Platform100 SARChI #SpatialTransformation

15/08/2024

Judge Albie Sachs, introduced by Prof Maluleke, our Vice Chancellor, speaking to architects on how the constitutional court building transformed a part of the city... and how architectural excellence needs to be assessed... certainly worth revisiting....

The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) inaugurated Prof Amira Osman as its 70th President at a hybrid event under theme of ‘What Does Transformatio...

07/06/2024

A Panel Discussion about the Life and Legacy of John Habraken

Ever wondered about the origins of Open Building? The Council on Open Building invites you to a panel discussion about the legacy of the late architect and author, John Habraken, Founder of the internationally active Open Building Movement. John Dale, President and Co-Founder of the Council on Open Building will moderate a conversation about John Habraken, his life and work, with close colleagues Frans Van der Werf, Stephen Kendall, and Amira Osman.

Join us On June 28 at noon EST / 9AM PST. Admission is free but registration is required. Please follow this link to sign up: https://councilonopenbuilding.wildapricot.org/event-5759159

31/05/2024

The co-creation of a master bike plan to prioritise and encourage non-pedestrian mobility and support local businesses in Zanzibar is underway!

On the 2nd of May, the team hosted the 2nd in a series of participatory workshops at the Maru Maru Hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar – a big thank you to all who joined the tactical session aimed at encouraging and facilitating non-motorised transport as a strategy to reduce traffic jams and vehicle congestion while simultaneously supporting small businesses that rely on non-motorised transport systems.

The focusses on improving walkability and encouraging small-scale income generating opportunities while increasing citizen safety through “eyes on the street”. The master plan arises out of the context of some of these elements already present in the world heritage site and recognises that Zanzibar and Stone Town, in particular, is not only a tourist destination but also a “living town” with a community with livelihoods that need to be sustained. Given the nature of the city, with its narrow, winding streets, bicycles are an ideal method of transport and business.

Facilitated by South African architect, artist and academic Tebogo Emmanùel Ramatlo, international architect, urbanist and photojournalist Robert Krasser and the South African Research Chair in Spatial Transformation, Prof Amira Osman, the workshop focussed on identifying existing and potential transport routes and nodes to create new pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. Participants were introduced to the experiment conducted in Stone Town in partnership with local artists and joined a walk to explore and discuss the impact of these temporary interventions.

Thanks to Mr Babati Mokgethi, an urban regional planner and designer who represented the funder, African Development Bank Group, supporting the bank’s vision of a multisectoral approach to building African Cities.

Workshop attendees included: Mr. Muchi Juma Ameir, the Director of Urban and Rural Planning (DOURP); architect Samir Hadad Khamis,Stone Town Development and Conservation Agency (STDCA); Mr Ali Bakar; Ms Anja Nelle, GIZ; Ms Juliet Rita, African Network for Walking and Cycling (ANWAC), Humond Khamis Omar, Bluebikes and other participants from the Commission for Land (COLA), the Department of Tourism, tour guides, media and investment and promotion agencies ZiiEcotourism, ZIPA.

If you would like to be involved in the co-creation of the master bike plan for a world heritage site, follow and share the . To be included in the follow-up workshop to be held later this year, please contact the Project Manager, Tebogo Ramatlo.



TUT_Arch Bluebikes Zanzibar UN-HABITAT UN Environment Programme UNESCO Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Unesco World Heritage Sites Unesco World Heritage Walk21

22/05/2024

https://www.tut.ac.za/latest-news/210-architecture-expert-leads-project-to-introduce-bicycle-pathways-in-zanzibar

Prof Amira Osman, South African Research Chair in Spatial Transformation and prof in Architecture at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), is leading a project to introduce special pathways for bicycles in Zanzibar, especially in the Stone Town area. The need to have more cyclists to reduce co...

04/05/2024

In addition to the numerous globally recognized benefits to cycling as a mode of transport, the increased activity and vibrancy in the street environment and the low cost of cycling are important considerations in Zanzibar.

Given that some parts of the historic Stonetown can only be accessed by motorcycle, bicycle or walking, improving bicycle infrastructure, improves access for both cyclists and pedestrians. (If it’s safe to cycle, it’s safe to walk.)

Biking reduces parking congestion in the city, especially around the market centres. The Malindi fish market for example has a small parking space that can barely accommodate 20 cars, yet is able to daily accommodate the over a hundred fishermen who use bicycles.

