HONOURABLE MENTION R10.000, Savage & Dodd Architects in association with Sixten Larsson (Colin Savage, Heather Dodd, Sixten Larsson), Johannesburg
The merit of this proposal is its charming and inspired buildings along the main route, including opportunities for small workshops and business units. The scheme offers a range of realistic unit type designs which are flexible and which can be successfully extended. The u-shaped vehicular circulation patterns give direct access to the entrances of most of the housing within the development. This vehicular orientated characteristic of the scheme however also denies it being a pedestrian priority environment and its potential urban quality.
Within this ‘suburban’ layout there is a decided lack of options for public space making. . The division of the block structure due to the u-shaped circulation pattern makes it difficult to develop links between different parts of the block. While the jury enjoyed this submission the above-mentioned concerns limited its award-winning potential to a honourable mention.
|