The brief for this assignment was to look at cost effective ways of upgrading Cape Town city council flats. These flats are in Connaught Estate , Elsies River, Scottsdene Flats, Oostenberg , Uitsig Houses, Elsies River, Woodlands Flats, Woodlands, Mitchells Plain, Kewtown Flats, Kewtown, Athlone, Hanover Park Flats, Hanover Park, Heideveld Flats, Heideveld, Manenberg Flats, Manenberg, Marble Flats, Ottery, oceanview and lavender hill. Cape Town city council has mentioned that upgrading these flats is part of a R295 million initiative.
Dian Hutchinson a student at academy IDT. Came up with a great presentation and a few unique ideas. Its passionate creative thinking from students like Dian that will go along way to improving our communities urban landscape in Cape Town. Upgrade ideas like -
1) Instead of spending money on the 3 or 4 very delapidated stairs running in the center of the flats. Dians idea to create stairwells eitherside with walkways linking them and the entrances to flats is a simple yet very effective solution.
2) Vegetable gardens on the roof space above - on the flat roofed version of the council flats.
3) Bold use of colour will enhance facades. possibly using cladding can also add texture.
4) Possibly creating a laundry and or a small shop out of one of the ground floor units - to benefit 3 or 4 of these blocks of flats.
5) Upgrading the child play areas and providing community centers.
Well done Dian its social creative design along these lines which creates great designers. Not necesarily designing the one off million dollar homes and furniture which take immense energy. Rather to improve 1 family home at a time through considered design.
In the draughting class of 2009 at academy IDT, their have been some really outstanding creative design ideas. Thanking the students who keep the passion for creative design alive and well.