Cycling enhances the social and the economic development of Zanzibar. It supports employment opportunities from selling bread and ice cream, to fetching and carrying firewood, water and gas. Bikes transport farm produce and facilitate distribution of fish to customers. Improving bicycle infrastructure and promoting everyday cycling also contributes to the local bike-hiring and servicing industry.

African Development Bank Group African Organization for Sustainable Development African Centre for Cities Future Cities Africa South African Cities Network Bluebikes Zanzibar Unesco World Heritage UN-HABITAT UN Environment Programme Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Walk21 TUT_Arch UN-Habitat, PLGS Unesco World Heritage Sites

04/05/2024

Leading innovation in non-motorised transport.

Cycling is the key mode of transport in Zanzibar and for the last century, the preferred mode of transport in Stone Town. As a small and topographically quite flat island, everyday cycling is an appropriate non-motorized transport strategy.

Unfortunately the promotion of cars as an ultimate status symbol, often posits cycling as an inferior mode of transportation for poorer people. The aims to improve cycling infrastructure as has been successfully done in cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen and in so doing, increase both the attractiveness and desirability of cycling as a mode of transport in Stone Town.

Zanzibar’s current car-vehicles per capita is 10 and with economic development, is set to grow rapidly. International examples prove that too many cars per capita (>150) damage both the environment and the social fabric of urban spaces. As a Unesco World Heritage Sites Stonetown has the potential to attract more tourists and more development.

Foreseeing this growth trajectory, Zanzibar is well-placed to strategically plan for the projected increase in mobility needs. Thank you to our local partners and funders for investing your time and effort into exploring sustainable, people-friendly urban mobility solutions.

African Development Bank Group Bluebikes Zanzibar Unesco World Heritage UN-HABITAT UN Environment Programme Stonetown Zanzibar Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Walk21 Tswane University of Technology TUT_Arch UN-Habitat, PLGS

02/05/2024

is an urban mobility project that uses to explore possibilities for permanent bicycle infrastructure. The project is piloting, testing and evaluating the potential design and activation of strategic cycling routes in and out of

The research-in-action project is inspired by innovative district improvements in the Kampungs, Surabaya, Indonesia and the techniques of Jaime Lerner, architect, urbanist and once-mayor of .

The premise of is that changes to a community don’t need to be large-scale and expensive, but that strategically placed can have a transformative impact on the entire system.

Follow and on Instagram to track the .

For more on and follow this link https://linktr.ee/Platform100ZA

ArchDaily ResearchGate Springer Publishing
African Development Bank Group Robert Krasser Bluebikes Zanzibar Unesco World Heritage UN-HABITAT UN Environment Programme Stonetown Zanzibar Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Walk21 African Public Spaces TUT_Arch

01/05/2024

We’re delighted to welcome all participants to the 2nd workshop of the Bicycle Master Plan for Zanzibar and Stone Town – a project initiated by the DST/NRF/SACN SARChI Chair in with the Tshwane University of Technology.

The Bicycle Master Plan is a participatory urban mobility project that focuses on bicycle infrastructure.

The project uses temporary, tactical interventions based on existing local travel practices to explore long-term solutions for sustainable transport in Zanzibar.

The workshop on Thursday is the second in a series of participatory workshops aimed to culminate in the co-creation of a master plan that outlines non-motorized infrastructure plans for Zanzibar in general, and Stone Town, in particular.

To find out more follow or join is in Stone Town on Thursday.

Date: 2 May 2024
Time: 09h00 – 18h00
Venue: Maru Maru Hotel

We extend a special thanks to our local partners, the City of Zanzibar and to all the officials and city practitioners without whom the project would not be possible. Thank you to our implementation and research team, Robert Krasser Tebego Emmanuel Ramatloba (Project manager) and Professor Amira Osman (Project lead).

A warm greeting to the local hotels who too understand the economic value of a sustainable, people-friendly transport solution for Stone Town.

The Bicycle Master Plan for Zanzibar and Stone Town is made possible with foresight and funding from the African Development Bank.



African Development Bank Group Amira Osman Tebogo Emmanùel Ramatlo Robert Krasser Tissa Valverde Bluebikes Zanzibar Unesco World Heritage Sites UN-HABITAT UN Environment Programme Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Walk21 Ayanda Roji-Adalima TUT_Arch

15/04/2024

Please send a DM if you would like to join this important talk on Wednesday 17th April 1-2pm - there will be an option to join online

20/02/2024

Join us for a book launch! SPACE, PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY