Urban Renaissance and the delivery of sustainable communities: the influence of the physical environment on the quality of life of communities

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Date
2007
Authors
Du Plessis, Lizanne
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: All people basically want the same things: a home, work, healthy economy, good public services, infrastructure and an attractive and safe environment. Some areas have many of these that should be preserved and enhanced. In other areas there are major shortcomings and problems, poor and dangerous environments, a failing local economy, inadequate services and that may lead to serious social problems. The urban environment can be arduous and intimidating or it can encourage people to feel relaxed and at ease. It can make contact between people difficult or create an atmosphere of community. Raising the profile of good design that gives form to public spaces, housing and other building is crucial in sustainable and urban renaissance. Welldesigned places put people first and make efficient use of the available space and environmental resources. It is the art of making places for people. It is concerned with the connection between people and places, urban form, flow of people, natural environment, the material of buildings and the processes for ensuring successful villages, towns and cities. Towns and cities are diverse in character, reflecting history, scale, recent economic fortunes and locations. Each contains many contrasting areas. The way forward needs to be founded in an understanding of the past, the present and the pressures for future change. Furthermore, urban renaissance requires more than the restoration or construction of buildings. The urban renaissance should be a culturally driven redevelopment, creating safe, vibrant, interesting spaces for communities to live in with good quality services and cultural and leisure activities. A better quality of life should be delivered by changing the welfare culture to one build on work and security for those who can, and security to those who cannot.
Afrikaans: Alle mense het basies dieselfde behoeftes, soos n woning, werk, gesonde ekonomie, kwaliteit publieke dienste, infrastruktuur en n aantreklike omgewing om in te woon. Sommige areas bied reeds die meeste van hierdie behoeftes en dit moet voortdurend onderhou en verbeter word. Sekere gebiede ondervind egter tekortkominge wat veroorsaak word duer n onveilige omgewing, swak ekonomie en dienste wat to ernistige sociale probleme kan lei. n Stedelike omgewing kan dieinteraksie in n gemeenskap vergemaklik en bevorder, of nadelige spanning veroorsaak. Goeie kwaliteit ontwerp, wat positiewe ruimtes, wondings en ander geboue verskaf, lewer n belanrige bydrae tot volhoubare gemeenskappe en stedlike herlewing. Goeie kwaliteit ontwerp, wat positiewe ruimtes , wonings en ander geboue verskaf, lewer n belangrike bydrae tot volhoubare gemeenskappe en stedelike herlewing. Goed ontwerpte wwongebiede endeeglik beplande sentrale besigheidsdisrikte, stel die mens en sy behoeftes eerste en maak effektiewe gebruik van oop ruimtes en die omgewing se natuurlike hulpbronne. Deeglike beplanning en kundige ontwerp is noidg om vir die mens n geskikte en esteties aanvaarbare omgewing te skep me die focus op die interaksie tussne die mens en sy natuulike omgewing. Karakter, geskiendenis, liggin en die ekonomiese stand van dorpe en stede is eienskappe wat n bydrae maak tot dinamika. Om vooruitgan te bevorder, is huidge sowel as historiese kennis wat noodsaaklik is om die moontlike risiko’s van die toekoms te hanteer. Stedelike herleweing vereis dus meer as net restorasie van bestaande en die konstruksie van nuwe geboue. Vir volhoubare ensusksevolle gebiede moet die nodige ruimte, dienste en ontspanningsaktiwitieite aan die betrokke gemeenskap gebied word. Die bevordering van kultuur opgradering van die omgewing en die algemene welsyn van die gemeenskap is alles tekens van suksesvolle stedelike herlewing.
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Keywords
Quality of life, Community development -- South Africa, City planning -- South Africa, Sustainable development -- South Africa, Quality design, Quality services, Heritage, Recycling of land and buildings, Sustainable construction, Urban Regeneration, Urban Renaissance, Sustainable communities, Dissertation (M.Sc. (Quantity Surveying and Construction Management))--University of the Free State, 2007
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