if it can be successfully implemented. Thus, prominent barriers to sustainable community development/design such as uncertainty over cost and marketability , and inadequate regulations / guidelines to allow for or promote alternative methods of development/design must be overcome. One method of achieving this is through the use of the performance point system which is devised here. Regardless of the method of implementation used to enhance the environmental integrity , economic vitality , and social well-being of a community, it is clear that immediate action is required . Without it, the quality of life of North Americans will continue to deteriorate and sustainability will not be realized . / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In our rapidly urbanising world, the need for sustainable settlement planning, particularly for the poor in developing countries, is essential. In South Africa, apartheid spatial constructs segregated black population groups, denying them equal access to economic opportunities; housing; as well as basic and social services. After the first democratic elections in 1994, policy makers attempted to redress these inequalities. Though early housing policy aimed to provide secure tenure: permanent residential structures, and access to basic services for the poor, these policies failed to meet the objectives of the policy makers. In articulating that the state could not meet the needs of the homeless, and that housing for the poor should be delivered within a normalized market in order to attract private investment, these policies (which promoted private sector, contractor-driven development) only served to heighten inequalities previously entrenched by the apartheid regime. In 2004, after measuring delivery failures, policy makers empowered the state to become an enabler of subsidised and low-income housing delivery, rather than leaving housing provision solely to the market. The new policy included the use of multiple finance and delivery mechanisms, multiple housing typologies, and clearly expressed the need for capacity development. It also espoused the need for citizens to become participants in sustainable settlement delivery. Despite this, policy implementation continues to be fragmented and mostly ineffectual. Interviews, survey results and site visits reveal that there are some examples of integrated sustainable human settlements in the South African (SA) context. A few recent examples showcase better quality houses, a broader variety of housing options and typologies, better locations, functioning developmental relationships and the use of multiple financing mechanisms. Conversely, case studies and comparative analysis of developments reveal that most projects designated as Breaking New Ground (BNG) responsive by government officials (as defined in the study) fail to meet BNG policy objectives. This study argues that low-income housing provision continues to focus on the delivery of free-standing subsidy houses without providing a range of typologies and tenure options. It argues that basic and socialservice provision is intermittent and, at times, non-existent. It argues that current funding models for the development of sustainable human settlements in low-income communities are unable to meet basic needs within communities. It shows that skills scarcities within government prevent the acceleration of housing delivery and that participation strategies have failed to meet the policy objective of enabling citizens to become participants in sustainable settlement development. In conclusion, it recommends that the current focus on and allocations of subsidies toward ownership models for shelter and housing delivery be re-examined. It suggests that support should be provided for lending institutions to extend finance to creditworthy, low- and middle-income families. Additionally, accredited capacitybuilding programmes should be developed and funded for local authorities, enabling local government to be the sole driver of local development. It argues that capacity should be built in community organisations to speed up delivery processes, and recommends that provincial government’s power and authority be incrementally devolved to local government as capacity is increased within local authorities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weens die snelle verstedeliking in Suid-Afrika het die behoefte aan beplanning van volhoubare nedersettings noodsaaklik geword, veral vir armes in ontwikkelende lande. Tydens apartheid is gesegregeerde swart gemeenskappe gelyke toegang tot ekonomiese geleenthede, behuising, sowel as basiese en maatskaplike dienste ontneem. Na 1994 het beleidmakers gepoog om hierdie ongelykhede reg te stel. Hoewel vroeë behuisingsbeleid daarop gemik was om permanente residensiële strukture wat toegang tot basiese dienste sou verseker, het hierdie beleid egter gefaal. Toe die staat nie sy doelwitte kon bereik nie, is daar besluit om private beleggings te lok. Hierdie privaatsektor gedrewe beleid, wat ontwikkeling binne 'n genormaliseerde mark sou bevorder, het egter slegs gedien om ongelykhede te verskerp. Dit is dan ook dieselfde ongelykhede wat voorheen in die apartheidsbeleid verskans is. In 2004, na besef is dat verskaffing misluk het, het beleidmakers die staat bemagtig om te verseker dat gesubsidieerde behuising vir lae-inkomste groepe verskaf word, eerder as om behuising slegs aan die private sektor oor te laat. Die nuwe beleid het ingesluit die gebruik van verskeie finansiële en leweringsmeganismes, meervoudige behuising-tipologieë, en het duidelik die behoefte aan kapasiteitsontwikkeling vergestalt. Dit het ook die behoefte onderstreep wat daar bestaan vir landsburgers om deel te neem aan die proses van lewering van volhoubare nedersettings. Ten spyte hiervan is min sukses behaal. Hierdie studie voer aan dat daar 'n paar voorbeelde van geïntegreerde volhoubare menslike nedersettings in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks bestaan. Onlangse voorbeelde dui op huise van ‘n beter gehalte, 'n groter verskeidenheid van behuisingsopsies en tipologieë, geskikter ruimtes, die funksionering van die ontwikkelingsverhoudings en die gebruik van verskeie finansieringsmeganismes. Aan die ander kant, alhoewel regeringsamptenare die meeste projekte aanvaar as synde dat hulle voldoen aan die vereistes van Breaking New Ground (BNG), voldoen hulle nie aan die vereistes van die BNG se beleid nie. Hierdie studie voer aan dat die voorsiening van lae-inkomste-behuising bly fokus op die lewering van subsidies vir vrystaande huise sonder dat 'n reeks tipologieë en ook opsies ten opsigte van verblyfreg verskaf word. Basiese en maatskaplike diensvoorsiening is gebrekkig en soms totaal afwesig. Hierbenewens is die huidige finansiële modelle vir die ontwikkeling van volhoubare menslike nedersettings in lae-inkomste gemeenskappe nie in staat om in die basiese behoeftes van die gemeenskappe te voorsien nie. Dis duidelik dat ‘n tekort aan vaardighede binne die regering verhoed dat die lewering van behuising versnel en dat die strategieë vir deelname deur burgers aan die proses ook gefaal het. Ten slotte beveel hierdie studie aan dat die huidige stelsel vir die toekennings van subsidies vir die lewering van skuiling en behuising weer nagegaan word. Ondersteuning moet gegee word aan instellings wat finansiering voorsien en dit behoort uitgebrei te word na lae- en middel-inkomste families wat kredietwaardig is. Kapasiteitsbou-programme behoort geskep te word vir plaaslike owerhede wat dan alleen sal omsien na plaaslike ontwikkeling. Gemeenskapsorganisasies behoort ook bemagtig te word om leweringsprosesse te bespoedig. Die provinsiale regering se magte en gesag moet inkrementeel oorhandig word aan plaaslike regering soos kapasiteit binne plaaslike owerhede self uitbrei.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the 21st century, cities play a vital role in social, economic and environmental changes. They are the largest places of human settlement and it is expected that more than 80 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 (UNEP, 2012). At the same time, as the role of cities significantly increases, it also contributes to negative outcomes on the planet. In particular, the current cities’ demand for materials and energy consumption accounts for almost 80 percent of the world’s consumption and it leads to serious environmental problems. The main problems are climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and ecosystem degradation. In response to these urban issues, sustainable cities have emerged as an alternative way of urban life. Since cities consume a massive amount of energy, an efficient resource management system has to be established for the sustainable urban future. In addition, finding ways to reconcile economic growth, social well-being and the sustainable use of resources is imperative in urban sustainability. Since people’s lifestyle and their material footprint are dependent on the urban design, construction and operation of urban infrastructures, ways to make an urban infrastructural system more sustainable will contribute to the transition towards sustainable cities. In this study, the thesis applies Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to one of the sustainable cities, Songdo, South Korea. Before delving into the analysis, it explores the overview of the New Songdo City (NSC) project and describes its sustainable urban infrastructures. Then it examines the material flow of inputs and outputs of the city in order to reveal their sustainability and suggests a guideline for the realisation of sustainable cities. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are used to assess and compare the material and energy flow trends for this city. The results indicate that the general material consumption in Songdo is higher than the average in South Korea. It reflects the high-income households’ consumption patterns in Songdo. In addition, one could see that the sustainable networks have merely contributed to the overall consumption. The findings from this study can be used to formulate sustainable development policies and strategies in terms of increasing the efficiency of resource and energy use in urban areas. Furthermore, this research is expected to provide a platform for realisation of sustainable cities by highlighting the important role of urban infrastructures and their material resource flow. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die 21ste eeu speel stede 'n belangrike rol in die sosiale, ekonomiese en omgewingskwessies veranderinge. Stede is die grootste vorm van menslike nedersetting en daar word verwag dat meer as 80 persent van die wêreld se bevolking in stede sal woon teen 2050 (UNEP, 2012). Op dieselfde tyd, namate die rol van stede aansienlik verhoog, dra dit ook by tot negatiewe uitkomste op die planeet. Veral huidige stede se vraag na materiaal en energie reken vir byna 80 persent van die wêreld se verbruik, en dit lei tot ernstige omgewingsprobleme. Die grootste probleme is klimaatsverandering, biodiversiteit verlies, verwoestyning en die agteruitgang van ekostelsels. In reaksie op hierdie stedelike kwessies het volhoubare stede na vore gekom as 'n alternatiewe vorm van stadsbewoning. Aangesien stede 'n massiewe hoeveelheid energie gebruik, moet 'n doeltreffende hulpbronbestuur stelsel vasgestel word. Daarbenewens, is dit noodsaaklik om maniere te vind om ekonomiese groei te integreer met sosiale welsyn en die volhoubare gebruik van hulpbronne. Aangesien mense se lewenstyl en hul impak op die omgewing afhanklik is van die stedelike infrastruktuur, sal maniere om hierdie infrastruktuurstelsel meer volhoubaar te maak bydra tot die oorgang na volhoubare stede. In hierde studie word, stedelike materiaalvloeiontleding toegepas op een van die volhoubare stede, Songdo, Suid-Korea. Voor die analise, sal 'n oorsig van die nuwe Songdo stad projek en die stad se volhoubare infrastruktuur gegee word. Dan word die vloei van materiaal in-en uitgange van die stad ondersoek om hul volhoubaarheid te illustreer, en stel dit 'n riglyn voor vir die verwesenliking van volhoubare stede. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodologie word gebruik om die materiaal en energie vloei tendense vir hierdie stad te bepaal en vergelyk. Die resultate dui daarop dat die algemene materiaal verbruik in Songdo hoër is as die gemiddelde in Korea. Dit weerspieël die hoë-inkomste huishoudings se verbruikspatrone in Songdo. Daarbenewens kan 'n mens sien dat die volhoubare netwerke slegs bygedra het tot die algehele verbruik. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan gebruik word om die volhoubare ontwikkeling van beleid en strategieë te formuleer in terme van die verhoging van die doeltreffendheid van die hulpbron-en energie gebruik in stedelike gebiede. Verder word verwag dat hierdie navorsing 'n platvorm in terme van die realisering van volhoubare stede sal voorsien deur die belangrike rol van stedelike infrastruktuur, en die materiaal hulpbron vloei te beklemtoon.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The sustainability of a human settlement is a multidimensional problem, dealing not only with settlement spatial or housing dimensions, but also with spatial characteristics, geographic location, environmental considerations, economic viability, institutional capacity, human development, and social relationships and aspirations. With the ability to address spatial restructuring, effect integration and optimise the use of infrastructure, the South African government, through its New Comprehensive Plan for the Creation of Sustainable Human Settlements, promulgated in 2004, has identified integrated residential development, essentially comprising medium-density mixeduse housing opportunities, as the core contributor to the creation of sustainable human settlements. Through its land release programmes, government seeks to stimulate the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements. The evaluation criteria applied in the assessment of development proposals however differ between the various spheres of government. The criteria evaluating the inherent sustainability of a development proposal have not been evident in the literature review of the advertised proposals. With no overall assessment framework in place to assess the overall sustainability of integrated residential development projects, there has been an evident lack of consistency in the evaluation of such proposals. Furthermore, the lack of consistency and the lack of a consistently applied evaluation framework does not allow for adequate monitoring and evaluation after development. The aim of this investigation was to facilitate the development of an appropriate and adaptable framework that can guide government in evaluating an integrated residential development proposal in terms of its sustainability and the extent to which it endeavours to achieve government’s desired outcomes. An empirical study was conducted through evaluation research and comparative studies to investigate the indicators informing the creation of sustainable and integrated residential developments. Primary data were acquired through questionnaires to targeted public and private sector stakeholders involved in integrated residential developments, and were supplemented by a literature review on the aspects informing the sustainability of housing development. The research found that there is a lack of consistency and integration in the evaluation of proposals for integrated residential developments. Similarly, the key aspects and means of measuring sustainability were found not to be integrated into the evaluation process. The degree to which a development proposal was considered to be sustainable therefore is, and will remain, unknown until it is researched. Without the ability to measure the level of perceived sustainability pre- and post-implementation of development proposals, and with cognizance of the newness of integrated residential developments as a housing model, it is doubtful whether there will be progress towards the realisation of ideal sustainable human settlements. To facilitate the realisation of sustainable human settlements, the proposed framework seeks to establish a consistent means of evaluating an integrated residential development proposal pre- and post-development.